Top News:
John Tomase / Clubhouse Insider:
Penny granted release, making room for Wagner — Veteran right-hander Brad Penny requested and received his release tonight in a move that clears a roster spot for reliever Billy Wagner and gives Penny time to join a new team before postseason rosters are set. — “I asked for my release and I got it,” Penny said.
RELATED:
ESPN.com:
Boston Red Sox release struggling right-hander Brad Penny — Struggling Boston Red Sox right-hander Brad Penny asked for and was granted his release Wednesday night. Newly-acquired reliever Billy Wagner will take his spot on the roster. — “I asked for my release and I got it,” Penny said, according to the Boston Herald.
Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Rockies express interest in RHP Penny — DENVER — With Josh Fogg struggling and appearing unlikley to make his next start, Brad Penny has emerged as a possibility. The Rockies have expressed interest in the right-hander after he was released by the Red Sox last night.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
John Barone / MLB.com:
Red Sox walk off on Papi's second shot — Ortiz's solo homer in ninth helps Boston edge Chicago — BOSTON — David Ortiz has never enjoyed playing extra innings. On Wednesday night, he made sure they weren't necessary. — Never afraid to shine with the game on the line …
RELATED:
Tom D'Angelo / Palm Beach Post:
Marlins notebook: Team waited before placing Nick Johnson on DL — MIAMI GARDENS — Larry Beinfest, the Marlins president of baseball operations, said the organization was holding out hope that Nick Johnson could help in some way before it ran out of time and was forced to place him on the disabled list Tuesday.
Discussion:
FishStripes
RELATED:
Steve Gorten / Sun-Sentinel:
Beinfest: Roster move still possible — South Florida Sun-Sentinel — Miami Gardens - Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said Wednesday that the team still might make another acquisition. Players must be added to the roster by midnight Monday to be eligible for the postseason.
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Matt Murton, the Mets' injuries, Derek Jeter and more on the “List” ruling — Yeah, that's right, Matt Murton. — On Twitter last night, FireJerryManuel wrote to me, “Can you write something on how dumb the Mets would be to not claim Murton and to pay Frenchy 5 million instead of him?”
RELATED:
Doug Miller / MLB.com:
Rockies activate Rincon from DL — Righty headed back to 'pen; Murton designated for assignment — The hot Colorado Rockies got a bullpen boost Wednesday when they reinstated reliever Juan Rincon from the 15-day disabled list. — Rincon, the veteran right-hander, will take the roster spot …
Tim Smith / NY Daily News:
Smith: Dandy Andy ties Lefty Gomez — Who knew that the Yankees would somehow discover the fountain of youth during spring training? All those old, creaky guys — Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Andy Pettitte — were supposed to be gasping and wheezing through the dog days of August.
Discussion:
NESN.com
RELATED:
C. Trent Rosecrans / CNATI:
Griffey moves past hometown — DETROIT — CNati.com recently caught up with former Red Ken Griffey Jr., who after nine seasons in his hometown of Cincinnati, was traded to the White Sox last season and then signed with the Seattle Mariners during spring training.
Discussion:
Red Reporter
RELATED:
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Mid-day reading: Hideki Matsui, Ken Griffey, Jr., Oliver Perez …
Mid-day reading: Hideki Matsui, Ken Griffey, Jr., Oliver Perez …
Discussion:
The Yankee Universe, FanGraphs Baseball, MLB.com, Bats, MLB Daily Dish, MLB Rumors and River Avenue Blues
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Milton Bradley accuses some fans of racial taunts — But Chicago Cubs outfielder offers no examples of such abuse — Cubs right fielder Milton Bradley roams the outfield in the first inning of a 9-4 victory over the Nationals on Wednesday. (Scott Strazzante, Chicago Tribune / August 26, 2009)
Discussion:
GoatRiders of the Apocalypse, Hardball, wrigleyville23, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Babes Love Baseball and MLB FanHouse
RELATED:
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Another loss for Mets: Ollie done for year — MIAMI - The first season of Oliver Perez's three-year, $36 million deal is complete. The Met southpaw's contributions: a 3-4 record and 6.82ERA in 14 starts. — Perez will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a tendon in his right knee, the team said Wednesday.
Discussion:
NESN.com
RELATED:
Larry Granillo / Baseball Analysts:
Walking Off — “...in the Retrosheet era.” — There's no denying the immense drama that surrounds the walk-off home run. From Bobby Thomson in 1951 to Bill Mazeroski in '60, Kirk Gibson in '89, Joe Carter in '93, Big Papi in 2004 and more, the walk-off home run has been inspiring writers and baseball fans alike for decades.
New York Post:
DEREK JETER AND MINKA KELLY ENGAGED? — ARE Derek Jeter and Minka Kelly (above) ready to take the next step? “Derek and Minka are secretly engaged,” an insider told Page Six. The Yankee captain and the actress are telling close pals to “save the date” for nuptials in the fall.
Discussion:
Fack Youk
Andy Martino / Philly.com:
Phils' GM Amaro has no shopping list — PITTSBURGH - After the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, Ruben Amaro Jr. said that, for the first time since the World Series, he was not looking for anything in particular. The Phillies' general manager had bolstered his rotation and bench …