Brewers Acquire Francisco Rodriguez  —  WEDNESDAY, 12:38am: The Mets are sending $5MM to Milwaukee, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post (on Twitter).  That will essentially cover Rodriguez's 2011 salary.  —  TUESDAY, 10:58pm: The Brewers surprised some people by trading …

Players' ideas would improve All-Star game  —  PHOENIX - Bud Selig's brainwashing is still working.  One of these years, the players in Major League Baseball are going to look at the dumbest rule in the sport - the All-Star game determining home-field advantage in the World Series …

PHOENIX — Arizona's fans booed new villain Prince Fielder every chance they got, letting him know what they thought of his choices for the Home Run Derby.  —  Milwaukee's big first baseman sent them a message with one big swing of the bat: shhh!  —  Shaking off two days of boos …

Beckett bows out with recurring knee soreness  —  PHOENIX — Red Sox right-hander Josh Beckett was confident he would be able to pitch in Tuesday night's All-Star Game, but when he tried to warm up, his left knee told him something different.  —  Beckett was supposed to pitch the bottom …

Blue Jays trade Juan Rivera to Dodgers  —  TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Blue Jays have traded outfielder Juan Rivera to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for a player to be named or cash considerations.  —  The 33-year-old appeared in 70 games for the Blue Jays this season …

All-Star Game getting the cold shoulder  —  Players backing out of Midsummer Classic threatens showcase event for baseball … PHOENIX — Major League Baseball introduced a controversial initiative in 2003, giving home-field advantage in the World Series to the winning league in the All-Star Game.

Mozeliak has blueprint for success  —  The National League Central has spent more than three months waiting on the Cardinals.  —  The time never has been better, the Cardinals believe, to make the rest of the division pay.  —  Nick Punto watched the formula work repeatedly with the Minnesota Twins …

Hitting coach Hudgens key to Met-amorphosis  —  SAN FRANCISCO - There are no pronouncements of a 10-minute fix.  Actually, there are no pronouncements at all.  —  Despite an imposing appearance, larger than any player on the team, Dave Hudgens might be the quietest person in the clubhouse.

Matt Holliday: The one who got away?  —  Matt Holliday had a number of criteria when he entered free agency in the winter before the 2010 season.  —  He wanted to play in a market where baseball mattered, the team was competitive, and where the World Series was a realistic annual goal.

Derek Jeter decision causes stir  —  Forget National League vs. American League.  It's Derek Jeter's right vs. Jeter's wrong in Phoenix on Tuesday.  —  After an unnamed major league official and some players told the New York Daily News that Jeter was wrong to skip Tuesday's All-Star festivities …

Red Sox sign second round draft pick Williams Jerez  —  PHOENIX — The Red Sox have signed second-round pick Williams Jerez.  The toolsy centerfielder out of Grand Street High School New York City agreed to a deal that will pay him Major League Baseball's slot recommended bonus.

82nd All-Star Game: AL at NL  —  Here are the lineups:  —  AMERICAN LEAGUE  —  Asdrubal Cabrera (Indians) SS  —  Robinson Cano (Yankees) 2B  —  Pitching: RHP Jered Weaver (Angels), 11-4, 1.86  —  NATIONAL LEAGUE  —  Prince Fielder (Brewers) 1B  —  Pitching: RHP Roy Halladay (Phillies), 11-3, 2.45