GM: Clubs show interest in Iwamura  —  • GM Neal Huntington said “a handful of clubs have expressed some level of interest” in trading for Aki Iwamura, though most teams have turned down the Pirates' overtures.  “We'll put some closure to it, one way or another, hopefully early this week,” Huntington said.

Man, this was one strange weekend!  —  In a brief conversation before last night's game, the Dodgers' Manny Ramirez said he appreciated the cheers he received at Fenway Park over the weekend.  While the ex-Red Sox slugger wanted no direct quotes put in print, since he hasn't talked to the media all season …

Vipers rookie signs with Red Sox  —  Jay Broughton spent $3,000 in borrowed money on a last chance at playing professional baseball in the winter and is now on his way to join the Boston Red Sox organization.  —  The Calgary Vipers rookie pitcher was signed by the Red Sox Thursday night following …

McDonald's emotional homer eases Jays' loss  —  After losing dad to cancer, infielder goes yard on Father's Day  —  TORONTO — There are days when it does not seem to matter whether the end result is a win or a loss.  Given the emotional magnitude of the moment that took place in the ninth inning Sunday …

Big Papi's giving Red Sox a dilemma  —  Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005.  He appears weekly on MLB on FOX.  Follow him on Twitter.  —  One Red Sox official offers a novel solution if the team chooses to re-sign designated hitter David Ortiz:

Debuts and Departures  —  Some people end up writing for THT because they come up with brilliant ways of analyzing the contemporary game.  Others add to our historical knowledge.  Still others use cutting edge analytical tools (re: pitch F/X stuff) to enhance our understanding of players.  —  Me?

Rangers eye division-rival Seattle's pitcher Cliff Lee  —  By ANTHONY ANDRO and JEFF WILSON / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News  —  HOUSTON - The Rangers' pursuit of a starting pitcher before the July 31 trade deadline might not be hampered by the concern of striking a deal with a team in their division.

Sale, Chisox Agree On $1.656 Million  —  When Chris Sale started to slide in the first round of the draft because of his perceived signability, it was a surprise that the thrifty White Sox were the team that selected him.  Now comes a bigger surprise: the first- or second-rated college pitcher …

Oklahoma edges South Carolina at rain-soaked CWS  —  OMAHA (AP) — Caleb Bushyhead homered and drove in the winning run, and Jeremy Erben and Ryan Duke worked out of bases-loaded situations in the eighth inning to lead Oklahoma to a 4-3 victory over South Carolina in the rain-plagued College World Series on Sunday night.

‘Gross’ Gaga's a skankee  —  She's persona non Gaga.  —  A fuming Hal Steinbrenner informed Yankee Stadium executives that Lady Gaga is permanently banned from the team's clubhouse after her boozy antics — including swigging whiskey and repeatedly fondling her boobs …