Top News:
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Braves trade prospect for Indians closer Wickman … The Atlanta Braves, looking for bullpen help as they make a run at the National League wild card, acquired closer Bob Wickman from Cleveland for minor league catcher Max Ramirez on Thursday. — Wickman, 37, is 1-4 with a 4.18 ERA and 15 saves this season.
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Charles Odum / Associated Press:
Braves acquire veteran Wickman as closer — ATLANTA (AP) — Sensing a playoff surge, the Atlanta Braves traded for proven closer Bob Wickman, sending a minor leaguer to the Cleveland Indians on Thursday to address a lingering weakness. — The 37-year-old Wickman has been successful on 15 …
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Braves acquire Wickman from Indians — Minor Leaguer Ramirez swapped in bid to bolster bullpen — ATLANTA — Just before he boarded his flight from St. Louis to Atlanta on Thursday morning, John Schuerholz made one final phone call, and ended it with a smile.
Discussion:
Tomahawk
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Braves get Wickman from Indians — The Braves finally obtained a closer Thursday, acquiring right-hander Bob Wickman from the Indians for Class A catcher Max Ramirez, FOXSports.com has learned. — Wickman is 1-4 this season with a 4.18 ERA and 15 saves. — Wickman, 37, had to approve …
Bob Elliott / torontosun.com:
Chalk-board message the last straw for furious Gibbons — Team Turmoil will be back in action at the Rogers Centre tonight. — Oh yeah, and the New York Yankees will be there, too. — With the Texas Rangers in town last night, the volatility of the Cito Gaston-David Wells mound clash …
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Geoff Baker / Toronto Star:
Seething Hillenbrand sent packing — Refuses to sit in dugout with teammates Gibbons blasts DH in front of club — A furious Shea Hillenbrand lashed out at Blue Jays manager John Gibbons on Wednesday night after the team designated him for assignment. — Hillenbrand packed his bags during …
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
First Base Is Up for Grabs — The Angels are well into the second half of the season and still in flux at first base. They're platooning Kendry Morales and Robb Quinlan for now, and they might give Dallas McPherson a shot soon. They're not counting on Casey Kotchman coming back this season …
Howard Kussoy / MLB.com:
Royals acquire Keppinger from Mets — Gotay sent to New York in swap of Minor Leaguers — The Kansas City Royals and New York Mets completed a deal that sent Jeff Keppinger to Kansas City and Ruben Gotay to New York in a swap of Minor League second basemen.
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Fluto Shinzawa / Boston Globe:
Money ball — One run is again enough as Red Sox cash in for victory — After yesterday's 1-0 win, Josh Beckett's American League-leading 12th of the season, Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein approached the man he had signed to a three-year contract extension the night before.
Bryan Tsao / Hardball Times:
Contending Holes: American League — On September 27 of last season, the A's took the field in Anaheim, Calif. with their season on the line. Having roared back from being over 10 games under .500 in the first half, the A's needed a win in the second game of their season-ending series …
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Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Rainout will make for one crazy day — TORONTO — The Rangers were supposed to have an off day today in Chicago, high on many players' lists of favorite cities. A pair of rainouts during a scheduled three-game series in Boston in May scratched that, though.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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NY Daily News:
Yanks do trick, not trade — Until yesterday, and the wasted vintage pitching effort by Randy Johnson, there had been nothing but good tidings for Joe Torre's Yankees this second half of the season. And, more and more, there has been reason to believe the "scrub squadders" of Melky Cabrera …
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Associated Press:
New grand jury to look at Bonds allegations — SAN FRANCISCO — Barry Bonds will not be indicted immediately, but the ongoing federal investigation of steroids and possible perjury and tax-evasion charges against the San Francisco Giants star will continue, prosecutors said Thursday.
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
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Associated Press:
No indictment for Bonds — Grand jury will continue to investigate charges — SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Federal prosecutors said they would not seek an indictment Thursday against Barry Bonds, but that a grand jury investigating the baseball star for perjury and tax evasion charges would continue its work.
Washington Post:
MLB: D.C. Government in Default of Lease Agreement — Major League Baseball has declared the District government in default of the lease agreement for the new stadium, charging that the city has failed to meet several deadlines for turning over critical documents.
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Mets could trade top prospect for Zito — The Mets have insisted for months that they won't trade their top position prospect, Class AAA outfielder Lastings Milledge. But a growing number of major-league executives believe that the Mets will indeed part with Milledge, 21, if they can get the right starting pitcher in return.
Steve Henson / Los Angeles Times:
Bullpen Looks Good to Tomko — PHOENIX — The Dodgers can only hope Brett Tomko's enthusiasm about moving from the starting rotation to the bullpen rubs off on Odalis Perez. — Tomko, who has made 143 starts in 145 appearances the last five years, will become a reliever when he rejoins …
Mark Hale / New York Post:
FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE — REDS IMPRESSED BY 1ST LOOK AT PELFREY — July 20, 2006 — CINCINNATI - There are other pitchers who are going to fire big-time heat to the plate, according to Adam Dunn. But the Reds slugger said Mike Pelfrey's fastball is different. — "He's big and tall, and he's got a good fastball.
