A's acquire Jackson from D-backs  —  Arizona gets reliever Demel in return for 28-year-old outfielder  —  BOSTON — The D-backs and A's completed a trade Tuesday that sent outfielder Conor Jackson to Oakland and Minor League pitcher Sam Demel to Arizona.  —  Jackson, 28, was hitting .238 …

Alvarez could be joining Bucs this week  —  PITTSBURGH — Pedro Alvarez hit cleanup for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians on Tuesday night in what some are speculating could be the third baseman's final Minor League appearance.  And if it's not Alvarez's last, it is one of the remaining few.

Buzz: M's & Mets talk Lee, Seattle likes Jon Niese  —  ...from what i can gather, the Mets and Mariners have talked quite a lot about LHP Cliff Lee, however the M's continue to press for Jon Niese, who the Mets have little interest in trading... in fact, i've heard from people who know the M's …

Braun-Heyward race for votes razor-thin  —  Brewers slugger leads by fewer than 3,000; Pujols leads overall  —  Perhaps the National League starting lineup for the 81st All-Star Game is beginning to solidify itself, but while the leaders did not change in Tuesday's update of fan balloting, some races remain up for grabs.

Yankees rough up Halladay, thump Phillies 8-3  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Nick Swisher and the New York Yankees handed Roy Halladay a rare thumping, beating the Philadelphia Phillies and their new ace 8-3 Tuesday night in a World Series rematch.  —  Mark Teixeira , Curtis Granderson and Swisher …

Yankees' Long-Forgotten Mascot  —  The biggest bust in Yankees history was 7 feet tall, made $40 every home game and spent most of his brief career in the upper deck.  —  From 1979 to 1981, the Yankees employed a mascot named Dandy.  He was big and blue and a spectacular failure …

Atlanta Braves' Chipper Jones to meet with team officials, then make announcement  —  ATLANTA — Struggling through another disappointing season, Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones told The Associated Press that he was meeting with team officials Tuesday to discuss his future and acknowledged that he's considering retirement.

Stark: New exciting chapter beginning for Washington Nationals  —  Strasburg's arrival, other changes breathing new life into once-moribund franchise  —  WASHINGTON — It was barely more than a week ago.  It seems like about a century.  —  It seems like it because the Washington Nationals …

Amaro: This is Our Team  —  Ruben Amaro Jr. chatted with reporters for more about 13 minutes today at Yankee Stadium.  —  Here are the highlights:  —  Q: Are you concerned?  —  A: I'm paid to be concerned.  That's my job.  We've gone through a tough time, but it's not like it's …

Tulo back in the lineup  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Troy Tulowitzki is back in the Rockies' lineup after missing two games over the weekend with a strained right groin.  —  Tulowitzki could have played Sunday, but manager Jim Tracy didn't want to risk Tulowitzki aggravating the injury on the wet turf at Coors Field.

Yankees sign 13 draft picks  —  So far the Yankees have signed 13 of their 2010 draftees.  All are college players.  Teams have to wait until their high school picks graduate before signing them.  —  The listed positions — including whether a pitcher is a starter or a reliever — are according to the Yankees.

Quake shakes Jays, Padres at PETCO  —  Player reaction ranges from ‘freaky’ to ‘fun’ on 5.7 temblor  —  SAN DIEGO — Depending on where you stood or sat on Monday at PETCO Park, the 5.7-magnitude earthquake that sent a ripple through the downtown stadium was either a big deal …

Pujols absorbs throw to head as Cards whip M's  —  ST. LOUIS (AP) — Albert Pujols has a souvenir from the St. Louis Cardinals' latest victory: a good-sized welt on the left side of his neck.  —  The three-time NL MVP took one off the noggin on a perfect day at the plate …