Oswalt requests trade from last-place Astros  —  The July 31 trading deadline is more than two months away, but one of baseball's best pitchers has asked to be put on the market.  —  Houston Astros ace Roy Oswalt, a three-time National League All-Star, has asked owner Drayton McLane Jr. to be traded, a source said Friday.

Braddock not joining Brewers  —  By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel  —  I just spoke with Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash and he said left-handed reliever Zach Braddock will not be called up from Class AAA Nashville to join the Brewers today.

Seething Ortiz boils over  —  In pregame rant, he blasts his critics  —  The smile is largely gone these days, the locker now a refuge instead of a stage.  It used to be a beacon, drawing in teammates and media to a back corner of the Red Sox clubhouse filled with the bulk of David Ortiz …

Gammons On Martinez, Lowell, Iannetta  —  Peter Gammons made one of his regular appearances on WEEI's The Big Show on Friday afternoon to chat about the Red Sox.  Matt West has the full transcript, but here are a few of the more pertinent notes....  - David Ortiz's improved play led …

Quote: John Maine is a Habitual Liar  —  Dan Warthen, on pulling John Maine after five pitches during last night's start said: … ...habitual liar... lovely... ugh... seriously, it's always something with this team... it is remarkable... how they do not have a reality show about them is beyond me …

Dodgers release righty hurler Towers  —  LOS ANGELES — Triple-A Albuquerque pitcher Josh Towers was granted his release by the Dodgers and replaced in the rotation by Seth Etherton, a first-round pick of the Angels in 1998 out of USC.  —  Towers was 2-5 with an 8.05 ERA at Albuquerque …

Answer Man: Charlie Manuel talks Mantle, Japan and wrestling  —  It took a while, but Charlie Manuel and the city of Philadelphia have developed quite a love affair.  Part of the thaw in relations had to do with the Phillies winning the World Series in 2008, of course, but another factor is Manuel's irrepressible personality.

Prospect Jones clears final paperwork hurdle  —  Dominican 16-year-old will serve suspension, then start playing  —  SEATTLE — San Diego director of player development Randy Smith said on Friday that Duanel Jones was well worth the wait.  —  Smith said that Jones, a 16-year-old third base prospect …

Rangers may look for help behind plate  —  ARLINGTON — Rod Barajas is prominent among possible catchers whom the Rangers are scouting as spring moves into summer, and the July 31 Trade Deadline gets closer.  —  The Rangers had interest in Barajas in the offseason as a free agent …

Prospect Hot Sheet: May 21  —  Team: Triple-A Columbus (International)  —  Why He's Here: .375/.467/.782, (9-for-24), 6 R, 1 2B, 3 HR, 10 RBIs, 5 BB, 4 SO.  —  The Scoop: The only race in which the Indians are still alive is for the distinction of being baseball's most disappointing team …

Angelos says Nats' success is good for O's  —  MASN buoyed by winning Nats, which makes him happy, Angelos says  —  His Orioles are struggling, but team owner Peter Angelos said Thursday that “it's a very good thing” for his club that the Washington Nationals are generating excitement …

Matchup with Tigers is only the beginning  —  Dodgers' Interleague slate also includes Red Sox, Yankees  —  LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers open the 14th season of Interleague Play on Friday with a three-game series at home against the Detroit Tigers, but not even the annual set of Freeway Series …