Top News:
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Sources: Rays' Wander Franco put on restricted list after charges — Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was placed on the restricted list Wednesday, a day after prosecutors in the Dominican Republic levied three charges against him for an alleged sexual relationship with a then-14-year-old girl, sources told ESPN.
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation, baseballmusings.com, New York Post, MLB Trade Rumors and New York Daily News
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ESPN:
Rays SS Wander Franco charged with sexual abuse against minor — Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco has been formally charged with sexual abuse and sexual exploitation against a minor in the Dominican Republic. — Puerto Plata District Office Prosecutor Kelmin Duncan and the spokesperson …
Jim Bowden / New York Times:
Where all 30 teams stand on MLB trade deadline moves heading into the All-Star break — There are only 20 days until the trade deadline, so as the sport heads into the All-Star break, let's look at where every team stands. — How is each team approaching the deadline? What needs are they focused on filling?
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports, SportsNet Pittsburgh, New Jersey Online and McCovey Chronicles
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Mark Feinsand / MLB.com:
Blue Jays could be a big presence at Trade Deadline — The National League postseason picture remains a muddled mess with three weeks remaining until the Trade Deadline, but the American League standings are beginning to gain some clarity when it comes to potential buyers and sellers.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Last Word On Baseball, Bluebird Banter, Battery Power, Yahoo Sports and Royals Review
New York Times:
Yankees sign ex-Blue Jays left-handed reliever Tim Mayza — The New York Yankees have signed left-handed reliever Tim Mayza to a minor-league deal, sources tell The Athletic's Katie Woo and Brendan Kuty. — The Toronto Blue Jays had designated the 32-year-old for assignment on June 29.
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, Pinstripe Alley, New York Daily News, MLB Trade Rumors and Last Word On Baseball
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
Blue Jays put Kevin Kiermaier on revocable waivers in telling trade-deadline sign — The Blue Jays placed Kevin Kiermaier on revocable waivers, The Post has learned. — Toronto almost certainly was seeing if a team would put in a claim on the veteran center fielder and remove …
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter, Last Word On Baseball and MLB Trade Rumors
Keith Law / New York Times:
2024 MLB Mock Draft 3.0: Cleveland still weighing options. Will it be Travis Bazzana at 1? — This is my third projection of how Sunday night's first round of the 2024 MLB Draft will go — this is a prediction, not who I would take, but who I think each of the 30 teams will take based …
Andrew Marchand / New York Times:
NBA finalizes TV deals with ESPN, NBC, Amazon, but TNT could still match: Sources — The NBA and network executives finalized contracts that will make NBC and Amazon Prime Video new partners, while maintaining ABC/ESPN as the home of the NBA Finals, under agreements that will extend …
Discussion:
Seattle Sports, masslive.com, Hoops Rumors, DraftKings Network, New York Post, Orlando Sentinel and Variety
Al Yellon / Bleed Cubbie Blue:
Cubs roster move: Cody Bellinger to injured list, Alexander Canario recalled — The Cubs outfielder was hit on the hand by a pitch Wednesday in Baltimore. — Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger was hit on his left hand by a pitch during Wednesday night's game against the Orioles [VIDEO].
Charlie Goldsmith / Cincinnati.com:
Graham Ashcraft moves to the big league injured list with an elbow strain — After the Cincinnati Reds optioned starting pitcher Graham Ashcraft to Triple-A on Monday, he met with a doctor to evaluate elbow tightness that he had been dealing with. Ashcraft learned he had an elbow strain.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Shayna Rubin / San Francisco Chronicle:
Giants' Farhan Zaidi puts faith in youth movement, not deadline acquisition — In the hours before Tuesday's game, the San Francisco Giants swapped a few older players to give opportunities to the young. — Austin Slater, the longest-tenured Giant at the time, was traded to the Cincinnati Reds …
Discussion:
Last Word On Baseball, MLB Trade Rumors, NBC Sports Bay Area … and Mercury News
Kristie Ackert / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays tried, but Aaron Judge couldn't imagine joining Yankees' rival — When the slugger hit the free-agent market in the fall of 2022, the Rays reached out, making what Judge called a “respectful” offer. — ST. PETERSBURG — There were twists and turns during the fall of 2022 that Aaron Judge expected.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, New Jersey Online and NESN.com