Top News:
MLB.com:
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 …
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats land Kearns, Lopez from Reds — Washington parts with Majewski, Clayton, three others — PITTSBURGH — The Nationals began what could be an eventful run-up to the July 31 trade deadline with an eight-player deal on Thursday, acquiring outfielder Austin Kearns, shortstop Felipe Lopez …
Discussion:
Roto Authority Fantasy …, MLB Trade Rumors, Just A Nats Fan, Seattle Marinerds and District of Baseball
Associated Press:
Reds swap Kearns to Nats for Clayton, pitchers — CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds overhauled their rickety bullpen Thursday, getting Gary Majewski and Bill Bray in an eight-player trade that sent outfielder Austin Kearns and shortstop Felipe Lopez to the Washington Nationals.
Chris Needham / Capitol Punishment:
Trade #1: Bye Clayton, Tex, and Bray! Hello Kearns and Lopez! — Brian from NFA got the press release: … Snap judgment, it's a good deal! — Kearns is a legit outfielder with decent power. He's played good to great defense in RF. He's a low-average slugger, who walks a lot …
William S. Hupp / MLB.com:
Reds acquire Majewski, Bray — Kearns, Lopez and Wagner sent to Nats in eight-player deal — CINCINNATI — The Reds made a move that they hope will bolster their struggling bullpen and solve their defensive problems. — Cincinnati completed an eight-player trade with the Nationals …
MLB.com:
Reds get Majewski, Bray, Clayton, Harris, Thompson from Nationals — Send Kearns, Lopez, Wagner to Washington in eight-player deal — CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds today acquired from the Washington Nationals RHP Gary Majewski, LHP Bill Bray, SS Royce Clayton, IF Brendan Harris …
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
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 …
Discussion:
Crosstown Rivals, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Off the Facade and www.transplantedmetsfan.com
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Duff Wilson / New York Times:
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 …
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Ryan Crawford / MLB.com:
Reyes to sit out Friday's game — Shortstop still dealing with stitches in left pinky — CHICAGO — Jose Reyes is not expected to return to the Mets' lineup on Friday. — The shortstop still had stitches in his left pinky finger when he arrived at Wrigley Field on Thursday.
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
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 …
Discussion:
1060west
Shawn / Cincinnati Reds Blog:
Reds Bloggers Roundtable (July 2006 edition) Part I — It's time once again for that most celebrated of blogging traditions, the Reds bloggers roundtable. Eight of us got together in a virtual setting on Monday night, to discuss the state of the Reds. The parts of the discussion …
Dan Levitt / The Baseball Analysts:
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.
Baseball Prospectus:
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 …
Discussion:
The Detroit Tiger Weblog
Arshad Mohammed / Washington Post:
FCC Approves Adelphia Acquisition — Comcast Required to Submit to Arbitration on Nationals Games Broadcasting Dispute — As a condition for allowing Comcast Corp. to complete a major acquisition, federal regulators are requiring it to submit to arbitration to resolve a dispute …
Gregg Bell / Associated Press:
Mariners may have found new center fielder by promoting Jones — SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners will recall Adam Jones, their 2005 minor league player of the year, from Triple-A Tacoma on Friday to help fill their urgent need in center field. — The team announced the 20-year-old Jones …
