Top News:
Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano will go on restricted list, undergo an evaluation — CHICAGO — After consulting with Major League Baseball, the players union and the agent for pitcher Carlos Zambrano, the Chicago Cubs announced on Monday a collective agreement between all parties …
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Cubs To Place Zambrano On Restricted List — The Cubs will place Carlos Zambrano on the restricted list tomorrow, according to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat (via Twitter). Players on the restricted list do not count towards a team's 25-man or 40-man roster, so the Cubs will be able to add a player to replace Zambrano.
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
CUBS IN BRIEF: Hendry defends Z's big contract — Cubs general manager Jim Hendry on Sunday defended the signing of Carlos Zambrano to a five-year, $91.5 million contract extension in 2007 that has become an albatross today. — “There was nothing wrong with the investment,” Hendry said.
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Updating the various injuries — I landed at Logan at 7 a.m. today and flipped on the radio when I got in the car. There were so many injury updates for the Sox that the average fan must be wondering whether they have enough players to field a team. — Here's the latest:
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Will Carroll / Baseball Prospectus:
The Red Sox Report — Welcome to the Red Sox Report... err, Under The Knife. Same thing, today. Pedroia has an unusual injury. It's a non-displaced fracture of the navicular bone. It's a common injury in horses, not so much in humans. Even then, it's usually a stress fracture rather than a traumatic injury like Pedroia's.
Discussion:
sox1fan.com
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Body parts hurting, but team's spirit not broken
Discussion:
Dan Shaughnessy Watch
Kyle Maistri / MLB.com:
Mets muscle way to rubber-match victory — Niese, bullpen combine to shut down Twins in series finale — NEW YORK — With one out in the bottom of the fifth inning, Ike Davis launched a ball over the bullpen and onto the “Shea Bridge” pedestrian walkway in right field, and just like that …
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New York Post:
Time for ‘Big 3’ to play like it — Mets on Twitter — These 2010 Mets have ticked off a few more items from the “Prove You're Contenders List.” — They rebounded from a lost series against the Yankees to win consecutive sets against two strong AL contenders, the Tigers and Twins.
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers need relief — and then some — The team needs help in its starting rotation and the bullpen. The question is whether management will spend the money to make a move. — It's not just about a starting pitcher anymore. — As the Dodgers demonstrated to a national television audience Saturday …
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Fox Sports:
Marlins mangling manager moves — 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. — Fredi Gonzalez must be laughing his butt off. — The Marlins fired Gonzalez as manager last Wednesday with the idea of hiring Bobby Valentine.
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Stephen Hawkins / Associated Press:
Long HRs, 21-game hit streak for patient Hamilton — ARLINGTON, Texas—Josh Hamilton no longer has a need for Home Run Derby — not during the All-Star break or with impressive pregame batting practice shows. — Oh, he can still hit the ball a long, long way.
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Atkins Looking For Fresh Start — 6:31pm: Atkins told Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun that he has no interest in reporting to Triple A Norfolk. Atkins would consider playing in the minors for another organization, however. That approach worked for Pat Burrell, who is hitting …
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Mystery Team After Cliff Lee — A mystery team is pursuing Cliff Lee, tweets Ed Price of AOL FanHouse. According to Price, the Cardinals “may be it.” Price believes that top prospect Shelby Miller is a possible chip. — Six years of Miller would be an impressive return for two-plus months of Lee …
Associated Press:
Morneau, Crawford hold narrow leads in star voting — NEW YORK—Minnesota first baseman Justin Morneau and Tampa Bay outfielder Carl Crawford are holding narrow leads going into the final week of fan voting for starting spots on the AL All-Star team. — Morneau tops Mark Teixeira and Miguel Cabrera in a tight race.
Discussion:
Associated Press
Richard / SportsJustice:
If you don't like the Astros now, wait until Nolan Ryan hires Gerry Hunsicker — Oh boy, it's about to go from bad to worse. Sure it's lousy that we've got an awful baseball club, and it's even worse than our club may be bad for a long time. There's just no way of knowing how quickly …
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Phillies Prioritizing Starting Pitching Depth — The Phillies are prioritizing starting pitching depth this trade deadline, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (via Twitter). They are looking to add a middle-of-the-rotation starter, probably someone better than Jeremy Guthrie.
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
