Source: Jacoby Ellsbury has broken rib  —  BOSTON — Tests administered in Los Angeles on Tuesday show that Jacoby Ellsbury has another fractured rib, according to an industry source who also said the Red Sox outfielder “probably” will miss the rest of the season.

Breaking: Cubs close to dealing Lee to Braves  —  The Cubs are close to trading first baseman Derrek Lee to the Atlanta Braves, I have learned exclusively per my earlier post on ChicagoNow.com.  The trade was first discussed on Sunday evening when the Braves called Cubs GM Jim Hendry …

Bobby Thomson, who hit the 'shot heard ‘round the world’ home run for the Giants, dies at 86  —  The man who hit the most famous home run in baseball history is gone.  —  Bobby Thomson, whose “shot heard ‘round the world” capped a best-of-three playoff and the Giants’ miracle comeback to win …

Thome's shot wins it for Twins over White Sox, 7-6  —  MINNEAPOLIS—Jim Thome hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning against the team that decided not to bring him back this season, sending the Minnesota Twins to a 7-6 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night to stretch their AL Central lead to four games.

Mets Alter Rodriguez's Contract  —  Acting aggressively, and setting up an immediate battle with the players union, the Mets said Tuesday that they would not pay Francisco Rodriguez while he recovered from his torn thumb ligament and that they would no longer guarantee the remainder of his three-year contract, which runs through 2011.

Groin strain revealed by Pettitte's MRI  —  NEW YORK — Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte has been dealt a setback as he attempts to return from a strained left groin, and will not throw off a mound again for approximately one week.  —  Pettitte threw approximately 40 pitches at Yankee Stadium …

Matt Kemp has a heart....and hustles too!  —  I've been defending Matt Kemp all year that it's getting to the point where people think I will never say anything negative about him.  Not true at all.  I've said it before, he's having a good year but not one that you would expect from him.

Josh Willingham likely done for the season  —  With an injury to the meniscus in his left knee worsening rather than improving, Josh Willingham's season — the best of his career before the onset of knee pain — is likely over.  —  “It's almost a certainty he's going to have season-ending surgery next week …

Wally Backman As Mets Manager Is A Bad Idea  —  Jerry Manuel's dismissal after the season seems imminent, so discussion about the Mets' next manager has materialized.  One name that consistently pops up, for some reason, is Wally Backman, former Mets second baseman and current manager of the Single-A Brooklyn Cyclones.

Draft Winners & Losers  —  Sizing up the signing deadline  —  It's impossible to say who had a good draft and who had a bad draft when many of the best players have yet to play a professional game.  But it is possible to judge who had a strong performance around the signing deadline that just passed, and who didn't.

New York Mets plan on bringing Jenrry Mejia up when rosters expand in September; Alex Cora a Ranger  —  Ex-Mets pitcher Nelson Figueroa gives the Astros five innings Tuesday night in a 4-3 win over his old club.  Figueroa doesn't factor in the decision for Houston.

Injury ends Ascanio's rehab stint  —  PITTSBURGH — Jose Ascanio has ended his rehab assignment due to a right-hand injury he recently suffered in an accident in his home.  —  Ascanio will travel to Pittsburgh this week to be examined by hand specialist Dr. Mark Baratz.

Sabathia wins 16th as Yanks topple Tigers  —  Bronx, NY - CC Sabathia struck out nine over seven strong innings to pick up his American League-leading 16th win, as the New York Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers, 6-2, in the second contest of a four-game series.

Rays jump on Tommy Hunter early, pound Rangers  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — One thing that won't come out of Tommy Hunter's mouth is an excuse, and Tuesday night he could have fallen back on the lingering effects of a stomach virus suffered last week.  —  The right-hander, though …

Diamondbacks Set Loux Free  —  The 2010 draft keeps making news even after the signing deadline has passed, with the unprecedented step Tuesday of the Diamondbacks and unsigned first-rounder Barret Loux working with the commissioner's office to make Loux a free agent on Sept. 1.