Nationals acquire Austin Kearns, Felipe Lopez and Ryan Wagner as part of eight-player deal with Cincinnati  —  The Washington Nationals today acquired outfielder Austin Kearns, shortstop Felipe Lopez and right-handed pitcher Ryan Wagner from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange …

Failure?  The Possibility Exists  —  It may be a fallacy, this notion that the Yankees have a mandate to win a championship every season.  For five years, they have not done it.  And what has changed?  —  Joe Torre is still the manager.  Brian Cashman is still the general manager.

Seven things must happen for path to postseason  —  The object, former Red Sox manager Jimy Williams was fond of saying, is to play in the cold twice: once in April and once in October.  —  The Red Sox have played pretty good baseball since April and, now, with summer settling in …

Yankees add Ponson to help fill out rotation … Right-hander Sidney Ponson, who became a free agent when he was released by the St. Louis Cardinals, has reached agreement on a deal with the New York Yankees, ESPN.com has learned.  —  Ponson, 4-4 with a 5.24 ERA in 14 appearances with St. Louis this season …

Ruined Friendship Could Imperil Bonds  —  The former best friend and business partner of Barry Bonds has told federal investigators that Bonds was a heavy steroids user and flew into "roid rages," his lawyer, Michael Cardoza, said yesterday.  —  The man, Steve K. Hoskins, 44, of Redwood City …

Cubs will not dismantle team with trades  —  Hendry isn't looking to dump players to prepare for 2007  —  CHICAGO — There will be no fire sale at Wrigley Field.  No white-flag deal.  —  The Chicago Cubs may be double-digits under .500, but general manager Jim Hendry said he won't be dumping players …

Empirical Analysis of Bunting  —  Baseball analysts have been near universal in their condemnation of the overuse of the sacrifice bunt.  While acknowledging it as the correct strategy in a small number of cases, most feel that any gain in moving players around the bases is more than offset by giving up an out, the "clock" in baseball.

Indians activate outfielder Casey Blake from the 15-day disabled list  —  OF Franklin Gutierrez sent to AAA Buffalo  —  CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has activated OF CASEY BLAKE from the 15-day disabled list.  To make room on the 25-man roster the Indians …

Big Hurt sues 2 of Sox's doctors  —  Claims foot fracture missed in diagnosis  —  Former White Sox slugger Frank Thomas alleges in a lawsuit he filed Wednesday that two of the team's doctors failed to detect he had broken his foot in 2004—an injury that subsequently led to his departure from Chicago.

Prospectus Notebook  —  Tigers, Nationals  —  DETROIT TIGERS  —  With rookie sensation Justin Verlander likely to set a career high in innings pitched this year, the Detroit Tigers know they need to do something to reduce his workload.  This is not 2003 with Jeremy Bonderman …