Top News:
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Mariners Sign Helsin Martinez For $2 Million — The Mariners have signed Dominican outfielder Helsin Martinez for $2 million. — Martinez, 16, is a 6-foot-5, 190-pound corner outfielder who many scouts consider to have the best righthanded power in Latin America among this year's July 2-eligible players.
Discussion:
Seattle Times and Pro Ball NW
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Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Mets Sign Venezuelan Catcher Jose Garcia — The Mets have signed Venezuelan catcher Jose Garcia. Bonus terms were not immediately available. — A 16-year-old from San Felipe, Garcia was considered one of the top catchers this year. He's a 5-foot-11, 180-pound switch-hitter with a line-drive swing and good catch-and-throw skills.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Mets Merized Online
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Top International Targets
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, River Avenue Blues, Pirates Prospects, Royals Review and Bucs Dugout
Rick Gano / Associated Press:
Phil Humber pitches White Sox to 1-0 win over Cubs — CHICAGO—Phil Humber, backed by strong defense, pitched shutout ball for seven innings and Juan Pierre singled in the only run Saturday, lifting the Chicago White Sox past the Cubs 1-0. — Humber (8-4), who made the team in spring training …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and Bleed Cubbie Blue
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Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Pierre starting to turn on pitches early in count — CHICAGO — Juan Pierre has raised his average from .248 to .262 over his last five games entering Saturday's contest at Wrigley Field, while driving in six runs during that span. The left-handed-hitting leadoff man has turned …
Discussion:
South Side Sox
D.J. Short / HardballTalk:
Cubs activate Marlon Byrd from disabled list — The Cubs have activated Marlon Byrd from the disabled list, exactly six weeks after he suffered facial fractures when he was hit by a pitch from Red Sox right-hander Alfredo Aceves on May 21. — Byrd is batting sixth and playing center field this afternoon against the White Sox.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Rick Morrissey / Chicago Sun Times:
Ozzie defends Pierre against all critics, including Sox GM Williams — CHICAGO, IL - JULY 01: Juan Pierre #1 of the Chicago White Sox celebrates a win with teammate Paul Konerko #14 against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on July 1, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox defeated the Cubs 6-4.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Joe Kay / Associated Press:
Indians lose Carmona, beat Reds 3-1 — CINCINNATI—Michael Brantley hit a three-run homer and Frank Herrmann took over after Indians starter Fausto Carmona took a tumble, pitching three scoreless innings Saturday for his first big league win in Cleveland's 3-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
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Associated Press:
Indians hit 3 HRs, beat Reds 8-2
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe, Red Reporter and Yahoo! Sports
Enrique Rojas / ESPN:
Rangers give Nomar Mazara $5M bonus — ORLANDO — The Texas Rangers signed Dominican prospect Nomar Mazara on Saturday for a record bonus over $5 million, a source told ESPNdeportes.com. — Mazara, 16, is a 6-foot-5 outfielder who hits for power from the left side of the plate.
Discussion:
Baseball America, MLB Daily Dish, Lone Star Ball, HardballTalk, MLB Rumors and NESN.com
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Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Royals Sign Elier Hernandez For $3.05 Million
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Lone Star Ball and MLB Rumors
Pedro Moura / ESPN:
Angels' Hunter sidelined Saturday by hurt hand — ANAHEIM, Calif. — Los Angeles Angels right fielder Torii Hunter is day to day after leaving Friday's 5-0 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers after two innings with a bruise in his left hand. — He was immediately taken for precautionary X-rays …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
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Mark Zuckerman / CSNwashington.com:
Davey Johnson wants changes to Nats roster, staff … In his previous managerial stints, Davey Johnson never shied away from speaking his mind. Eleven years away from the big-league game haven't changed that. — Before making his home debut as manager of the Nationals …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
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Scott Lauber / Clubhouse Insider:
Adrian Gonzalez likely bound for right field tonight — plus, links — HOUSTON — Get ready to see Adrian Gonzalez in right field one more time. — With two interleague games remaining, Terry Francona is leaning heavily toward playing Gonzalez in right field again here tonight in order …
Discussion:
Over the Monster, HardballTalk and NESN.com
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George Vecsey / New York Times:
For One Minor League Baseball Team, Never an Empty Seat — DAYTON, Ohio — The assembly line lives. Back when this region thrived on heavy industry, a Delco plant bustled on the edge of downtown. Nowadays, on the site where automobile parts once rolled off the belt, Dayton produces sold-out baseball games.
Discussion:
Redleg Nation
Sarah Kuta / All Things Rockies:
Rockies' Greg Reynolds back at Coors Field — Rockies pitcher Greg Reynolds throws during spring training in Scottsdale, Ariz. — By now, Greg Reynolds should have some of the landmarks along I-25 memorized. — The right-handed pitcher is making his third “emergency” …
Discussion:
Purple Row
Associated Press:
Halladay Pitches 8-Hitter as Phils Beat Jays 5-3 — TORONTO (AP) — Roy Halladay pitched an eight-hitter against his former team to win his sixth-straight decision, Chase Utley hit a go-ahead home run and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 on Saturday.
Discussion:
Associated Press and Bluebird Banter
