Scouts flocking to watch Sox  —  With players available for right price, especially Peavy and Crain, contenders on prowl  —  White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper on overseeing Jesse Crain's injury rehab.  —  Scouts are well aware White Sox starter Jake Peavy will pitch Thursday in what appears …

Alex Rodriguez not planning to make deal with MLB  —  New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has no intention of negotiating a settlement with Major League Baseball, two persons close to Rodriguez told USA TODAY Sports, and currently plans to appeal any potential suspension.

Orioles Acquire K-Rod From Brewers for Prospect  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Baltimore Orioles have acquired reliever Francisco Rodriguez from the Milwaukee Brewers for minor league infielder Nick Delmonico.  —  The Orioles cleared space for Rodriguez on the 40-man roster Tuesday …

‘Disappointed’ Kemp says Braun should lose MVP  —  TORONTO — Matt Kemp wouldn't say on Tuesday that the 2011 National League MVP Award should be given to him, but did say it should be taken from suspended Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun.  —  “Do I feel like it should be stripped?

Indians agree to deal with teenage phenom Gonzalez  —  The Indians have reached a deal worth $950,000 with Cuban teenage right-hander Leandro Linares Gonzalez, according to an industry source.  —  Linares, 19, pitched for the Cuban National Team 16-and-under squad in competitions in Chinese Taipei …

Lester Pitches Red Sox to 6-2 Win Over Rays  —  BOSTON — Jon Lester matched his season high with eight strikeouts and overcame homers by Wil Myers and Evan Longoria as the Boston Red Sox remained in first place with a 6-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night.

Red Sox, Pedroia Agree On Extension  —  9:56pm: Pedroia's deal will be made official upon completion of a physical on Wedneday, a team official tells ESPN Boston's Gordon Edes (Twitter link).  —  5:53pm: The extension is officially complete, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports (via Twitter).

Royals best trade chip is Hochevar  —  The Kansas City Royals have given little indication that they will trade veterans before the July 31 non-waiver deadline.  But if they were going to make an exception, right-hander Luke Hochevar would be an obvious candidate.

MORE METS  —  Maybe Anthony Weiner isn't the only Carlos Danger in town.  Carlos Torres used more than his arm to earn his first win as a Met on Tuesday, smacking an RBI single along with his six innings of one-run...

Mets Request Release Waivers On Shaun Marcum  —  The Mets announced today that they have placed right-hander Shaun Marcum on unconditional release waivers after it was confirmed that he is unlikely to pitch again this season (Twitter links).  —  Marcum, 31, pitched to a 5.29 ERA in 78 1/3 innings …

Shelby Miller returns to form, shuts down Phillies  —  ST. LOUIS — Shelby Miller threw six shutout innings and Allen Craig drove in a pair of runs to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night.  —  Miller (10-6) broke out of a three-start slump …

Cubs, Yankees in talks about Soriano deal … PHOENIX - The Cubs and New York Yankees are in talks with the New York Yankees about a deal that would return Alfonso Soriano to the Bronx.  —  The New York Post reported early Tuesday that the teams were close to a deal that would Soriano …