Holliday OK after having moth extracted from ear  —  ST. LOUIS  • Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday had to leave Monday's game in the eighth inning after a moth flew into his right ear and became lodged in the canal.  —  Holliday rushed off the field in clear pain and tugging at his right ear after the event.

Angel Pagan delayed in bathroom while on deck, New York Mets lose 10-0 laugher to Phillies  —  PHILADELPHIA - The count was 3-2 on Nick Evans in the top of the fifth inning Monday night when Angel Pagan realized he was needed on the field.  —  In the dugout, Terry Collins shrugged and began yelling for Pagan.

Blue Jays trade Hill, McDonald to D-Backs for Johnson  —  The Toronto Blue Jays have traded second baseman Aaron Hill and utility infielder John McDonald to the Arizona Diamondbacks for second baseman Kelly Johnson.  —  Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos announced the deal in a press conference at the Rogers Centre on Tuesday.

MLB feels effects of East Coast earthquake  —  Shock waves from an earthquake in Virginia affected MLB along the East Coast on Tuesday.  —  The press box swayed slightly and sent some fans toward the exits during the first game of a doubleheader between the Indians and Seattle Mariners in Cleveland.

Dodgers designate Dioner Navarro  —  LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers designated veteran catcher Dioner Navarro, a former All-Star, for assignment on Tuesday at a point when he is hitting .193.  Navarro had struggled mightily of late, striking out 10 times in 35 at-bats this month.

Top Starters Eschew Free Agency  —  Boras Corporation client Carlos Gonzalez bucked the agency's trend in January, signing a seven-year, $80MM deal instead of going to free agency as soon as possible.  Publicly, Scott Boras said, “I was very much on board with this decision,” …

Curtis Granderson makes case for American League MVP, one voter calls Yankees CF ‘the front-runner’  —  All it took were two sessions in a Texas batting cage last August to transform Curtis Granderson from Bronx bust to AL MVP candidate.  —  With five weeks remaining in the season …

Alex Rodriguez out with jammed thumb  —  NEW YORK — New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez was scratched from the lineup on Tuesday night with what is being called a jammed left thumb.  —  Rodriguez will see team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad later Tuesday to determine the extent of the injury.

Rockies Acquire Kevin Kouzmanoff  —  The Rockies have acquired third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff and cash considerations from the A's for a player to be named or cash considerations, the teams announced.  Colorado's new acquisition will report to Triple-A, according to the Rockies.

Phillies Catcher's Statistics Should Have a Win Column  —  PHILADELPHIA — Brian Schneider could easily be in a worse spot right now.  All he needed to do Monday night was look across the diamond to his former club, the Mets, who entered Tuesday's games 22 ½ games behind …

Perception or reality: Wandy Rodriguez ... underrated?  —  News that the Rockies claimed Wandy Rodriguez off waivers and will have until Thursday afternoon to potentially work out a trade with the Astros for him has me wondering if the 32-year-old left-hander is underrated.

Bucs designate reliever Beimel for assignment  —  PITTSBURGH — The Pirates designated reliever Joe Beimel for assignment on Tuesday in order to open up a roster spot for starting pitcher Ross Ohlendorf.  Ohlendorf will start Tuesday's game against the Brewers.

Nationals beat punchless Diamondbacks 4-1  —  WASHINGTON (AP)—Nearly five months into his first season with the Washington Nationals, Jayson Werth(notes) believes he's finally getting into a groove at the plate.  —  Given the lofty expectations that came with his $126 million contract, the upswing is quite overdue.