Let's Make a Deal: Mets Trade Market Update  —  The Mets want a hitter, who is under contract through at least the next season or two; and their biggest strength - young pitching - is in high demand.  —  I had been hearing the Mets would only consider moving Bobby Parnell in a deal for an experienced …

Sources: Garza close to being Ranger  —  The Texas Rangers are close to acquiring right-hander Matt Garza from the Chicago Cubs, according to two officials with knowledge of the discussions.  —  The Cubs will receive a strong package of prospects for Garza, who is eligible for free agency at the end of the season, the officials said.

Yankees president: A-Rod returning Monday  —  Alex Rodriguez will be activated and return to the New York Yankees' lineup Monday night against the Texas Rangers, team president Randy Levine told USA TODAY Sports, provided Rodriguez stays healthy through Sunday.

Game 92: Mets vs. Phillies at 7:10 PM  —  The Good: The Mets open the second half of their season with seven straight home games.  They are 5-3 in their last eight games.  David Wright has 45 hits since June 12, the second-highest total in the majors.  —  The Bad: The Mets are 3-6 against the Phillies this season.

Brandon Phillips Is the Most Entertaining Player in Baseball  —  And he's got a nice smile, too.  —  Because someone has to be.  —  “Baseball is boring.”  —  Brandon Phillips is serious.  He professes this with a smirk, arching his eyebrows ever so slightly as he speaks, but the man means what he says.

Checkup looks good for Dodgers  —  With top players back and performing as expected, surging Dodgers look like favorites to capture the weak NL West.  —  The Dodgers look to lock up the National League West after the All-Star break in part thanks to the return of Hanley Ramirez, right …

Yankees return Jeter (quad) to disabled list  —  The New York Yankees on Friday placed captain Derek Jeter back on the disabled list due to a strained right quad.  —  Jeter will be eligible to return from his latest DL stint on July 27.  The Yankees will call up Brent Lillibridge to take his roster spot.

Red Sox Sign Contreras, Lyon To Minor League Deals  —  The Red Sox have signed right-handers Jose Contreras and Brandon Lyon to minor league deals and assigned each to Triple-A Pawtucket, the team announced (hat tip: Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald on Twitter).

Jays open second half with three-game set against Rays  —  The Sports Network  —  (Sports Network) - The Toronto Blue Jays try to start their second half off on the right foot tonight when they begin a three-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays at Rogers Centre.

Peter Bourjos suffers a setback  —  Broken bone in Bourjos' wrist hasn't fully healed, meaning the center fielder won't be back before August.  —  X-rays taken this week showed that the broken bone in Peter Bourjos' right wrist hasn't fully healed, a setback that will delay the return of the center fielder by one or two more weeks.

Why baseball is a metaphor for life in America  —  US baseball players have been taking some rare time off this week.  In a gruelling sport with at least 162 games between April and September, the so-called All Star break gives weary bodies a chance to rest.