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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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
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Blast it all — HRs in 6th help doom Vazquez again; Tigers up 7½ — Poor performances by the White Sox's starting pitchers necessitated the trade for reliever Mike MacDougal from Kansas City in an effort to shorten their workload. — But that didn't cure Javier Vazquez's persistent …
Discussion:
Exile in Wrigleyville
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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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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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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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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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
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.
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
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 …
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 …
