Red Sox sign righty Beckett to three-year extension  —  BOSTON — It didn't take Josh Beckett long to start paying dividends on his new contract extension.  —  "Way to make us look good," Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said Wednesday, grabbing a seat next to the team's next ace …

Notes: Pads react to Castilla's release  —  Hoffman calls Castilla 'an absolute class guy, the ultimate pro'  —  SAN DIEGO — News of veteran third baseman Vinny Castilla getting released by the Padres hit teammates hard on Wednesday as they were getting ready to face the Phillies at PETCO Park.

Notes: Mench draws interest  —  Several teams inquire about trading for outfielder  —  TORONTO — The Rangers are getting what Major League officials describe as "decent" interest in outfielder Kevin Mench, but not enough to motivate them to make a trade.  —  The Pittsburgh Pirates …

CUBS MIGHT PROVIDE BULLPEN HELP  —  July 19, 2006 — While there are very few stones making ripples in the trading pool, that hasn't stopped teams from doing their due diligence.  With the Yankees interested in upgrading their bullpen if the price is right, the Cubs, who have relievers to deal …

Sosa says he'd return to MLB for right offer … MIAMI — Sammy Sosa is not retired and could hit some more home runs in the major leagues.  —  At least, that is what he said Wednesday.  —  "I'm not retired.  I'm young and happy," said the Dominican to a radio station in Santo Domingo.

Bonds faces possible grand jury indictment, MLB suspension  —  San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds, who has repeatedly denied he knowingly used illegal performance-enhancing drugs, could be indicted as early as Wednesday by a federal grand jury for perjury and tax evasion, according to attorneys involved in the case.

Future Shock  —  Sunshine State Scouting Notebook  —  While things are hot all over the country lately, it's always warm in Florida, and the Florida State League has been a hotbed for talent this year.  Even though the bevy of top pitchers like Homer Bailey (Reds), Yovani Gallardo (Brewers) …

Hillenbrand lashes out at Jays front office, wants trade  —  TORONTO — Shea Hillenbrand criticized the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday and said he expects to be traded.  —  "I love my teammates here, but I'm waiting to be traded," Hillenbrand said during a profanity-filled tirade.

Slumping Crosby keeps moving down the order  —  The shortstop, batting eighth, connects for his first homer since May 31  —  A's notebook  —  BALTIMORE — As Bobby Crosby's batting average continues to sink, so does his name in Ken Macha's batting order.

Tom Emanski's Abject Horror  —  A couple days ago, the Washington Nationals designated pinch-hitter/tear-jerker Matthew Lecroy for assignment.  This administrative procedure no doubt constituted a difficult decision for the team's management, as opinion seems uniform that Lecroy is a heck of a guy …

Clines, Rothschild will sink or swim with Baker  —  Not many organizations would have gone this long at so bad a clip without at least a coach paying the price for an underachieving group of players.  —  The Houston Astros, who began Tuesday last in the National League with a .257 batting average …

Notes: Casey likely for trade  —  First baseman disheartened at possibly leaving hometown  —  PITTSBURGH — Sean Casey was elated to be traded to his hometown Pirates in the offseason.  Much less thrilling is the likelihood that his homecoming will be cut short as a trade deadline casualty.

Mid-Term Report Card: New York Mets  —  We're just past the All-Star break, and it's a good time to see how things have gone so far.  Now I've done some teaching in my professional career, and it's always much more pleasurable to hand out grades to the top students than to the ones who aren't doing well.

Diamondbacks generate little offense  —  Cruz allows three runs on six hits in five innings before exit  —  PHOENIX — The Diamondbacks had watched a lot of video on right-hander Chad Billingsley and thought they had a pretty good read on the Dodgers rookie heading into Tuesday's game.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES  —  Let's play a game called "Guess the Orioles Pitcher."  Here are three pitching lines from the 2006 season:  —  IP ERA K/9 BB/9 HR/9 K/BB  —  63.1 5.97 5.4 3.8 1.28 1.41  —  53.0 1.70 9.5 2.2 0.51 4.31

Great Tongues In History  —  Brains... Beauty... Status... Song... Poetry... All right, maybe not quite poetry in the truest sense of the word...but compared to some of the starts that the back end of the rotation has seen lately, Mike Pelfrey looked like Lord Tennyson out there …