Sources: Cubs, Dodgers near deal for Marmol  —  The Chicago Cubs are closing in on a trade that would send Carlos Marmol to the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to two sources.  —  Marmol was designated for assignment on June 25, giving the Cubs a 10-day period to trade him or give him his unconditional release.

Phillies hit new low in loss to Dodgers  —  LOS ANGELES - The Bleep Happens season of 2013 reached a low point Sunday afternoon when the Phillies came within one out of being shut out for the eighth time in a demoralizing 6-1 loss to the sizzling Los Angeles Dodgers at sizzling Dodger Stadium (see Instant Replay).

Aoki Can Become Free Agent After 2014  —  When the Brewers signed Norichika Aoki to a two-year deal with a club option for 2014 prior to the 2012 season, the belief around baseball was that Aoki would remain under team control as an arbitration-eligible player following completion of that contract.

Signing Predictions For Top 30 International Prospects  —  Tomorrow is July 2, which is opening day for the 2013-14 international signing period and the first day of the year when 16-year-old foreign prospects can sign.  Here are my final predictions for where each player ranked among the top 30 international prospects will sign.

D-backs to honor firefighters  —  The Arizona Diamondbacks will honor the 19 firefighters killed in the wildfires in Arizona near the town of Yarnell.  —  The firefighters were working to battle a monstrous blaze believed to have been started by a lightning strike on Friday during a region-wide heat wave.

Blue Jays celebrate Canada Day with big win over Tigers  —  TORONTO — Mark DeRosa is the first to admit he isn't exactly an intimidating batter.  —  DeRosa, a 38-year-old bench player the Blue Jays added this season for depth, has been dealing with a sore neck and a slump at the plate …

Kipnis among best second basemen  —  Take a guess: Which player has the highest OPS of any second baseman in the American League?  —  Nope, the leader is Jason Kipnis of the Indians — the surprising Indians, who on Sunday tied the Tigers for first place in the AL Central.

Verlander thinks he found delivery problem  —  Justin Verlander said Monday in an interview with ESPN Radio that he believes he has identified a problem with his mechanics that he hopes will help him return to his dominating self.  —  Verlander, 30, has been solid this season, with an 8-5 record …

Jemile Weeks might be switching to center field  —  Jemile Weeks has fallen out of the A's plans since a strong rookie season in 2011, spending part of last season and all of this season back at Triple-A, and now he's trying to learn a new position.  —  Weeks, who previously played …

Rockies' Michael Cuddyer extends hitting streak to 27 games  —  More photos.  —  Let's put this into perspective.  —  Rockies outfielder Michael Cuddyer extended his franchise-record hitting streak to 27 games Sunday with a two-out single in the eighth off Giants reliever Sandy Rosario.

Mets confidential  —  Things can change over 30 days, but the Mets aren't expecting a significant building block — think a Carlos Gonzalez-type outfielder — to land in their laps before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.  —  “I don't think that's something [for] right now,” a club official said yesterday.