Top News:
Bill Shaikin / Angels Unplugged:
Angels trade for Rays' Scott Kazmir — The Angels took a dramatic step toward revamping their starting rotation for this season and next, acquiring left-hander Scott Kazmir from the Tampa Bay Rays for two minor leaguers. — The trade is expected to be announced later today.
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Angels Close To Acquiring Scott Kazmir? — 4:33pm: Joel Sherman of The NY Post hears from a source that the deal is done, and Kazmir is “definitely going to the Angels.” — 4:23pm: The original report from MLB.com's Lyle Spencer has been changed, and now says that the proposed deal has fallen through.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, ESPN.com, MetsBlog.com, NESN.com, Angels blog, Halos Heaven, Mike Silva's …, River Avenue Blues and Lone Star Ball
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Angels acquire Scott Kazmir from Tampa Bay — The left-handed starter, a two-time All-Star, is acquired for two minor leaguers. Kazmir is 8-7 with a 5.92 earned-run average this season, but he's 4-2 with a 4.41 ERA since the All-Star break. — Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Scott Kazmir works …
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Angels close to deal for Rays' Kazmir … The Los Angeles Angels are closing in on a deal for Tampa Bay Rays lefthander Scott Kazmir, SI.com has confirmed. — According to MLB.com, which first reported news of the impending trade, the Rays will get two prospects from the Angels …
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
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 …
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Buster Olney / ESPN.com:
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 — Hoffman was claimed …
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Mike Axisa / River Avenue Blues:
The amazing, disappearing Phil Hughes — You remember Phil Hughes, right? That great young pitcher the Yankees have decided is more valuable out of the bullpen? Well, have you seen him lately? It seems that the team, or at least manager Joe Girardi, has decided that the best way to utilize …
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Jon Friedman / FOXBusiness.com:
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 …
NY Daily News:
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 …
Discussion:
Behind The Moat
RELATED:
MLB.com:
Twins acquire Jon Rauch from Arizona — Outright Philip Humber To Triple-A Rochester — Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN - The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have acquired righthanded pitcher Jon Rauch from the Arizona Diamondbacks, in exchange for a player to be named later.
Joel Sherman / Hardball:
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.
Buster Olney / MLB:
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 …
Discussion:
MLB.com, bronxbanterblog.com, Fack Youk, Dom Amore, Newsday, Circling The Bases, Bombers Beat, YanksBlog.com, MetsBlog.com, New York Post, MVN, The Yankee Universe, Associated Press and ESPN
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Chico Harlan / Washington Post:
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 …
Discussion:
Washington Times, Chicago Tribune, William World News, NationalsPride.com and The Nationals Enquirer
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Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
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 …
Discussion:
6-4-2
Tim Kurkjian / ESPN:
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.
Discussion:
Purple Row
Rob Bradford / WEEI:
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.
