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.

Buzz: Latest news from around the horn  —  Fox Sports  —  MAY 21 NEWS AND NOTES  —  The Red Sox made a recent inquiry on Rockies Triple A catcher Chris Iannetta, but the talks quickly faded, according to major-league sources.  —  The Sox routinely check in on on every available player who might suit their needs.

Capuano, Brewers Push Back Opt-Out Date  —  Tom Haudricourt of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the Brewers and left-hander Chris Capuano have mutually agreed to postpone the opt-out date in the pitcher's contract to May 29.  Capuano could've opted out of the minor league deal …

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 …

Maine upset, Mets say they were protecting him  —  Following tonight's game, more than three hours after Jerry Manuel allowed him to throw just five pitches, John Maine remained angry about being removed.  Manuel and Dan Warthen maintained they were protecting the pitcher.

Hamels hurls gem, Rollins hurting as Phillies top Red Sox  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Cole Hamels (FSY) pitched seven impressive innings, Ryan Howard (FSY) and Jayson Werth (FSY) homered, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Boston Red Sox 5-1 on Friday night.

Vazquez hopes to make next start  —  Obviously most of the talk after the game centered on Javier Vazquez, who was hit on the right index finger while trying to bunt in the seventh inning.  X-rays were negative and Vazquez had a thick wrap on the finger, but said it wasn't hurting too badly.

Francona: Relationship with Ortiz is good  —  David Ortiz, who had a lot to say yesterday, talked it over with Terry Francona this afternoon.  —  Ortiz spoke to Globe colleague Amalie Benjamin and did an interview on WEEI and expressed disappointment in how he was treated during his April slump, both by the media and by Francona.

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 …

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 …

JAYS AND DIAMONDBACKS BRING BIG BATS TO THE DESERT  —  Sports Network  —  (Sports Network) - Arizona fans at Chase Field are used to watching the ball leave the park at a rapid pace.  That isn't likely to change with Toronto in town.  —  Two of the top three home run hitting teams …

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.

BUEHRLE TWIRLS GEM AS WHITE SOX BLANK MARLINS  —  Sports Network  —  Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Mark Buehrle worked eight innings to pick up his first win since the second week of April and Alexei Ramirez drove in five runs in an 8-0 White Sox win to kick off a three-game interleague series with the Florida Marlins.