Top News:
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
Yankees on brink of landing Cliff Lee — The Knicks didn't get LeBron James, but the Yankees were on the brink of obtaining Cliff Lee late last night for a package that would include top prospect Jesus Montero, the Post has learned. — Yankees GM Brian Cashman and Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik …
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Rangers Acquire Cliff Lee — 5:59pm: Sherman tweets that the commissioner's office has no issues with Texas adding payroll since Lee still fits into the club's budget. It is also presumed that Lee's starts (or his hand in keeping Texas in playoff contention) will lead to increased ticket sales.
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ESPN:
The Rangers acquired Mariners left-hander Cliff Lee on Friday, sources confirmed to Buster Olney.
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
What if Yankees get Lee? — If the Yankees and Mariners pull off a deal that would send Cliff Lee to the Yankees in a package that would send Triple-A catcher Jesus Montero and others to Seattle, does that insure the Yankees of the AL East title? — And are the beat up Red Sox left to contend for the wild card with Tampa Bay?
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Lookout Landing, Bats, Mets Merized Online, NESN.com, Mets Today and The LoHud Yankees Blog
Buster Olney / ESPN:
A trade that would have sent Mariners left-hander Cliff Lee to the Yankees has broken down after the teams couldn't agree on the second player to be dealt, a source said Friday.
Dan Mennella / MLB.com:
Mariners, Yanks intensify Lee trade talks — If Cliff Lee is changing teams, he may merely be moving from the home to the visitors' dugout at Safeco Field this weekend. — The Yankees, who are in Seattle for their final series of the first half, were on the verge of trading for the Mariners' Lee …
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
The Yankees have intensified talks with the Mariners for star lefthander Cliff Lee, sources confirm.
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Mets Will Turn To Ted Lilly — Cliff Lee is coming to New York, but he isn't the left-handed starter the Mets are focused on. Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports (via Twitter) that the Mets will ‘turn strongly’ to Cubs starter Ted Lilly now that Lee is on the brink of joining the Yankees.
Discussion:
NY Post: Hardball, GoatRiders of the Apocalypse, MetsBlog.com and The Real Dirty Mets Blog
Larry Stone / Seattle Times:
Don't be surprised if Zduriencik does something surprising …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Fox Sports:
Rangers' uncertainty extends to GM — 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 Rangers' mess could cost them their general manager. — Jon Daniels, the Texas GM …
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Baseball America:
Midseason Updated Top 25 Prospects — Prospects have provided the biggest storylines of the 2010 baseball season. Jason Heyward was the story of spring training, launching home runs so far that the Braves had to put up protective nets in the parking lots; they couldn't keep him in the minors anymore.
George A. King III / New York Post:
Phils may cut Werth-y deal — SEATTLE — According to several sources, the Phillies have been informed by the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays that they will be interested in outfielder Jayson Werth if the defending NL champions put him on the market later this month.
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Sports Illustrated:
Padres play so well that Gonzalez is safe at home — SAN DIEGO (AP) -It's funny how nobody talks anymore about the San Diego Padres having to trade Adrian Gonzalez. — That's what happens when a team that was picked to wallow at the bottom of the NL West instead turns it around and plays …
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Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Youkilis questions Ellsbury's absence — Kevin Youkilis was asked what he thought about Jacoby Ellsbury rejoining the team tonight after spending five weeks in Arizona — “I don't know what's going on with Jacoby,” he said. “I don't think any of us really know.”
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Canadian Press:
CECIL, 5 HOMERS, CARRY JAYS TO CONSECUTIVE WINS OVER TWINS — TORONTO — Strong starting pitching, home runs aplenty, back-to-back wins and a series victory are all things the Toronto Blue Jays have been missing over the past 2 1-2 mostly putrid weeks. — So after blasting …
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