Top News:
Dave Sheinin / Washington Post:
Nats, Reds Make 8-Player Trade — With Eye on the Future, Washington Signals the Likelihood of More Deals — The Washington Nationals pulled off an eight-player trade with the Cincinnati Reds yesterday that exploded several of the most widespread assumptions about the franchise's direction under …
RELATED ITEMS:
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:
Nationals Farm Authority, Capitol Punishment, MLB Trade Rumors and Roto Authority Fantasy …
Thomas Boswell / Washington Post:
Bowden's Club Makeover Gets Off to a Promising Start — In every major personnel decision, the Nationals' goal is to build a coherently constructed pennant contender in three or four years. Sooner is luck. Later is behind schedule. Judge their many moves by that measure and they'll make more sense.
Discussion:
Ben Maller
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.
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 …
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 …
Associated Press:Junior hits No. 555; Reds hang on after big trade
Discussion:
On Baseball and the Reds
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 …
RELATED ITEMS:
Mark Feinsand / MLB.com:
Yankees set to sign Ponson — Cashman says bringing in right-hander is 'shot worth taking' — NEW YORK — The Yankees are on the verge of signing Sidney Ponson for the remainder of the season, hoping that the veteran right-hander can fill the fifth spot in the team's starting rotation.
New York Post:
YANKEES AND METS BOTH INQUIRE ABOUT ABREU — July 14, 2006 — BOBBY Abreu is both appealing and repelling, an enigma within an All-Star. He could prove a difference-maker in a playoff race or a reminder that the New York teams should never acquire expensive players with makeup issues.
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Notes: White Sox, Carlos Lee and more — White Sox general manager Ken Williams might be aggressive, but he isn't reckless. So, discount any reports that he's willing to trade right-hander Brandon McCarthy and center fielder Brian Anderson to the Giants for right-hander Jason Schmidt.
Discussion:
Balls, Sticks, & Stuff
RELATED ITEMS:
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Offense worries Melvin — Brewers GM concerned about recent slump — thaudricourt@journalsentinel.com — As the Milwaukee Brewers prepare to open the second half of their season tonight in Arizona, they rank last in the National League in both pitching and fielding.
Ira Berkow / New York Times:
Mets' Bannister: Forgotten, but Not Gone — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla., July 12 — It looked lonely on the ball field. Under an overcast morning sky, with a wind picking up that swayed the nearby palm trees and portended rain, a man alone — a man who had seemingly and suddenly fallen off the baseball map — threw from the mound.
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Sox in great shape coming off break — "Our record's what it is. That's what matters. I do think this is the most comfortable I've been with a team since I've been here." —Terry Francona, Red Sox manager. (AP Photo) — The immutable truth is this: For all the sound and fury …
Discussion:
Yanksfan vs Soxfan
RELATED ITEMS:
Mark Feinsand / MLB.com:
With tight races, trade options fewer — Yankees eyeing options to improve while retaining Hughes — NEW YORK — As difficult as it has been for the Yankees to replace Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui this season, Brian Cashman knows that things could be worse.
RELATED ITEMS:
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Notes: Roster moves in the works — With Ledee returning from DL, Little weighing several options — ST. LOUIS — Ready or not, second baseman Jeff Kent was back in the Dodgers' lineup on Thursday night for the first game after the All-Star break. — But the decision was made only one hour …
Discussion:
Dodger Thoughts
Mychael Urban / MLB.com:
Notes: Johnson to be sent down — Bradley activated from DL; Swisher now full-time first baseman — BOSTON — A's outfielder Milton Bradley will be activated off the disabled list on Friday, and MLB.com has learned that the corresponding roster move will be to send first baseman Dan Johnson to Triple-A Sacramento.
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Marlins' Sanchez to face legend — MIAMI GARDENS — Anibal Sanchez isn't the first pitcher to oppose Roger Clemens who grew up watching him on TV. Sanchez's first memories of The Rocket: Watching him pitch for the Yankees. — Clemens played 15 big-league seasons before taking the mound in pinstripes.
Discussion:
FishStripes
