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9:50 AM ET, August 18, 2009

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Jim Callis / Baseball America:
The Strasburg & Ackley Deals  —  Stephen Strasburg:  —  Four-year major league deal, $7.5 million bonus, $7.6 million in salaries (including pro-rated $400,000 salary for remainder of 2009), $15.1 million total guaranteed.  Also various incentives based on big league award voting.  —  Dustin Ackley:
RELATED:
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Nationals Sign Stephen Strasburg  —  11:39pm: BA's Jim Callis has the contract breakdown.  Bill Shaikin and Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times have even further detail.  —  11:06pm: Baseball America's Aaron Fitt says Strasburg signed a Major League deal worth $15.67MM over four years.
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Red Sox in a surprise fight to make the playoffs and more (cont.)
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Wright's way is right way on, off field  —  Teammates call Mets' young leader ‘too good to be true’  —  The baseball sped toward his face, imperiling his good looks, his cranium and his livelihood.  And 10 days later, it happened again.  Each time, David Wright flinched.
Discussion: MetsBlog.com
RELATED:
Chris Hine / New York Times:
Hernandez Continues to Struggle, and So Do the Mets
Discussion: Yahoo! Sports
Associated Press:
Wright back with Mets, says head's feeling better
Discussion: NESN.com
Kristie Ackert / NY Daily News:
Wright feels fine, just ‘embarrassed’ to land on DL
Discussion: NESN.com
Tracy Ringolsby / Inside the Colorado Rockies:
Rockies Agree with Matzek - Updated  —  The Colorado Rockies came up to the deadline, and then got the deal done with their top draft pick, high school lefthander Tyler Matzek.  —  The Rockies agreed to a signing bonus of $3.9 million, insidetherockies.com learned, more than double …
RELATED:
MLB.com:   Rockies reach agreement with first-round selection in 2009 Draft LHP Tyler Matzek
Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Talks ongoing with Matzek as deadline nears
Discussion: Behind The Ducks Beat
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Marlins come to terms with top two picks  —  With signings, Florida has signed its top 12 selections  —  Currently on the Marlins roster are two starting pitchers who were drafted out of high school in the first round in 2005.  —  A pair of high school pitchers, selected first and second …
Discussion: Bottom9 Baseball
RELATED:
Sports Illustrated:
Ankiel's HR helps sizzling Cardinals sink Dodgers … LOS ANGELES(AP) Although Ryan Franklin graciously accepted his teammates' congratulations in the Dodger Stadium clubhouse for his 30th save, the St. Louis closer thought the spotlight should be on Chris Carpenter 's setup work.
RELATED:
David Ely / MLB.com:
Two homers sink Dodgers, Haeger  —  Knuckleballer delivers seven innings in debut for LA  —  LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers got just about everything they could have hoped for Monday night.  —  Well, everything short of a win.  —  Knuckleballer Charlie Haeger lasted seven innings and only gave …
Discussion: 6-4-2
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Tigers acquire infielder Huff from O's  —  Veteran brings left-hand bat to lineup and versatility in the field  —  DETROIT — Finally, the Tigers found help at the plate on the trade market.  In turn, Aubrey Huff found arguably his best chance to finally get to the postseason.
RELATED:
Carroll Rogers / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves not interested in Smoltz  —  The Boston Red Sox severed ties with John Smoltz on Monday, announcing they were releasing the former Brave, which made him available to other teams at a pro-rated major league minimum salary.  The Braves are not among the teams interested in signing him though …
Discussion: MLB Rumors and Bottom9 Baseball
RELATED:
Chad Finn / Boston Globe:
Smoltz released  —  John Smoltz's brief and disappointing stay …
Discussion: Yahoo! Sports
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Game 119: Yankees at Athletics (with draft signing updates)  —  YANKEES (74-44)  —  Pitching: RHP AJ Burnett (10-5, 3.71).  —  ATHLETICS (52-65)  —  Kennedy 3B  —  Davis CF  —  Suzuki C  —  Hairston LF  —  Sweeney RF  —  Ellis 2B  —  Cust DH  —  Crosby 1B  —  Pennington SS
Paul Hoynes / Plain Dealer:
Cleveland Indians sign No.1 pick, North Carolina pitcher Alex White, for $2.25 million  —  CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Indians have signed No.1 pick Alex White for $2.25 million.  —  The University of North Carolina right-hander went 8-4 with a 3.89 ERA in 16 starts for the Tar Heels this year.
Discussion: Let's Go Tribe!
RELATED:
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:   Tribe negotiations with White at standstill
Jim Callis / Baseball America:
Yankees Sign Mitchell For $800,000  —  The Yankees have signed 16th-round pick Bryan Mitchell for $800,000.  It's the third-highest bonus after the 10th round this year, following Orioles signees Michael Ohlman ($995,000, 11th round) and Cameron Coffey ($990,000, 22nd round).
Discussion: Sliding Into Home
RELATED:
Jim Callis / Baseball America:
Orioles Sign Ohlman For $995,000
Discussion: MLB Rumors and MASNsports.com
John Manuel / Baseball America:
Phillies Nab Colvin for $900,000  —  Baseball America has confirmed that Louisiana State signee Brody Colvin has spurned the defending national champions to sign with the Phillies, who drafted him in the seventh round.  Colvin signed for $900,000, the second-highest bonus in the seventh round …
RELATED:
WBRZ-TV:
Brody Colvin headed to Major League baseball
Nathan Rode / Baseball America:
Rays Break Off Talks With Top Picks  —  The Tampa Bay Rays, who have already signed several of their top picks to above-slot deals, have released a statement saying they don't expect to sign their top two picks, outfielder LeVon Washington and shortstop Kenny Diekroger.
Discussion: The Heater, DRaysBay and Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
The Heater:
Tampa Bay Rays don't expect to sign their top two draft picks
Jim Callis / Baseball America:
Red Sox Sign Volz For $550,000  —  The Red Sox have signed Baylor righthander Kendal Volz for $550,000.  That's the second-highest bonus in the ninth round this year.
Dave van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Sox GM Ken Williams not happy with underachieving team  —  Williams voices displeasure with wasted efforts on trip; Podsednik wins it in 8th  —  Alex Rios scores as Royals catcher Brayan Pena goes for the throw after Scott Podsednik's go-ahead 8th inning, RBI single.  (Scott Strazzante, Chicago Tribune / August 17, 2009)
Discussion: Circling The Bases
Jim Callis / Baseball America:
Tigers Sign Turner  —  The Tigers have signed No. 9 overall pick Jacob Turner to a major league contract with a $4.7 million bonus (payable over six years, with $1.6 million paid in 2014) and a guaranteed value of $5.5 million.  Depending on how quickly he reaches the majors, he could push the total value to nearly $7 million.
Associated Press:
Hanson hurls Braves past Diamondbacks 9-4  —  ATLANTA (AP) — Tommy Hanson (FSY) isn't worried about how many innings he pitches as long as he can keep helping the Atlanta Braves win.  —  Hanson gave up two runs in six innings for his third consecutive win and Ryan Church (FSY) …
Discussion: AZ Snakepit and Yahoo! Sports
 
