Yankees' Pena on DL after appendectomy  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Yankees reserve infielder Ramiro Pena underwent an emergency appendectomy surgery this morning at a Tampa hospital.  —  It was the second appendectomy in two weeks for a Yankees player.  Joba Chamberlain …

Cabrera, Huff Lift Indians Over Twins 5-2  —  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — David Huff pitched seven scoreless innings and Asdrubal Cabrera hit a three-run homer to lift the Cleveland Indians to a 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins in the first game of a day-night doubleheader on Monday.

Source: Mets would pay Beltran's salary in deal  —  NEW YORK — There are no shortage of suitors for Carlos Beltran as the trade deadline approaches.  And the New York Mets are demanding top-notch young talent in return for the outfielder because they are willing to cover his remaining salary, according to a major league source.

Trade market snapshot  —  Generally speaking, baseball teams are valuing their better prospects and young big leaguers more highly now than a veteran National League executive can recall.  “Seems like the big-market teams have caught on,” the man told this blog.

Nolan Ryan Hospitalized With Heart Pain  —  HOUSTON (AP) — Texas Rangers President Nolan Ryan is in a Houston hospital undergoing tests on his heart.  The Rangers said in a statement Monday the 64-year-old Ryan is “resting comfortably and reports he is feeling better.”

Freeman drives in three to back Lowe as Braves top Rockies  —  DENVER — Freddie Freeman homered and drove in three runs and right-hander Derek Lowe handcuffed the Colorado Rockies over 6 1-3 innings in the Atlanta Braves' 7-4 win Monday night.  —  Lowe must have felt right at home …

Ortiz begins serving three-game suspension  —  Red Sox DH has four-game ban for brawl with Orioles reduced  —  Red Sox slugger David Ortiz is not in the starting lineup for Monday night's game at Baltimore, as he will begin serving a suspension he received last week from Major League Baseball.

Pirates considering acquisition of pricey ‘rental’ players  —  HOUSTON — As they set their targets for trade offers, the Pirates are willing to consider acquiring a high-priced “rental” player to provide a boost in the playoff chase.  —  “We are open to various types of players …

Sources: Tigers interested in Orioles' Guthrie  —  Add another name to the Tigers' list of potential pitching acquisitions: Baltimore right-hander Jeremy Guthrie.  —  The Tigers have interest in Guthrie, sources say, but he's behind the likes of Ubaldo Jimenez and Hiroki Kuroda on their wish list.

How I Got Suspended By ESPN  —  This happened almost eleven years ago.  There aren't any good guys in this story, including me.  Granted, some guys might seem gooder than others.  But that's your pick.  —  It was the middle of September, 2000.  I was living in Boston …

Halladay leaves game early as Cubs beat Phillies  —  CHICAGO — Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Pena homered to back a dominant start by Rodrigo Lopez, and the Chicago Cubs beat Philadelphia 6-1 Monday on a night when Phillies ace Roy Halladay left the game because of the heat.

Stanton, Hensley lead resurgent Marlins past depleted Mets  —  NEW YORK — Clay Hensley came off the disabled list to win his first major league start in three years, leading the resurgent Florida Marlins past the New York Mets 4-1 on Monday night.  —  Mike Stanton hit a two-run double …

Rockies wise to shop Jimenez in weak market for top starters … The Colorado Rockies are absolutely doing the right thing by shopping talented righthander Ubaldo Jimenez.  They also are doing the right thing by asking for the moon and the sun for him.  —  On this year's trade market …

Red Sox go deep to beat Rays  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It took only two batters for Josh Beckett [stats]'s balky left knee to get its first test here last night.  —  It came up aces.  —  Just like the Red Sox [team stats] ace's right arm.  —  Problem was, by the time the game finally ended …

Bucs eyeing bat, 'pen help before Deadline  —  PITTSBURGH — The Pirates' pursuit to upgrade in advance of the July 31 Trade Deadline appears to have the club eyeing two areas of need much more fervently than any other.  Multiple sources have told MLB.com that the Pirates' inquiries thus far …