Top News:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox send Jim Thome to the Dodgers, Jose Contreras to the Rockies — Williams puts his vets on table, NL contenders jumpDH Thome sent to Dodgers, struggling Contreras to Rockies — Jim Thome is congratulated by third base coach Jeff Cox after belting a solo homer against Baltimore.
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MLB:
Los Angeles Dodgers get slugger Jim Thome, pitcher Jon Garland … The Los Angeles Dodgers have seen the Rockies and Giants getting bigger in their rearview mirror, so they added some power to try to pull away. — The Dodgers acquired slugger Jim Thome from the White Sox and right-hander Jon Garland …
Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Rox land Contreras for Triple-A starter Hynick — DENVER — The White Sox surrendered Monday night, helping two teams in the National League West. After an unsuccesful bid to get Arizona's Jon Garland, the Rockies acquired struggling White Sox starter Jose Contreras, someone they are very familiar …
Mike Axisa / MLB Rumors:
Dodgers Acquire Jim Thome — SI.com's Jon Heyman reports that the Dodgers have acquired Jim Thome. The White Sox will receive infielder Justin Fuller in the deal, and are sending cash to LA that will presumably cover at least part of Thome's salary according to Mark Gonzales of The Chicago Tribune.
Mike Axisa / MLB Rumors:
Dodgers Acquire Jon Garland — 8:18am: Via Twitter late last night, Gilbert mentioned a rumor that the D'Backs may receive infielder Tony Abreu in the Garland deal. He notes that Abreu would have to clear waivers; after the season as a player to be named later would also work.
Discussion:
iYankees
MLB.com:
New York Yankees announce 2009 postseason pricing — The Yankees today announced 2009 postseason ticket pricing for potential games at Yankee Stadium in the American League Division Series, American League Championship Series and World Series. Prices for the vast majority of postseason tickets …
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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Game 131: Yankees at Orioles (updated with postseason ticket information) — YANKEES (82-48) — Pitching: LHP Andy Pettitte (11-6, 4.18). — ORIOLES (54-77) — Roberts 2B — Izturis SS — Jones CF — Markakis RF — Reimold LF — Mora 3B — Scott DH — Wieters C
Discussion:
Fack Youk, Sox and Pinstripes, A Die Hard Yankees Fan, Sliding Into Home and Heartland Pinstripes
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:St. Louis Cardinals to make playoff tickets available
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Buster Olney / ESPN.com:
Brad Penny headed to San Francisco Giants' rotation … Right-hander Brad Penny cleared waivers Monday and agreed to a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants on Monday. — Penny — Penny, 31, was 7-8 with a 5.61 ERA with the Red Sox this season and is 101-83 in his career.
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Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Mets recall Thole from Binghamton — Slugging catcher expected to join team Tuesday — The Mets recalled catcher Josh Thole from Double-A Binghamton on Monday, and he is expected to join the club for Tuesday night's game against the Rockies. — Thole, New York's 13th-round Draft pick in 2005 …
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Gardner could begin rehab stint Thursday — Center fielder recovering from a fractured left thumb — BALTIMORE — Brett Gardner is set to face pitchers for the first time since fracturing his left thumb, and he hopes to begin a Minor League rehab assignment by Thursday.
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Fox Sports:
Sources: Angels unveil prospects in Kazmir trade — Two Angels prospects with major-league experience — Class AAA catcher Bobby Wilson and infielder Sean Rodriguez — are candidates to be the player to be named in the Scott Kazmir trade, major-league sources say.
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Red Sox set for crucial series at the Trop — Boston (76-54) at Tampa Bay (71-59), 7:08 p.m. ET — BOSTON — With momentum clearly on their side, the timing might finally be right for the Red Sox to end their near two-year slump at Tropicana Field. — Since the start of the 2008 season …
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Juan C. Rodriguez / Florida Marlins:
Florida Marlins: Cameron Maybin in, Luis Ayala out (and upset about it) — One of our astute contributors on the live game blog figured the Marlins had to win at least five of Josh Johnson's last six starts. He, like the rest of us, were of the opinion Monday's outing was all but a sure thing.
Dan Hickling / Providence Journal:
IronPigs 4, PawSox 1: Gathright and Anderson on their way to Boston — •THE SKINNY: The PawSox wrapped up a miserable month of August (9-23), while wasting a gutsy pitching performance from starter Michael Bowden. — Lehigh Valley knotted the game with a run in the bottom of the fifth off Bowden …
Paul White / USA Today:
Intelligence report: Baseball's whiz kids stand out, to a degree — When former Boston Red Sox teammates Josh Beckett and Doug Mirabelli debated how many times a baseball rotates between the pitcher's hand and home plate, they knew where to turn: “Call Breslow. He'll figure it out.”
MLB.com:
Pujols big favorite among award hopefuls — First baseman a lock to be honored with third NL MVP Award — Give Albert Pujols the National League MVP Award immediately. There's no need to delay. Let him cherish the award the last month of the season as his St. Louis Cardinals breeze to another Central Division title.
Associated Press:
11-run lead almost not enough for Toronto in Texas — ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Adam Lind (FSY) hit a grand slam among his two home runs and had a career-high eight RBIs, powering Toronto to a big early lead before the Blue Jays held on for an 18-10 victory over the slipping Texas Rangers on Monday night.
