Top News:
Canadian Press:
All-Star Freeman has three hits as Braves beat Reds — ATLANTA — Freddie Freeman celebrated his newly won All-Star berth by driving in four runs with three hits and the Atlanta Braves beat Mat Latos and the Cincinnati Reds 6-5 on Thursday night. — Freeman held off Dodgers rookie Yasiel Puig …
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Associated Press, Talking Chop and ESPN
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Associated Press:
Freeman, Delabar win All-Star Final Vote; Puig finishes second — Freddie Freeman set a record with 19.7 million votes to earn his first All-Star berth. — NEW YORK (AP) — Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman and Toronto reliever Steve Delabar have won the fan voting for the last spots in the All-Star game.
Discussion:
ESPN, Bluebird Banter and TSN.ca
Fox Sports:
Sources: Jeter returning Thursday — The Captain is back. — Derek Jeter will rejoin the New York Yankees on Thursday afternoon and is expected to be in their lineup at either shortstop or designated hitter against the Kansas City Royals, according to major league sources.
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HardballTalk, NESN.com, CBSSports.com, baseballmusings.com and Pinstriped Bible
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Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
Towers: Relief help bigger target for trade — PHOENIX — Trade rumors have linked the D-backs to a number of high-profile starting pitchers, but the team seems more likely to add bullpen help. — “I'm not as concerned probably with our starting pitching and looking externally …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Rangers Expressed Interest In Aoki — The Rangers have expressed interest in Brewers outfielder Norichika Aoki during talks with the Brewers about starter Yovani Gallardo, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Aoki has a cheap $1.5MM club option for 2014, so it's unclear whether the Brewers will move him.
Discussion:
CBSSports.com Sports News …, MLB.com and Brew Crew Ball
Tyler Emerick / MLB.com:
Montero calls out Puig's behavior — D-backs catcher disappointed in Dodgers' rookie — PHOENIX — Like so many around baseball, D-backs catcher Miguel Montero has been captivated by Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig's historic first month in the Majors. But when asked about the manner …
Discussion:
MLB, ESPN, NESN.com, HardballTalk and CBSSports.com
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Minor Moves: Jeremy Bonderman, Aaron Laffey — On this date ten years ago, the Marlins were making a surprising wild card push and traded for one of the best available relievers, Rangers closer Ugueth Urbina. Double-A first baseman Adrian Gonzalez was part of the package going to Texas.
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Marlins To Sign First-Rounder Colin Moran — The Marlins and No. 6 overall draft pick Colin Moran have agreed to terms for the full slot bonus of $3,516,500, tweets Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. MLB.com's Joe Frisaro adds that completion of a physical is the only step remaining …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Fish Stripes and The Fish Pond
Associated Press:
Baseball Union Head Assails Leaks on Drug Inquiry — NEW YORK — The head of the players' union said Thursday baseball's drug agreement could be undermined by leaks to the media about whether players are cooperating with an investigation by the commissioner.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Jose de Jesus Ortiz / Ultimate Astros:
Astros close to finalizing deal to move spring home to Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. — Close to finalizing a deal to move their spring training home from Kissimmee, Fla., to Palm Beach Gardens, Astros officials visited some of the top spring training sites in Arizona last week to model their future Grapefruit League home.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter, Metsblog and ESPN
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Yankees Designate Travis Ishikawa For Assignment — The Yankees designated first baseman Travis Ishikawa for assignment to open a roster spot for Derek Jeter, they announced today. Ishikawa, who received only two plate appearances with the Yankees, is expected to go on waivers today, MLBTR has learned.
Fox Sports:
PED probe unseemly, tough to avoid — I hate baseball's investigation of Biogenesis. — Hate that the sport paid for evidence, according to Porter Fischer, a former associate of Biogenesis founder Tony Bosch. Hate that baseball's top officials buddied up to Bosch — an alleged drug dealer — in exchange for his cooperation.
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, HardballTalk, MLB Rumors and Associated Press
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Live updates: Red Sox at Mariners — Top 3rd: Red Sox 4, Mariners 0 - David Ortiz is smoking hot. Just launched his 19th homer to deep right-center with Dustin Perdoia aboard. — Top 2nd: Red Sox 2, Mariners 0 - David Ortiz breaks the all-time DH record for hits (1,689) double to left.
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Lookout Landing and Over the Monster
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Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com:
Teams are waiting for the Mariners to start selling solid veterans …
Teams are waiting for the Mariners to start selling solid veterans …
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CBSSports.com, River Avenue Blues, Lookout Landing, MLB Rumors and The Process Report