Angels trade Weaver to Cards for minor-league OF  —  SEATTLE — The Los Angeles Angels traded disappointing right-hander Jeff Weaver to the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night for minor-league outfielder Terry Evans.  —  Weaver, 29, was designated for assignment by the Angels last Friday …

Hendry backs off Baker deadline  —  GM says evaluation of Cubs' staff could take days—or weeks  —  HOUSTON — General manager Jim Hendry met with Dusty Baker before Wednesday's game and discussed published reports that the Cubs' manager and some of his coaching staff could be in danger of losing their jobs during the All-Star break.

Baseball brain trust: Canseco's allegations rate as 'nonsense'  —  Major League Baseball on Tuesday took a stand against admitted steroid user Jose Canseco, calling the former slugger's allegations that the league might be playing favorites with some big-name players when it comes to positive drug tests "complete nonsense."

Fenway Park Strategy Guide: Favorite moment  —  My first game at Fenway Park was two years ago.  I was on a date with this beautiful girl.  We went to Boston Beer Works, had a bit too much to drink, bought overpriced tickets from a scalper and watched the Red Sox get thrashed by the Yankees.

Rays go for third straight over Sox  —  Boston (50-31) at Tampa Bay (37-47), 7:15 p.m. ET  —  The Rays have had an up and down past month, carrying a 14-14 record through June, but Tim Corcoran has been on a tear.  Wednesday's starter is boasting a 2-0 record and 1.17 ERA through five appearances …

Angels offense comes alive in Seattle  —  Halos pound out 15 hits, including two Rivera homers  —  SEATTLE — If the Angels are to find some offensive rhythm, they must wean themselves off their dependence of Vladimir Guerrero.  —  Manager Mike Scioscia believes his team must perform throughout …

Pirates Notebook: Burnitz, Randa amenable to being traded  —  NEW YORK — Neither Jeromy Burnitz nor Joe Randa has asked the Pirates for a trade.  —  But neither sounds as if he would be terribly troubled if one were to happen.  —  Check out Burnitz's typically candid response to a question on the matter yesterday:

Hitting a snag  —  Hitting a snag  —  You can take the temperature of the New York Mets just the same way you could the Boston Red Sox for a seven-year period: Use Pedro Martinez as your thermometer.  When he is fit and happy and turning every fifth day into something as close …

Is the AL Really Superior?  (Part 1)  —  Conventional wisdom has it that the American League is (by far) the better league.  This notion is based largely on anecdotal evidence (and win-loss records in interleague play, the All-Star games, and the World Series), as far as I am aware.

Padres-Phillies Preview  —  With the way the Philadelphia Phillies are dominating the San Diego Padres , they may want to have the Padres join the NL East to help them get back in the division race.  —  The Phillies look to win their 12th straight game over San Diego as their three …