Top News:
Tisha Thompson / ESPN:
Ippei Mizuhara wired Shohei Ohtani's money to ‘Real Housewives’ star — Ryan Boyajian, a current cast member of Bravo's reality TV series “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” is the bookmaker's associate to whom Ippei Mizuhara wired money to pay his gambling debts, multiple sources with knowledge of the investigation told ESPN.
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Associated Press, Press Enterprise, Reuters, Dodgers Nation, New York Post, Page Six, Los Angeles Times and USA Today, more at WeSmirch »
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Pirates to call up Paul Skenes for MLB debut vs. Cubs — The Pittsburgh Pirates are calling up star prospect Paul Skenes, and the hard-throwing right-hander is expected to debut Saturday at PNC Park against the Chicago Cubs. — Considered the best pitching talent in a generation …
Eva Geitheim / Sports Illustrated:
Padres' Recent Trade Acquisition Sounds Happy To Be Out Of Chicago — He's back in the Windy City this week. — Recently acquired San Diego Padres pitcher Dylan Cease has returned to his old city this week, as the Padres headed to Chicago to take on the Chicago Cubs.
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Chicago Sun Times, Just Baseball, Yahoo Sports, Bleed Cubbie Blue and Chicago Tribune
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
The new pitching philosophy that's keeping the Red Sox afloat — BOSTON — Prior to last season, the Boston Red Sox renovated the home clubhouse, constructing new maple lockers, adding 16 TV displays and updating the lighting and sound systems to create a modern, sleek look.
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Bleacher Nation, The Athletic and baseballmusings.com
Ken Rosenthal / The Athletic:
For the Marlins, will the return in the Luis Arraez trade make sense in the end? — Any trade in which a team lands a two-time batting champion while lowering its payroll is worthy of further examination. San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller pulled off that trick, as only he can, with his stunning acquisition of Luis Arraez.
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Jim Bowden / The Athletic:
Way too early MLB trades I'd like to see happen, plus Luis Arraez trade takeaways — The Padres and Marlins did not want to wait 87 days until the MLB trade deadline on July 30 to make the first big trade of the season, as they completed a five-player swap late Friday night that became official Saturday.
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Yahoo Sports, New Jersey Online, Bleacher Nation, Camden Chat and FanGraphs Baseball
ESPN:
Nimmo, Manaea and Díaz lead the Mets to a 4-3 victory over the Cardinals — ST. LOUIS — Brandon Nimmo hit a tiebreaking homer in the seventh inning that sent the New York Mets to a 4-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night. — “Honestly, the home run I hit was a good pitch,” Nimmo said.
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Faith and Fear in Flushing, New York Post, Bleacher Nation, USA Today and Newsday
Evan Petzold / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers expected to option Parker Meadows to Triple-A, call up OF Ryan Vilade — CLEVELAND — The Detroit Tigers are shaking things up. — Center fielder Parker Meadows is expected to be optioned to Triple-A Toledo before Tuesday's game against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field, according to multiple sources.
Discussion:
The Athletic, Bless You Boys and MLB Trade Rumors
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Mike Trout's GOAT path halted by injuries. Ken Griffey Jr. feels the Angels star's pain. — Ken Griffey Jr. saw the news, winced, and those excruciating memories immediately came rushing back. — The injuries. The surgeries. — The lost seasons. — The criticism, the blame.
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Yahoo Sports, MLB Trade Rumors and New Jersey Online
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Hill coaching son in Little League ... for now — This story was excerpted from Ian Browne's Red Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox. — MILTON, Mass. — It was a Monday night in late April …
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MLB Trade Rumors, Dodgers Nation and New Jersey Online