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:
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:Junior hits No. 555; Reds hang on after big trade
Discussion:
On Baseball and the Reds
Chris Needham / Capitol Punishment:Trade #1: Bye Clayton, Tex, and Bray! Hello Kearns and Lopez!
Discussion:
MLB.com, Red Reporter, Redleg Nation, Nasty Nats, Just A Nats Fan, Banks of the Anacostia and District of Baseball
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:Nats land Kearns, Lopez from Reds
Discussion:
Nationals Farm Authority, Capitol Punishment, Roto Authority Fantasy … and MLB Trade Rumors
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Sox-y offer to Mets — As Pedro ails, Javy available — CHICAGO - The Mets may have found a partner willing to deal a starting pitcher after all, which could be even more pressing as Pedro Martinez is about to miss his third straight start. — The White Sox have been calling around to clubs …
RELATED ITEMS:
NY Daily News:
Jose not ready to play — CHICAGO - Jose Reyes, who got seven stitches to his left pinkie when he was spiked on a headfirst slide into first base last Friday, isn't ready to return to the lineup. "I can't put my hand in the glove yet," said Reyes, who still has the stitches in his hand and some swelling in the area.
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Pelfrey Will Make Another Start — CHICAGO, July 13 — Mike Pelfrey expected to hear over the All-Star Game break whether he would be granted another start, but the phone call never came. He was speaking while standing in the visitors' clubhouse at Wrigley Field, so that was a good sign, he thought.
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
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.
RELATED ITEMS:
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.
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Rangers' reunited platoon is a hit — Showalter opts for Mench and Wilkerson - and gets three hits — BALTIMORE - The Rangers' search for a consistent offense has led them back to playing Brad Wilkerson and Kevin Mench regularly. — Rangers manager Buck Showalter put …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
RELATED ITEMS:
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Pitching key as trade deadline looms — Texas thinking of adding an extra arm to bolster rotation — The July 31 trade deadline approaches, so that means the Rangers are looking for pitching. — That seems to be an annual quest for them, although it takes on greater significance this season …
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:
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.
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:
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
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