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 More News: 
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Damon Feels Like Staying, and the Yanks Seem Willing
Discussion: Circling The Bases
Associated Press:
Rangers hold off Twins 8-5, increase wild-card lead
Discussion: USA Today and Yahoo! Sports
Jim Callis / Baseball America:
Cardinals Sign Miller For $2,875,000
Discussion: MLB Rumors
Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
O's rally but come undone in 13th frame
Discussion: Camden Chat, Oriole Post and MVN
Jim Callis / Baseball America:
Padres Getting Closer On Tate
Discussion: MLB Rumors
 Earlier Picks: 
Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com:
A little housekeeping  —  While looking for warning signs …
Discussion: Oriole Magic and Oriole Post
Globe and Mail:
Jeff Blair  —  Put aside the world citizen stuff and Usain Bolt matters …
Discussion: MLB Rumors and Drunk Jays Fans
Jim Callis / Baseball America:
A's Sign Stassi For $1.5 Million
Discussion: MLB Rumors
 

 
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Matthew Belloni / Puck:
A Dark Secret Has Imperiled the New Michael Jackson Movie

Sabienna Bowman / People:
Firerose Says the ‘Truth Is Coming to Light’ About Her Ex-Husband Billy Ray Cyrus: 'It's Very Sad'

Tommy McArdle / People:
Olivia Wilde Spends Time with Actor Dane DiLiegro at Lakers Game

 
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