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 …

Trevor Hoffman unlikely to leave Milwaukee Brewers via waivers  —  Dozens of players have been pulled back from waivers after being claimed this month.  In all likelihood, all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman will be another on that list.  —  Hoffman was claimed by the San Francisco Giants …

Reyes might be next to have surgery  —  MIAMI - Jose Reyes may be the next Met in line for surgery, joining Johan Santana and Oliver Perez on operating tables in the coming days.  —  Reyes, who has not appeared in a major-league game since pulling himself from a May20 game at Dodger Stadium …

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 …

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 …

Closer Mike MacDougal Saves the Day as Nats Hold Off Cubs  —  Broken Hand Ends Morgan's Season: Nationals 5, Cubs 4  —  Mike MacDougal is 6 feet 4, 190 pounds — maybe 175 if you give him a shave.  He is not a huffing, puffing, big burly closer.  He's the 2-D figure that kids draw …

3UP: BURNETT, METS OF, COKE  —  Yes, I am on Twitter.  —  1. A.J. Burnett's stuff was so dominant on Thursday that I actually had showered and made a determination that if he kept his perfect game and then no-hitter through four innings, I would head from my house to Yankee Stadium.

Marquis flourishing in hitters' haven  —  Righty having a career-best year as Rockies follow his lead in surge to playoffs  —  The remarkable Colorado Rockies are making their push to the playoffs, which should come as no surprise because, after all, Jason Marquis is on the team.

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.

A's play spoiler, shrink Angels' West lead  —  Oakland rookie Cahill shuts down Halos in series opener  —  ANAHEIM — Known as “Obama” to teammates for his popularity with the media, Torii Hunter takes his campaign promises seriously.  —  “We'll get it going — I promise you,” Hunter said …

THE BRADFORD FILES: THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING VICTOR MARTINEZ … Should the Red Sox make signing Victor Martinez to a contract extension a priority?  —  In reality, it was a question without multiple answers, as David Ortiz matter-of-factly pointed out.  —  “You're going to let a guy like that go?” the Red Sox DH responded.

Steroid leaks were government's fault  —  Buzz up!  —  The federal appeals court ruling against the government Wednesday in the long running Major League Baseball drug-testing case has several far-reaching ramifications.  —  The decision means that leaking the names of steroid-tainted players …

Coghlan dedicated to his role as leadoff hitter  —  MIAMI GARDENS - His responsibilities as leadoff hitter are never lost on Chris Coghlan, not even with his team down by six runs in the eighth inning.  —  No one would have faulted Coghlan had he swung for the fences Thursday in an attempt …

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 …