Top News:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats' Bowden refutes Soriano rumors — Reports said outfielder heading to White Sox in trade — WASHINGTON — According to a published report, the Nationals are close to sending Alfonso Soriano to the White Sox. The only thing general manager Jim Bowden would say about the report is that a deal is not in place.
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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
White Sox Show Strong Interest in Soriano — Alfonso Soriano's future could lie with the team that deems him the missing piece to win the American League Central. Indications came yesterday that the Chicago White Sox have emerged as a late player in the bidding for the Washington Nationals' left fielder …
Sam Borden / NY Daily News:
Soriano looks out of reach — ARLINGTON - White Sox GM Kenny Williams shot down reports yesterday that the Nationals were on the verge of sending Alfonso Soriano to the Windy City in exchange for Brandon McCarthy, but many in baseball - including some Yankee officials - believe Soriano might still end up in Chicago.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Williams' manhunt picks up steam — White Sox get Royals' reliever MacDougal; McCarthy off limits — General manger Ken Williams fortified the White Sox's bullpen Monday by acquiring flame-throwing Mike MacDougal from the Royals for two pitching prospects but said he was unwilling to deal …
Discussion:
Exile in Wrigleyville
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Injury Could End Guillen's Tenure in D.C. — Washington Nationals right fielder Jose Guillen will undergo elbow surgery today, a procedure that will end his season and could end his career with the Nationals. — Guillen visited with renowned orthopedist James Andrews yesterday in Birmingham …
Discussion:
Capitol Punishment
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Ramírez, Red Sox stay the course — OAKLAND, Calif. — One must always allow for the prospect, even after last night's 7-3 Red Sox win over the Oakland Athletics, that Manny Ramírez may awaken today to an entirely new world of possibilities. Perhaps he has dreams of relocating …
Discussion:
The Feeding the Monster Blog
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Art Thiel / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Slapstick home run livens up Safeco lore — In its short history, the local ballyard has not been a repository of exotic moments. — Perhaps it is the uptight franchise's penchant for neatness, propriety and politeness. Maybe the yard needs an ex-player's ghost to haunt a bullpen.
Discussion:
The Sports Frog
Andrew Marchand / New York Post:
ESPN FIRES REYNOLDS — July 25, 2006 — ESPN yesterday fired analyst Harold Reynolds from Baseball Tonight, sources told The Post. The reason was not immediately known. — "We are not going to comment," ESPN VP Josh Krulewitz said. — When asked how they are going to explain that Reynolds …
Darren Everson / NY Daily News:
Omar not revealing his plans — The only real drama at Shea right now concerns trade talk. And, for the time being, there isn't even much of that. — Mets GM Omar Minaya had little to say yesterday in a brief pregame chat. He did acknowledge, however, that pitching remains his top priority …
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
David Lennon / Newsday:
Pedro makes it 6 arms, 5 spots — Even with the Mets looking to add a pitcher before Monday's non-waiver trade deadline, the return of Pedro Martinez means they will go with a six-man rotation through this weekend, then decide what to do with the extra arm.
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Rick Wilton / Hardball Times:
Baseball Injury Report — Featured Note of the Week — There is a lesson here. Back in June 2005, just after he had Tommy John surgery, Dr. James Andrews stated he believed Dotel could be ready by the opener in 2006. At the time, it was a surprising comment.
Discussion:
Dem Bums
MLB.com:
Lerner Group finalizes purchase of Washington Nationals — The Washington Nationals today announced the official transfer of ownership from Major League Baseball to an ownership group headed by Washington developer Theodore N. Lerner, his son Mark D. Lerner, sons-in-law Edward L. Cohen, and Robert K. Tanenbaum, and their families.
Fred Mitchell / Chicago Tribune:
Sosa can't believe he's not a 'Hero' — Especially after all his 'glorious years' as Cubs slugger — Sammy Sosa is incredulous at being left off the list of five Cubs "Hometown Heroes." — In a wide-ranging phone interview with the Tribune from his home in Miami, the former slugger reacted …
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
Mailbag: Gibbons to play first base? — Beat writer Spencer Fordin answers Orioles fans' questions — With the outfield looking good in his absence, will the Orioles try Jay Gibbons at first base when he returns? — At first, Gibbons, who may be ready to return to the big leagues as early as Friday …
Discussion:
Oriole Magic
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Scouting can be daunting for players — South Florida Sun-Sentinel — "The book" on an opposing starter in the minor leagues, if one is even available, is easy reading. Best pitches. Out pitches. Maybe some velocities. It's the equivalent of short sentences with not too many multisyllabic words.
