Busy day for the Red Sox already (now with audio from Terry Francona)  —  OK, plenty of news today.  Here is what we know:  —  NOW ON THE ROSTER  —  RHP Robert Manuel (recalled from Pawtucket)  —  INF Nuiman Romera (called up from Pawtucket, added to 40-man roster)  —  C Kevin Cash (obtained from Houston)

Deadline sellers and latest news on D-backs, Orioles and Marlins … Much of the attention this trading season, and rightfully so, will be on Mariners' left-handed starter Cliff Lee, and competing teams now say they believe trade talks involving the Seattle star are starting to heat up.

Diamondbacks fire GM Josh Byrnes and manager A.J. Hinch  —  The Diamondbacks have fired general manager Josh Byrnes and manager A.J. Hinch, the team announced Thursday night.  —  Arizona named Jerry Dipoto interim general manager and Kirk Gibson interim manager for the remainder of the season …

Sources: Phillies interested in Lee  —  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.  —  The Phillies' obsession with Cliff Lee continues.  —  The two-time defending National League champions again …

How Much Needs To Be Offered To Get Cliff Lee?  —  It's so rare that a pitcher of Cliff Lee's caliber is on the trade market, one might think a team needs to offer a prospect with Strasburgian promise to land him.  Here's some good news for the Yankees and Mets: It really doesn't.

Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer uses math background as formula for success  —  DETROIT — Max Scherzer is hot.  —  The Detroit Tigers right-hander has allowed just one run in his past two starts and has struck out 16 in 12 2/3 innings in those games.  —  Scherzer, who starts tonight …

Whitecaps' Ranaudo at a crossroads … acomak@capecodonline.com  —  Dangling around Anthony Ranaudo's neck is a small cross, each arm of it wrapped in wire colored the trademark purple and yellow of Louisiana State University.  —  It's a small part of what the 6-foot-7 …

Yankees Interested In Ty Wigginton  —  The Yankees have some interest in Ty Wigginton, according to Ed Price of AOL FanHouse.  Price suggests the Yankees would be interested in the 32-year-old as a part-time player, rather than as an everyday starter.  —  In 299 plate appearances for the Orioles …

Octavio Dotel Among Names in Early Trade Chatter  —  Baseball's non-waiver trade deadline falls four weeks from Saturday, and with one major deal already completed this week — Bengie Molina to the Rangers — chatter is picking up around the game.  —  The Marlins — who have used 18 relievers …

White Sox, Rangers play unlikely marquee series this weekend  —  As baseball fans scan the schedule to find the most enticing matchups this holiday weekend, an unlikely option has emerged: the Chicago White Sox at the Texas Rangers.  —  While lacking the marquee appeal of New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox …

Prospect Hot Sheet: Midseason All-Stars  —  Team: Triple-A Columbus (International)  —  Why He's Here: .316/.447/.597 (62-for-196), 13 HR, 14 2B, 1 3B, 51 RBIs, 39 R, 45 BB, 39 SO, 6-for-6 SB  —  A switch-hitting catcher with power who showed no mercy toward the International League—haven't we seen this one before?

Baseball's most overpaid players  —  The halfway point beckons for the 2010 Major League Baseball season.  As good a time as any to check on which players are stealing the most money from their respective clubs ... well, OK, stealing is an exaggeration, but every season brings more than its share …

‘El Duque’ signs minor-league deal  —  The Nationals have signed veteran right-hander Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez to a minor-league contract, according to two club sources.  —  Hernandez, the 44-year-old half-brother of Nats starter Livan Hernandez, will report to the organization's spring complex …

Oakland Signs Renato Nunez For $2.2 Million  —  Top Venezuelan third baseman Renato Nunez has agreed to terms with the Athletics for $2.2 million, according to an international source.  —  Several international scouts have called Nunez, 16, the top hitter available this year out of Venezuela …