Source: Cardinals enter Oswalt fray  —  Fox Sports  —  The Cardinals have engaged the Astros in trade talks for starter Roy Oswalt, but the teams have struggled to arrive at a fit, according to one major-league source with close knowledge of the talks.  —  The Astros like Class …

Baseball Minor Leagues Will Test for H.G.H. Immediately  —  Blood testing for human growth hormone will begin immediately in the minor leagues, Bud Selig, the commissioner of Major League Baseball, announced on Thursday.  It is the first time a professional sports league in North America will test for the substance.

Angels Acquire Alberto Callaspo  —  Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star is reporting (via Twitter) that infielder Alberto Callaspo has been dealt from the Royals to the Angels in exchange for right-hander Sean O'Sullivan and minor league left-hander Will Smith.

Verlander, Cabrera help Tigers take down Blue Jays  —  DETROIT — Miguel Cabrera started a three-run eighth inning with an RBI double, and Justin Verlander settled down after a rocky start to go eight innings in the Detroit Tigers' 5-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday.

Ozzie: Options ‘open now’ after Jenks' blown save  —  SEATTLE — The White Sox's closer's role is open after Bobby Jenks blew a lead for the second time on this 10-game trip.  —  “Our options are open now,” manager Ozzie Guillen said Wednesday night after Jenks allowed a two-run single …

Podsednik says he'd like to stay in KC  —  The name of just about every Royal is being thrown around in trade rumors these days.  —  And as the team continues to slump, some of these rumors are bound to come true.  —  Jose Guillen knows this.  David DeJesus knows this.

Red Sox need deadline spark  —  Epstein working to upgrade in outfield, bullpen, behind plate … OAKLAND, Calif. — With less than 10 days remaining before the July 31 deadline, the Boston Red Sox will need to be aggressive in the trade market in order to remain contenders in the highly competitive American League East.

Constant lineup tweaks paying off for Maddon  —  Rays' offense has second-greatest run differential in Majors  —  In an ideal world, Joe Maddon would walk into his office, take a look at his lineup card and fill in two names.  —  The Rays' manager would have seven spots set in stone each day …

Marlins walk-off Rockies 3-2 to win series in Miami  —  MIAMI — A gentle morning breeze stirred the flags at Sun Life Stadium Thursday.  The grass was green, expectant.  The night's wicked storm was hours away.  Manager Jim Tracy, who has a place in Florida, sat back on the bench and enjoyed the moment.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies survived another poor offensive showing, just a bit too late to reward Cole Hamels ‘ command performance in blazing heat.  —  Placido Polanco homered leading off the 11th inning as the Phillies ended the St. Louis Cardinals’ eight-game winning streak …

Phillies pitcher Moyer, 47, headed for 15-day DL  —  ST. LOUIS (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jamie Moyer is headed for the 15-day disabled list with an elbow injury that forced him out of his last start after only one inning.  —  The 47-year-old left-hander was hurt Tuesday …

MLB clears Mark Cuban to bid; judge reassures Rangers manager  —  Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has been cleared by Major League Baseball to bid on the Texas Rangers, his lawyer, Clifton Jessup of Dallas, said today.  —  Meanwhile, Rangers manager Ron Washington, called to court …

Ralph Houk, Yankees Manager, Dies at 90  —  Ralph Houk, a third-string catcher for the Yankees who went on to win three straight American League pennants and two World Series championships in his first seasons as their manager, died Wednesday at his home in Winter Haven, Fla. He was 90.

CUBS IN BRIEF: Brenly's hat in ring; Trammell biding time  —  Unlike the last two managerial hiring processes for the Cubs, in which general manager Jim Hendry had a top candidate in mind early, he says he considers this one wide open as he begins looking for Lou Piniella's replacement.

Twelve Thoughts: Dodgers Ownership, Upton and Griffey, All-Star Bonuses  —  o.  Bud Selig needs to find a new owner for the Dodgers.  —  Time to make amends, commish.  You steered Frank and Jamie McCourt, the dodgy duo from the Evil Coast, into control of the Dodgers.  They've shown they weren't to be trusted.

Leyland unfazed by Boesch's struggles  —  DETROIT — Since the All-Star break, the Tigers' offense has sputtered.  No one is feeling the struggles more than rookie slugger Brennan Boesch.  —  Prior to the break, the rookie owned a .342 average with 49 RBIs and 12 home runs in his 65 games since …

Reds, Baker to talk contract in August  —  The Reds will address manager Dusty Baker's contract situation in early August.  —  Baker is in the final year of a three-year deal.  He's made it clear that he would like an extension.  —  “I didn't come here to leave,” he said.