Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers appear to be losing interest in Boston Red Sox's Mike Lowell.  —  ANAHEIM — Mike Lowell is doing his part in trying to prove he could be a useful piece to another club, collecting four hits in a game Saturday night and batting .357 (5 for 14) …

Daily Rumble: Welcome to the Roy Oswalt Show  —  Cliff Lee is gone.  Dan Haren is off the board.  So strike up the band, because this is now The Roy Oswalt Show.  —  There's only one “premium” arm left on the starting-pitching market, and it's attached to the right shoulder of the 32-year-old Astros ace.

Dipoto looks at Saunders W-L record, says Arizona got a ‘winner’  —  A starting pitcher's won-loss record isn't what we crack it up to be.  —  If a pitcher hypothetically goes 16-7, he does so for the same reasons he might go 6-10.  —  He's at the mercy of how many runs his own team scores.

Haren trade shifts focus to Cubs' Lilly  —  The market for Cubs left-hander Ted Lilly just got a lot hotter with the trade Sunday of Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Dan Haren to the Los Angeles Angels.  —  Cubs officials downplayed the idea of any deals being close, but Lilly is scheduled …

Lidge escapes again, Phillies hold off Rockies 5-4  —  PHILADELPHIA—Brad Lidge escaped another bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning and the Philadelphia Phillies held off the Colorado Rockies 5-4 Monday to complete a four-game sweep.  —  Backup catcher Brian Schneider's two-run triple sent …

Joba Chamberlain tests Joe Girardi's patience in tense eighth inning, Phil Hughes' home woes persist  —  After Joe Girardi said last week that Joba Chamberlain needed to earn the role of eighth-inning man, the reliever tested his manager's patience Sunday.  Chamberlain began the inning …

Baseball hall of fame changes is voting rules for veterans  —  COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — The baseball hall of fame has changed the way that managers, umpires, executives and long-retired players will be considered for election.  —  Candidates will be reviewed in three eras: Pre-Integration …

Texas Rangers asking about Chris Volstad, but Florida Marlins don't want to deal  —  Add pitcher Chris Volstad to the list of Marlins players generating interest from teams around the league in the final days before Saturday's non-waiver trading deadline.  —  The Texas Rangers asked about Volstad …

Carlos Zambrano apologizes for tirade … Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano apologized on Monday for his dugout tirade last month, professed his love for Chicago and thanked the team for helping him receive therapy for anger management issues.  —  The former Cubs ace has been on the restricted …

Fielder's future to be decided by Saturday  —  Brewers have three options regarding slugging first baseman  —  MILWAUKEE — By the end of the week, the Brewers will have declared themselves on first baseman Prince Fielder, the biggest bat available on this summer's trade market …

Tampa Bay Rays may use top pitching prospect Jeremy Hellickson as a reliever down the stretch  —  Top prospect Jeremy Hellickson has dominated as a starter at Durham but may help the Rays down the stretch as a reliever.  —  Times]  —  CLEVELAND — RHP prospect Jeremy Hellickson's future is as a starter …

Working Hard or Working Fast?  —  “The wrong way, but faster.”  Max Power  —  I could point to a dozen articles discussing the varying shapes and sizes of the strike zone, but when my friend Don asked whether umpires really change their zone depending on the score, I drew a blank.

The Greatest Trade Rumor In Baseball History  —  A rundown of the relevant parties:  — Oliver Perez, owed $24/2: Arguably the worst pitcher in baseball, Perez has Steve Blass Disease, minus the connotation of once having good control.  Perez allows more homeruns and walks at a per-nine-inning pace …