Top News:
Jayson Stark / MLB:
Daily Rumble: Ranking the trade chips — Hunter Pence and Ubaldo Jimenez stack up as the market's top commodities … Once a week, here at ESPN.com, we roll out our world-famous Power Rankings of all 30 teams. But it's a funny thing this time of year. When trade-deadline season rolls around …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Phillies Nation, Baseball Nation, HardballTalk, Bleacher Report, DRaysBay, Where Have You Gone … and ESPN
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Yanks need starting pitching at deadline — I refuse to believe that the Yankees are going to enter the postseason with a rotation consisting of CC and the Uncertains. — Plain and simple, the Yankees need to acquire a starting pitcher before the non-waiver deadline Sunday at 4 p.m. ET.
Discussion:
Boston Globe and Bleacher Report
Fox Sports:
Sources: Tigers seek to upgrade rotation — FOX Sports — The Tigers, intensifying their efforts to land a starting pitcher, were active on multiple fronts Thursday, aiming for the market's top prize while also trying to establish a fallback position. — The top prize, Rockies right …
Discussion:
Full Count, Bless You Boys and MLB.com's On the Beat
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Red Sox getting aggressive for Jimenez — It now seems more likely that Colorado Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez could be traded. The Red Sox are the most aggressive puruser so far, but the Reds, Indians and Blue Jays are interested. The Yankees are on the outside for now but have some interest in acquiring Jimenez.
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, Full Count and It's About The Money
CBSSports.com Blogs:
Five teams talking Dodgers' Kuroda — Five clubs continue to engage the Dodgers in talks for right-hander Hiroki Kuroda in trade discussions that probably present the biggest wild card between now and Sunday's non-waiver trade deadline. — The Yankees, Red Sox, Rangers …
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, The Knobler Blog, Full Count, Dodgers Blog and Bless You Boys
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Mets' Johan Santana feels good one day after throwing three scoreless innings in first rehab start — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Johan Santana returned to the lonely business of rehab on Friday, the day after throwing three scoreless innings in his first rehab start.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
RELATED:
Mike Nichols / MetsBlog.com:
Johan makes 1st rehab, says he ‘felt good,’ with video
Johan makes 1st rehab, says he ‘felt good,’ with video
Discussion:
Mike Silva's …, NorthJersey.com, New York Post, sny.stats.com and Yahoo! Sports
Fox Sports:
Reds might be sellers at trade deadline — Ever since Colorado ace Ubaldo Jimenez hit the trade market, the Cincinnati Reds have been cited as one of his top suitors. For weeks, baseball observers noted that the Reds needed one starting pitcher — at least — in order to prepare for the pennant drive.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Redleg Nation
Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
KC's trade possibilities focus on rotation as deadline nears — The internal debate by the Royals regarding the merits of sticking with a six-man rotation could become moot over the next few days if the club succeeds in trading one of its starting pitchers.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Royals Review and MLB Rumors
Associated Press:
Hideki Irabu found dead in California — LOS ANGELES — Hideki Irabu joined the New York Yankees 14 years ago in a swell of international excitement. The quirky, flamethrowing Japanese right-hander seemed destined to become a pioneering star for American baseball's marquee franchise.
Discussion:
Ducksnorts, joy of sox, ESPN and It's About The Money
RELATED:
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Hideki Irabu found dead; suicide suspected
Hideki Irabu found dead; suicide suspected
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, SportsGrid, Yahoo! Sports, Deadspin, Beyond the Box Score and Sliding Into Home
Fox Sports:
Tigers, Nats discussing trade for RHP — FOX Sports — The Tigers, unable to land their top pitching targets, are discussing a trade for Nationals right-hander Jason Marquis, according to major-league sources. — Marquis, 8-5 with a 3.95 ERA, is in the second year of a two-year contract …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, HardballTalk and Full Count
New York Post:
Mets fans still have reason to believe — Mets on Twitter — OK. At the top, let's make sure we get a few things straight: — 1. The Mets are on the periphery of the National League wild-card race. They are not yet what you would call in the wild-card race.
Discussion:
Mets Fever and Mets Merized Online
Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Aramis Ramirez softens trade stance — MILWUAKEE — Chicago Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez may be softening his stance that he would veto any trade that had him leaving the city, but as of Thursday the Cubs did not appear to be looking to move him. — When asked Thursday if he would waive …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
RELATED:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Aramis Ramirez Wants To Stay With Cubs
Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Cubs trade Kosuke Fukudome to Indians
Cubs trade Kosuke Fukudome to Indians
Discussion:
Associated Press and Yahoo! Sports