ALEX LAUGHS AT PHILLIES TRADE RUMOR  —  July 21, 2006 — TORONTO - Alex Rodriguez laughed when a trade rumor that circulated through Wall Street yesterday was relayed to him.  —  "It doesn't make any difference," Rodriguez said of the rumor that had the Yankees third baseman going to the Phillies …

Hillenbrand a Jays soap opera  —  'It was a joke,' says DH of his message Trade to Angels, Phillies possible  —  It was just before his final batting practice with the Blue Jays that Shea Hillenbrand took a marker to a clubhouse message board and wrote down: "Play for yourselves.''

Rangers go on a fast ride  —  BOSTON - The Rangers had a smooth travel experience from Toronto, arriving at Fenway Park at 11:30 a.m., 2 1/2 hours before Thursday's game with the Red Sox.  They received a police escort from the airport to the ballpark, and Rangers manager Buck Showalter said the efficiency was impressive.

Quentin hits 1st homer; Bonds hits No. 722  —  Barry Bonds moved within 33 home runs of career leader Hank Aaron and left the ballpark without talking to the media.  Carlos Quentin moved within 754 of Aaron and was talking up a storm.  —  Bonds hit his 722nd career home run hours …

Going to bat for housing  —  Ex-Met Vaughn a developer  —  Mo Vaughn, who struck out as a New York Met, is hoping to be a bigger hit now for the city.  —  The hulking first baseman, who retired from baseball because of a wrecked knee, is fixing up run-down low-income housing as his second career.

Abreu trade unlikely  —  CINCINNATI - While industry buzz was that the Mets and Phillies were engaged in talks that would include a Bobby Abreu-for-Lastings Milledge swap, Mets insiders said yesterday that deal seemed unlikely.  —  Still, Mets GM Omar Minaya has shown a willingness in the past to trade away top prospects.

Quite frankly, Baker bails out  —  Host denies incendiary e-mail came from staff  —  Cubs manager Dusty Baker hasn't had much love for ESPN since the cable network ran a story in 2002 that revealed his long-standing dispute with the Internal Revenue Service.

From worst...to first: Making the most of empty seats at a Marlins game  —  "Blue seats," my editor says.  "That's the challenge."  —  The glee in his voice is usually reserved for assignments such as asking five "wacky questions" of Barry Bonds, but I'm calling his bluff.

Etkin: Johnston persevering through tough times  —  The first full professional season is a mental and physical grind for any player — more games, more travel and more exhausting.  Low Single-A Asheville closer Andrew Johnston has had to deal with these typical obstacles and then some.

Bard to serve one-game suspension  —  SAN FRANCISCO - His appeal denied, Padres catcher Josh Bard will serve a one-game suspension tonight for his altercation with plate umpire Paul Nauert on June 25.  —  Bard wasn't scheduled to start tonight, but his suspension shortens the bench.

Guillen's Trade Value Takes a Hit  —  Elbow Soreness Sends Right Fielder to the DL  —  MIAMI, July 20 — Washington Nationals right fielder Jose Guillen was placed on the disabled list Thursday with an elbow injury that could cost him the rest of the season, and General Manager Jim Bowden spent part …

Braves trade for closer Wickman  —  Minor league catcher Ramirez sent to Indians  —  The resurgent Braves were off Thursday but stayed busy, filling their most glaring need by trading for veteran Cleveland Indians closer Bob Wickman in a deal that cost Atlanta only a low-level minor league catching prospect …

Padres interested in Mariners' Beltre  —  The Padres, continuing their search for a third baseman, are taking aim at a talented, expensive and perhaps unattainable option — the Mariners' Adrian Beltre.  —  The Mariners likely will entertain offers for Beltre only if they fall out of contention by the July 31 non-waiver deadline.

Endy extra good!  —  Double in 10th lifts Mets  —  CINCINNATI - Some fast thinking by Endy Chavez helped cap the Mets' successful road trip with a victory.  —  Chavez, facing Gary Majewski in the 10th inning yesterday, knew his former Expos and Nationals teammate's propensity for high-octane fastballs.

Wakefield Injury Confirmed  —  BOSTON — The Red Sox might never know exactly what happened to Tim Wakefield's rib, but now they know why he's still in pain.  —  Manager Terry Francona confirmed Thursday that Wakefield has a stress fracture in one of his ribs and the right-handed knuckleballer …

Plenty to choose from for hole in OF  —  While the Yankees feel better about their team today than say three weeks ago, they still enter the final 10 days before the trade deadline expected to make a deal, or two.  —  Manager Joe Torre and general manager Brian Cashman have both stated …

Hoo-hoo...they're rippin' me off Robin.  —  John Sickels did his pre-season prospects in review piece yesterday and I thought it would be a great idea to rip him off and to go over mine.  Admittedly, I missed the mark some on some, but here it goes.  —  1. Lastings Milledge

TBS may pitch to Costas  —  Could the arrival of a new player - Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) - on Major League Baseball's national TV landscape signal the return of Bob (Rapping Roberto) Costas, one of the game's marquee play-by-play practitioners, to the broadcast booth?

Nationals unveil RFK changes  —  Fans for weekend series will get red-carpet treatment  —  WASHINGTON — Trying to spread the word about the "Grand Re-opening" of Robert F. Kennedy Stadium, the Washington Nationals hosted roughly 30 members of the media as they offered a tour around their newly improved ballpark.