Rangers' Matthews has golden dreams  —  BALTIMORE - Outfielder Gary Matthews acknowledged Friday that he has given thought to winning the Gold Glove.  —  "Only since I was about 5 years old," Matthews said.  "I walked into Bobby Bonds' house and saw his trophy case full of them.

Prior could return on Thursday  —  Cubs pitcher Mark Prior is sick and tired of being a bench-warmer with the summer heating up and the situation at Wrigley Field sticky as ever.  So the competitor in him argued against going on the 15-day disabled list Friday, believing he could come …

Braves-Padres Preview  —  The San Diego Padres are looking to win two straight division titles for the first time in their history.  The Atlanta Braves , meanwhile, are a long shot to extend one of the longest division-title streaks in any major sport.  —  Holding onto a slim lead …

Second Half Begins With Quiet Debuts  —  PITTSBURGH, July 14 — The acquisition of Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez was touted, by all parties involved, as a move for the long-term success of the Washington Nationals, certainly not a quick solution for this season's woes.

D-Backs call up Drew  —  Shortstop set to make debut in place of injured Counsell  —  PHOENIX — The future is now for at least one Diamondbacks prospect.  —  After veteran shortstop Craig Counsell broke a rib in the seventh inning of Friday night's win over the Brewers …

Notes: Cabrera may be on way out  —  Whispered trade with Pittsburgh includes Burnitz, Craig Wilson  —  NEW YORK — General manager Brian Cashman has made it clear that pitching prospect Philip Hughes is as close to untouchable as any player in the Yankees' farm system.  —  Melky Cabrera on the other hand, may not be.

Traders Take Aim at Top Pitchers  —  As the Angels pursue a slugger in trade talks, they have discovered that their highly touted prospects are not necessarily the players most coveted by opposing teams.  With young, affordable pitching at a premium, potential trade partners tend …

Trade was risky, but at least Reds are going for it  —  Lefty reliever Bill Bray boarded the plane wearing a suit, and Majewski and 36-year-old shortstop Royce Clayton couldn't help but razz him about it.  —  "You could tell he was a rookie who had never been traded before," Clayton said.

Notes: DL a possibility for Chavez  —  Swisher sees more time at first; Bradley back in action  —  BOSTON — The A's have been saying for some time that they'd very much like to avoid placing third baseman Eric Chavez on the disabled list, but manager Ken Macha's answer …

Midseason flip is more of a big flop … Cincinnati - It's beginning to look as if mediocrity was disguised as prosperity.  —  The Rockies opened the second half as a contender.  The standings said as much.  But the way they have played for the past week screams something else, something troubling.

Over and way out for Beckett  —  He is the Bridgemaster, the Bombino, the man most likely to send you home with a souvenir if you are sitting in the Monster Seats.  Big league hitters, most of them American Leaguers, are takin' it to the streets at a record pace against Red Sox righty Josh Beckett in 2006.

Jones' debut for M's a trial by fire  —  Prospect starts in CF day after being promoted  —  TORONTO — The number on the placard above Adam Jones' locker read No. 83, which wasn't accurate.  That was the jersey number Jones wore five months ago as a Mariners spring training invitee.