BOX SCORE  —  “The players you talk to say he is the best setup man in the game,” Damon said of his former teammate and housemate with the Yankees.  “He has opened some eyes.”  —  Scheduled to work in front of Joba Chamberlain and Soriano when the season opened, Robertson was pushed …

Baseball's latest trade deadline buzz … The Astros' asking price on Hunter Pence has been so prohibitive that competing teams believe he will stay in Houston.  Supposedly Houston wants at least three good pieces, probably young, major-league-ready talent.

Trade edition of news, notes and opinions  —  Earlier this week, Orioles President of Baseball Operations Andy MacPhail met with owner Peter Angelos to discuss potential moves with the trade deadline now nine days away.  I'm told that there is nothing imminent at this point …

Reds' deadline needs remain a mystery  —  Reds general manager Walt Jocketty had a clever line when John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer asked him if the team had targeted a specific area to improve.  —  “It depends on which day,” Jocketty said.  —  On Thursday night, I posed the same question …

No emotional send-off for Carlos Beltran in likely Citi Field finale  —  NEW YORK - What was likely Carlos Beltran's final home at-bat as a Met came and went without so much as a whimper - a harmless ninth-inning pop-up that fit neatly with an otherwise invisible afternoon in Flushing.

Sources: Pat Gillick open to Cubs talk  —  CHICAGO — Longtime baseball executive Pat Gillick is open to talking with the Chicago Cubs about a potential role with the team, according to sources.  —  “If the situation was right for Pat, he would definitely consider the Cubs,” one of his longtime associates told ESPNChicago.com.

Sources: Red Sox, Royals have discussed Francoeur  —  The Red Sox are among the teams interested in Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran.  But some in the industry anticipate that Beltran will insist on his using his no-trade clause to remain in the National League.

LAPD arrests 2 in Bryan Stow beating … Two men suspected of beating San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow into a coma on Opening Day at Dodger Stadium have been arrested by Los Angeles police, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Pirates activate Cedeno, Pearce from DL  —  The Pirates recalled infielders Ronny Cedeno and Steve Pearce from their rehabilitation assignments and reinstated them from the disabled list on Friday.  —  Cedeno, batting .252 with two homers and 23 RBIs in 79 games this season, is recovering from a concussion suffered July 1.

Bankruptcy judge orders Frank McCourt to negotiate with MLB for loan  —  Frank McCourt now has to negotiate with Major League Baseball for a loan after U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Gross decided that the MLB loan was “not a vehicle for Baseball to control” the Dodgers.

Danny Duffy: second-half breakout candidate  —  All stats current through July 21.  —  Royals |  SP |  1 percent Yahoo ownership  —  YTD: 4.58 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 7.5 K/9, 4.1 BB/9, 1.8 K/BB, 41.1% GB%  —  Oliver ROS: 4.89 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 6.9 K/9, 3.3 BB/9, 2.1 K/BB