Top News:
Joel Sherman / NY Post: Hardball:
Yankees calling up Montero — The Yankees were still working through some issues involving which players to call up Thursday when rosters expand. But there were three players not in dispute: Jesus Montero is going to be promoted, and Manuel Banuelos and Dellin Betances will not be, The Post has learned.
RELATED:
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
No scraps for us to nibble on — There was serious anticipation at Fenway Park last night. Were the Yankees and Red Sox going to revert to old-school ways? Was there a possibility that a night at Fenway could turn into the Jerry Springer show or a free Rolling Stones concert with Hells Angels providing security?
Discussion:
Dan Shaughnessy Watch
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
On Baseball: Yankees-Red Sox Games Go On and On
Discussion:
NESN.com, HardballTalk, Baseball Nation, ESPN, Toeing the Rubber, WEEI, Over the Monster, BBTF's Baseball Primer … and Fenway West
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Girardi eager to see what Montero can offer
Discussion:
New York Post, Minor League Ball, FanGraphs Baseball, Pinstripe Alley and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Frank McCourt is offered $1.2 billion for Dodgers — The all-cash bid comes from Bill Burke, founder of the L.A. Marathon, plus 'state-owned investment institutions of the People's Republic of China' and unidentified American investors, a letter sent to Frank McCourt says.
Discussion:
Dodgers Blog, MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, Purple Row and 6-4-2
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Report: $1.2 billion offered to McCourt — Morosi: Inability to sell teams a problem for MLB — NewsCore — Embattled Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has been offered $1.2 billion to sell his struggling ballclub, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
New York Post:
Einhorn seeks route to full Mets ownership — Hedge-fund titan David Einhorn wants a clear path to becoming principal owner of the Mets. — Einhorn is pushing Major League Baseball baseball to pre-approve him as an owner of the baseball franchise, even though it will be five years …
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, New York Times, Mets Merized Online and Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Mets plan to sell small blocks of team to family members — According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, “Sources familiar with the organization's plans said Fred Wilpon and family will sell small blocks of the team to multiple family members and friends that add up to roughly the same …
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Source: Small blocks, no one partner — With David Einhorn out as prospective minority partner, the Mets no longer are looking to sell one chunk of the team for $200 million or more. Instead, sources familiar with the organization's plans said Fred Wilpon and family will sell small blocks …
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online
Associated Press:
Brett Lawrie leads Blue Jays to 8-6 win over Orioles — BALTIMORE - Brett Lawrie hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning, Yunel Escobar had his second straight four-hit game, and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Baltimore Orioles 8-6 Thursday.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and Camden Chat
RELATED:
Bob Elliott / Agence France Presse:
SPORTS BASEBALL — Jays GM scouting Japanese phenom Darvish
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
Joe Capozzi / Fish Tank blog:
Florida Marlins not expecting Josh Johnson to make another start this year — RHP Josh Johnson will try to throw off a mound in the next day or two, but the Marlins are not expecting him to make another start for them this year, according to baseball operations president Larry Beinfest.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
RELATED:
Joe Capozzi / Fish Tank blog:
Florida Marlins SS Hanley Ramirez considering offseason surgery on ailing left shoulder
Discussion:
Fish Stripes
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Guyer to be promoted, Ruggiano activated — The Rays have confirmed they will call up OF Brandon Guyer from Triple-A Durham when rosters are expanded on Thursday and will activate OF Justin Ruggiano off the DL. — Guyer, acquired from the Cubs in the Matt Garza deal, hit .
RELATED:
Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
‘Impressive’ Trout learning to adapt on fly — SEATTLE — Baseball, you hear every day in every clubhouse in the Major Leagues, is a game of adjustments. Mike Trout clearly has taken the message to heart. — In the course of his second full professional season, having turned 20 just 24 days ago …
RELATED:
Steve Dilbeck / Dodgers Blog:
Dodgers third baseman Casey Blake to have neck surgery — Casey Blake, the straight-shooting, hard-working, likable third baseman, has decided to call it a season. And perhaps a career? — Blake finally succumbed to the neck injury that has plagued him for the last two months …
Discussion:
Mike Scioscia's tragic illness, Yahoo! Sports and HardballTalk
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Jose Reyes tries to avoid talk of batting race with Ryan Braun, scores go-ahead run in Mets' 3-2 win — The constant texts from friends, with their real-time updates about Ryan Braun's at-bats, make it impossible for Jose Reyes to forget that he is striving for the first batting title in Mets history.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
K-Rod deal complete, Mets get Rosario & Herrera — The Mets will get Adrian Rosario and Daniel Ray Herrera as the players-to-be-named-later in the deal that sent Francisco Rodriguez to the Brewers, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. — Spanning 106 games in relief during 2009 and 2010 for the Reds …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Amazin' Avenue, MLB Daily Dish and MLB Rumors
Associated Press:
Indians Outfielder Choo Back on DL — CLEVELAND (AP) — Outfielder Shin-Soo Choo has been placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Cleveland Indians, yet another injury for the team to contend overcome. — Choo, who injured his side last week while making a check swing, will be making his second trip to the DL.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and Associated Press
Jamey Newberg / MLB.com:
Newberg Report: Alfaro poised behind plate — Colombian catcher makes stateside debut with Spokane — Part 21 in a season-long series projecting a hypothetical 25-man roster made up solely of prospects from the Rangers' Minor League system. — The Rangers were uncharacteristically quiet …
