A-Rod's suddenly an afterthought  —  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.  —  Alex Rodriguez is two home runs shy of 600.  —  Does anyone care?  —  The Yankees do — A-Rod …

Yankees Blog  —  With 12 days to go before the trade deadline, Brian Cashman is sticking to his plan even with Andy Pettitte on the shelf for 4-5 weeks.  —  That plan involves trying to bolster the Yankees' bench and possibly their bullpen, but it does not include the pursuit of a starting pitcher.

Baldelli set to return to minors tonight  —  Rocco Baldelli is set to make his return to the field as a player tonight for Class A Charlotte, the first step in what could lead him back to the Rays later this season.  —  Baldelli, 28, has spent this season working as a special assistant coach …

Padres to give Black three-year extension  —  SAN DIEGO — It's not his capacity to handle a double-switch, command a clubhouse or simply his experience as a player, coach and now manager that make Bud Black the best person to manage the Padres, second baseman David Eckstein said Sunday.

Quantity, not quality, hallmark of market for position players … Last Friday, I took a look at the best pitchers available in a trading market that has thinned now that the biggest prize — Cliff Lee, who was dealt from Seattle to Texas on July 9 — is off the board.

Keeping Uggla might help Florida Marlins' payroll promise  —  The Boston Red Sox have phoned.  So have the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, Philadelphia Phillies and others as the July 31 trading deadline draws near.  But as the interest level remains high …

MLB likely to speak to Phil Cuzzi, discipline possible  —  Phil Cuzzi missed a game-altering call Sunday, and that was just one of several strange ninth-inning moments for the home plate umpire in the 4-3 Mets win over San Francisco.  —  Afterward, Mets catcher Henry Blanco called for baseball …

Power often the last thing to come  —  Bautista, Byrd, Bay, Ludwick, Cruz, Ibanez were all late bloomers  —  Some figure it out early.  When Jeff Bagwell was in his early years in Houston, Dave Magadan asked him how he could go from hitting four homers in New Britain in his second professional season …

Injury update: Pettitte diagnosed with Grade 1 strain (UPDATED)  —  Andy Pettitte is already back from his MRI.  He was diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain of his groin.  Grade 1 is the least severe diagnosis.  —  The Yankees will continue to evaluate Pettitte over the next couple days.

July 19: a good day for pitcher debuts  —  Today, July 19, marks the anniversary of some rather impressive MLB pitching debuts.  —  It was on July 19, 1936 that teenager Bob Feller first stepped on a MLB mound. 74 years later, he's still with us.  How many people can say they're still around 74 years …

Rockies' Tulowitzki may return in a week  —  MIAMI — Troy Tulowitzki will begin a rehabilitation assignment Wednesday, and the Colorado Rockies hope to activate the shortstop after he spends a week in the minor leagues.  —  Manager Jim Tracy outlined a timetable Monday for Tulowitzki …

J.P. Ricciardi on The Big Show: Major move unlikely for Sox  —  ESPN baseball analyst J.P. Ricciardi joined The Big Show on Friday to discuss the All-Star Game, address possible MLB deadline trades, and give some insight of what its like to be a general manager in the big leagues.  —  Following is a transcript.

Perez to join Mets Monday, assumes bullpen role  —  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Left-hander Oliver Perez is expected to join the New York Mets when they open a three-game series at the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday.  —  Perez was placed on the disabled list June 5 when the Mets said he had tendinitis in his right knee.