New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox rivalry reaches waiver wire  —  The rivalry between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox burns strongly even when it comes to waiver claims.  —  When the New York Mets and Red Sox worked out a trade for left-handed reliever Billy Wagner earlier this week …

Madden: Yanks show no direction  —  It was a rather bittersweet matinee at the Stadium Thursday for the Yankees, who failed in their mission to become equal opportunity wild-card spoilers against the pesky Texas Rangers.  Actually, there was a whole lot more bitter (12 runners left on base …

Morgan lost for year with broken hand  —  Nationals outfielder suffered injury sliding into third  —  CHICAGO — The Nationals received devastating news on Thursday after their 5-4 victory over the Cubs, as center fielder Nyjer Morgan is out for the season due to a broken left hand.

Hoffman in waiting mode  —  By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel  —  Trevor Hoffman has not been in this position for quite some time.  —  “I've been a 10-and-5 guy for a long time,” said Hoffman.  —  Hoffman referred to his previous status with the San Diego Padres, for whom he played 16 years.

Keppinger hits clutch HR in ninth as Astros top Cards  —  ST. LOUIS (AP) — One big swing from Jeff Keppinger (FSY), hardly a long-ball threat, eased the Houston Astros' frustrations after getting worked over by St. Louis Cardinals pitchers.  —  Keppinger hit a tiebreaking homer …

Madoff Author Sees Sale Of N.Y. Mets Coming  —  NEW YORK — Fred Wilpon, the owner of the New York Mets, will be forced to sell the baseball franchise as soon as 2010 after incurring heavy Bernie Madoff-related investment losses.  —  So says Erin Arvedlund, author of “Too Good to Be True …

Cards, Franklin close to new contract  —  After spending last winter in a fruitless search for a closer, the Cardinals apparently have settled on one through 2011.  —  The club is expected to announce this weekend an agreement with Ryan Franklin on a contract extension that includes …

Chicago Cubs should cut Milton Bradley  —  There's no good solution to mess he created  —  On Baseball  —  Milton Bradley?  There are three possible solutions for the Cubs: continued patience and hope, endless headaches while hoping some team is silly enough to deal for him or pay him his money and send him home.

Pirates do a number on Happ, Phillies in 3-2 victory  —  PITTSBURGH (AP) — J.A. Happ (FSY) looked like a rookie on the key pitch of the game, and Garrett Jones (FSY) didn't.  The result was the National League's best first-year pitcher was beaten by arguably its best first-year hitter …

Reyes injury remains a mystery  —  As the Mets season dwindles away, our lasting image of Jose Reyes is, well, what exactly?  And that's perhaps the most damning part of the shortstop's season.  —  The utter nothingness.  —  For the most part Reyes has been a ghost around the Mets recently …

Jays' ninth-inning win is wild one  —  Barajas' homer ties game; Scutaro scores on wild pitch  —  TORONTO — In a game in which both team's starters were locked in a scoreless battle for most of their time on the mound, the decisive pitch was a wild one.  —  With the bases loaded in the bottom …

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?”

Guillen, Jacobs bury the hatchet  —  Royals players engage in scuffle on Wednesday  —  SEATTLE — Things have been smoothed over after a confrontation between Royals players Mike Jacobs and Jose Guillen as the team arrived in Seattle.  —  Guillen and Jacobs went nose-to-nose outside …