Top News:
New York Post:
Baseball Hall of Fame may lower induction wait to 3 years — COOPERSTOWN — Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera could become Hall of Famers much faster than expected after they retire. The waiting time is currently five years after a player retires to be named to the ballot.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
RELATED:
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles' Uehara aware of trade talk — Reliever ‘not really thinking about’ being dealt before July 31 deadline — Orioles reliever Koji Uehara's English is still a work-in progress, but that doesn't mean that he's not aware of the ongoing speculation about his future in Baltimore.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, Baseball Analytics Blog and Bless You Boys
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Game Time … BALTIMORE — Even if 19-year-old Mike Trout hits hundreds of home runs during his big league career, he will never forget the first. — Everything went right for Trout on Sunday, whose three-run drive in the eighth inning helped secure a 9-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.
Dave Cameron / FanGraphs Baseball:
When Statistics Are Not Helpful — Here on FanGraphs, we talk a lot about probability and likely outcomes. When making a decision, we think it's generally wise to understand historical precedent, and to learn from history rather than repeat it. — But, there are times in life that you're …
Discussion:
Camden Chat, Halos Heaven, Pinstripe Alley, NotGraphs Baseball, HardballTalk, Beyond the Box Score and Baseball Nation
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Carlos Beltran wants NL, no DH — MIAMI — Carlos Beltran would not rule out accepting a trade to any of the five primary teams in pursuit of him, but the on-the-block Met expressed a strong preference to remain in the National League and in right field. — Beltran said he was uninterested …
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, Talking Chop, Baseball Time in Arlington and NESN.com
RELATED:
The Knobler Blog:
Beltran derby into final days, Rangers interested
Discussion:
ESPN and Cincinnati Reds
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Carlos Beltran a likely trade chip, but Mets probably won't move any other players: source
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Heath Bell ready for anything this week — Padres' closer could land in a number of different places, and he has his bags packed … PHILADELPHIA — Heath Bell knows what happens to guys like him this time of year. He knows because he has his sources — ESPN (obviously), his wife …
Yahoo! Sports:
Getting to the nitty-gritty at the trade deadline — The first round is finally over. — That's what June and the first weeks of July have been to the baseball trading deadline: the first round of a boxing match - a few shots here, some dodging there, focus more outward than inward.
Discussion:
Philly Sports Daily and NESN.com
Josh Kosman / New York Post:
JPMorgan Chase holding up Mets-Einhorn deal — The Mets' pending deal to sell a minority stake in the team to David Einhorn is dragging on well beyond its expected closing date because lender JPMorgan Chase is not letting the team structure the deal as a loan, making it harder to complete, The Post has learned.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MetsBlog.com
Rich Hofmann / Philly.com:
Hall of Fame induction speech was 100% Conlin — OOPERSTOWN, N.Y. - His iPad teleprompter was balking on him, so Bill Conlin did what Bill Conlin does. He told a joke. — “I don't want you to think it was hot today,” he said, “but Pete Rose was reported down on Main Street selling autographed Slurpees …
Ian Begley / ESPN:
GM: A-Rod could return second week of August — NEW YORK — The New York Yankees could have third baseman Alex Rodriguez back as soon the second week in August, according to general manager Brian Cashman. — In an interview on that aired Sunday on ESPN's “Baseball Tonight,” …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, River Avenue Blues, It's About The Money, Bronx Baseball Daily and Sliding Into Home
David Lennon / Newsday:
Wright returns with big offense for Mets — MIAMI — David Wright was a hero for about 20 minutes Sunday after his two-run homer gave the Mets a brief lead that later was blown up by Bobby Parnell. Still, Wright's return this weekend had to be considered the silver lining of this lost series.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Associated Press:
Stubbs' home run gives Reds back-to-back wins over Braves — CINCINNATI, Ohio — Drew Stubbs led off the ninth with a first-pitch homer, sending the Cincinnati Reds to a 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday night and their first set of back-to-back victories in more than five weeks.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Rasmus offered to White Sox, sources say — • Publicly insistent that they are not seeking a destination for center fielder Colby Rasmus, the Cardinals have made the struggling 24-year-old talent available for the right deal with the Chicago White Sox, according to several sources familiar with the situation.
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, Full Count, Baseball Nation, South Side Sox and CloserNews
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Will Graves / Associated Press:
Pirates snap 3-game skid with 4-3 win over Cards
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
Associated Press:
Colon, Rivera help Yankees hold off Athletics — NEW YORK — Mariano Rivera was in rare trouble. Four straight singles trimmed Oakland's deficit to two and left the bases loaded for David DeJesus. — He hit a line drive toward first — and suddenly the game was over. Rivera and the Yankees had caught a break.
RELATED:
Steven Wine / Associated Press:
Marlins rally by Mets 5-4 — MIAMI—John Buck doubled for his first career pinch-hit RBI to drive in the go-ahead run with two out in the eighth inning, and the Florida Marlins rallied past the New York Mets 5-4 on Sunday. — The Marlins trailed 4-3 going into the eighth against Bobby Parnell (3-2).
RELATED:
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Final Score: Marlins 5 Mets 4
Discussion:
Fish Stripes, New York Times and Amazin' Avenue
