Top News:
ESPN:
Source: ChiSox 'extremely close' to Soriano deal — The White Sox are "extremely close" to trading for Nationals outfielder Alfonso Soriano, a source close to the situation told ESPN The Magazine's Tim Kurkjian. The Nationals have great interest in pitcher Brandon McCarthy.
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Chicago Tribune:
Sox get a pitcher; Soriano next? — The White Sox traded a pair of minor league pitchers to the Kansas City Royals Monday for right-handed relief pitcher Mike MacDougal. — The 29-year-old McDougal (6-4, 185) has one save and hasn't given up a run in four innings of relief for Kansas City this season.
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
MacDougal adds firepower for ChiSox — GM squashes speculation that Soriano's headed to South Side — CHICAGO — Mike MacDougal is on his way to Chicago, the hard-throwing reliever being acquired from Kansas City on Monday in exchange for top pitching prospect Tyler Lumsden and fellow Minor League hurler Daniel Cortes.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
MLB.com:
Nationals name Mike Rizzo Assistant GM and Vice President of Baseball Operations — Former Diamondbacks scouting executive laid foundation of talent that resulted in organization's No. 1 ranking per Baseball America — The Washington Nationals today appointed Mike Rizzo as Assistant General Manager …
Discussion:
Nationals Farm Authority
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Associated Press:
Nats' Guillen to have season-ending elbow surgery — WASHINGTON — Washington Nationals outfielder Jose Guillen will have season-ending surgery Tuesday for a completely torn ligament in his right elbow. — The ligament reconstruction — known as Tommy John surgery …
ESPN:
Cubs place Lee back on DL with wrist inflammation … FLUSHING, N.Y. — Clearly bothered by inflammation of the right wrist after undergoing surgery three months ago, Derrek Lee was put back on the disabled list by the Chicago Cubs on Monday. — The slugging first baseman hit just .227 …
Discussion:
1060west
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Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Lee back to DL with wrist inflammation — Cubs first baseman experiences setback following brief return — CHICAGO — Derrek Lee's comeback from a fractured right wrist has been stalled. — The Chicago Cubs placed Lee on the 15-day disabled list on Monday with post-traumatic inflammation of the wrist …
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
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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
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
OK outing for Lester, family — SEATTLE — By his count, Jon Lester figures there were about 50 family members and friends in the stands yesterday at Safeco Field, a place they'd seen him pitch once before, while he was still starring for Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma.
Discussion:
Ben Maller's Sports …
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Ken Wright / Washington Times:
Armas on mark against Cubs — Right-hander Tony Armas Jr., who has had problems going deep into games because of high pitch counts this season, threw seven strong innings yesterday to lead the Washington Nationals to a 7-1 victory against the Chicago Cubs. — Armas allowed just one run …
Fox Sports:
Five trades that need to happen — Baseball's July 31 non-waiver trade deadline is in the offing, and that means it's an especially frenzied time of year. — Baseball fans are already inundated with stories about who might go where and who's already gone somewhere, so let's shift the focus a bit.
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
Deadspin:
Where's The Love For Jered Weaver? — The headline on SI.com this morning reads, Weaver-Mania hits LA. As well it should: Jered Weaver won his seventh straight start on Sunday for the Angels ... that's seven career starts, and seven wins. Not since Fernando Valenzuela started 8- as a rookie …
New York Post:
SAVE YOURSELF FROM STATISTICS — IT'S OFFICIAL. We've all gone nuts. Just as the bells cost Quasimodo his hearing, the numbers - stats and their misapplication - have cost us our sanity. — Saturday, during Astros-Mets on Fox, Joe Buck noted that the Nats' Livan Hernandez …
Associated Press:
Vote of confidence — Hall of Famer Robinson sticks up for A-Rod — HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) — Hang in there, A-Rod. The gold standard of defensive third basemen is in your corner. — Brooks Robinson was in his home state of Arkansas on Monday hosting a celebrity golf tournament …
Hartford Courant:
Sellers' Ranks Still Thin — As the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline approaches, most teams are still in playoff contention. Seven sub-.500 teams are within seven games of a wild card, leaving only four teams - the Marlins, Nationals, Cubs and Pirates - as definite sellers.
