Nats to name Rizzo GM on Thursday  —  Announcement expected to be made at news conference  —  WASHINGTON — The Nationals will officially promote Mike Rizzo to general manager at a news conference on Thursday at Nationals Park, according to a baseball source, who said the Nationals …

Source: Mets looking to unload Wagner  —  If Billy Wagner's return to New York this weekend is nothing more than a glorified audition, the Mets are already pushing the paperwork that will enable them to trade him.  —  According to a major league source, the Mets placed Wagner on trade waivers Wednesday.

Dodgers sign Padilla  —  NL Roundup  —  Phillies 8, Diamondbacks 1 — Cliff Lee pitched a two-hitter, Jayson Werth hit a pair of solo homers, Ryan Howard hit a three-run shot and Chase Utley also connected as Philadelphia won at home.  —  Giants 1, Reds — Nate Schierholtz's eighth-inning double drove …

Lee has another stellar outing for Phillies  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Cliff Lee (FSY) pitched a two-hitter, carrying a no-hit bid into the sixth inning, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-1 Wednesday night.  —  Jayson Werth (FSY) hit a pair of solo homers, Ryan Howard …

Hall traded to Seattle (updated)  —  By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel  —  Pittsburgh - The Milwaukee Brewers traded infielder/outfielder Bill Hall to the Seattle Mariners today for minor league pitcher Ruben Flores.  —  The deal almost certainly included a large amount of cash …

Game 121: Yankees at Athletics (with Joba update)  —  YANKEES (75-45)  —  Pitching: RHP Chad Gaudin (1-0, 5.13).  —  ATHLETICS (53-66)  —  Kennedy 3B  —  Davis CF  —  Ellis 2B  —  Suzuki DH  —  Sweeney LF  —  Powell C  —  Cust RF  —  Everidge 1B  —  Pennington SS

Fans' turn to pick Aaron Award nominees  —  Voting under way to choose club selections for hitting honor  —  In 1999, the Hank Aaron Award was introduced by Major League Baseball to honor the 25th anniversary of its namesake hitting his 715th home run and passing the immortal Babe Ruth …

Francoeur in Mets' conversation for next season  —  So Daniel Murphy led off the bottom of the sixth with a triple, in this utterly meaningless contest at Citi Field, and up came Jeff Francoeur.  Just a few hours earlier, he smiled as he told me of his “fresh start” and “rejuvenating” …

Bellmore's Lichtman shows his baseball knowledge through UZR  —  If he ever speaks again in front of a group  —  of major league coaches, Mitchel Lichtman said — “again,” as in, “He has done so previously,” — the statistical analyst has a new icebreaker.

Selig: Nats ‘Did What They Had to Do’ to Sign Strasburg  —  Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig characterized the Nationals' signing of pitcher Stephen Strasburg as “fair,” though he appeared to do so grudgingly and acknowledged management's intention to pursue a hard “slotting” …

AMAZIN' BRASS NEEDS TO OWN UP TO PROBLEMS  —  THE remarkable part, if you think about it, isn't that 38,602 of you bought tickets for last night's grisly slaughterhouse special at Citi Field, or that a good 30,000 of you actually made your way through the turnstiles, or that there were still 25,000 …

Jerry Remy returns tomorrow  —  A familiar voice will be in a familiar place when the Yankees come to Fenway Park [map] tomorrow.  —  Beloved broadcaster Jerry Remy, sidelined since May while dealing with the effects of cancer treatments and depression, will make his return to the NESN booth for tomorrow night's game.

Broxton charged with kidnapping Lindbergh baby  —  Jonathan Broxton against St. Louis this week: three games, 13 batters, one single, two walks, one stolen base, five strikeouts, no earned runs, no inherited runners scoring.  And, somehow, the anger of thousands upon thousands of Dodgers fans.

Marlins cautious with N. Johnson injury  —  First baseman takes grounders, holds off on swinging bat  —  HOUSTON — Getting Nick Johnson back into action is a step-by-step process.  —  Resting a strained right hamstring, the Marlins first baseman did some light workouts in pregame warmups Wednesday at Minute Maid Park.

Cubs avoid sweep, beat Padres 7-1  —  Harden sparkles as Cubs avoid sweep, but time still not on their side  —  SAN DIEGO — As disgruntled as Cubs fans seem to be over their highly paid, two-time division champion that is fighting to stay above .500, much less in the playoff hunt …

A Conversation with Phillies OF Prospect Quintin Berry  —  If you believe that speed kills, Quintin Berry is your man.  The fastest player in the Philadelphia system, the 24-year-old outfielder led the Florida State League with 51 thefts last season and he currently leads the Eastern League …