Top News:
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Notes: Hendry looking beyond season — Cubs activate Hill, option Aardsma; Speier rejoins club — CHICAGO — Cubs general manager Jim Hendry is taking a different, and unwelcome, approach heading into Monday's trade deadline. Instead of pursuing a player who could give the team a boost …
Discussion:
The View From The Bleachers
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Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Hendry: Baker to stay for rest of season — Cubs GM to try and make decision soon after end of campaign — CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said Thursday that Dusty Baker will remain as the manager for the remainder of the season in an effort to eliminate any speculation that Baker would be replaced before that.
Mark Gonazles / Chicago Tribune:
Clutch hits vanish; so does mojo — White Sox searching for their confidence — BALTIMORE — That confident feeling the White Sox's hitters once possessed seems as distant as their 19-inning victory over Boston on July 9. That was when Jermaine Dye hit a game-tying home run off closer Jonathan Papelbon …
Discussion:
Exile in Wrigleyville
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Bedard an obstacle to start pivotal road trip — BALTIMORE — Opening a nine-game trip against second-division teams Baltimore and Kansas City would seem like a perfect time for the White Sox to cure their second-half funk. — But it won't be so easy. The Sox open a three-game series Friday night …
Jack Curry / New York Times:
Nationals Dangle Soriano as Deadline Nears — WASHINGTON, July 27 — Alfonso Soriano teased his teammates in two languages, signed bats and baseballs, and packed for the Nationals' nine-game trip Thursday. This could be Soriano's final trip with the team, but he tried to relax.
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Lee likely trade bait after rejecting deal — All-Star left fielder Carlos Lee rejected a four-year, $48 million contract offer from the Brewers on Thursday, dramatically increasing the chances that he will be traded before Monday's non-waiver deadline, major-league sources tell FOXSports.com.
Discussion:
Reverend Redbird
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Associated Press:
Dodgers farmhand charged with burglary — VERO BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A minor league pitcher in the Los Angeles Dodgers' system was arrested after being accused of breaking into several suites at Dodgertown and stealing credit cards and cash from his teammates.
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Lisa Riddle / Knoxville News-Sentinel:Bobblehead boom appears to be slowing
Discussion:
Romo Phone Home
Brian Heyman / The Journal News:
Maine puts Cubs in blue state — NEW YORK — John Maine was staring at a crisis at Shea yesterday — Cubs on first and second, one out in the sixth, and the dangerous Aramis Ramirez waiting to swing in a scoreless game. And oh, by the way, the Mets owned all of no hits off Mark Prior.
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Nate Silver / Baseball Prospectus:
Lies, Damned Lies — Playing Matchmaker — How beautiful would it be to acquire Alfonso Soriano? That depends on just who the beholder is. There are probably seven teams that are legitimate contenders to acquire Soriano, or one of the two other big bats on the market—Bobby Abreu and Carlos Lee …
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Murray Chass / New York Times:
Wilpon Joins Steinbrenner's Vow of Silence — FRED WILPON, come out, come out, wherever you are. — Now New York has two owners of baseball teams who are incommunicado. We know what George Steinbrenner's reason is. He's aging and ailing, and his ego is too large to let his public …
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Glenn Rabney / MLB.com:
Penny unable to stop Dodgers' skid — Righty allows six runs in five frames in LA's eighth straight loss — LOS ANGELES — Having lost 12 of the 13 games they've played since the All-Star break, the Dodgers sent out their stopper Brad Penny on Wednesday, but it wasn't enough to prevent …
Bryan Tsao / The Hardball Times:
Contending Holes: National League — Last week, we looked at some the biggest holes on American League contenders; this week, we're back with a look at the National League. Once again, I looked only at teams within five games of a playoff spot, as of games played on July 24 (ed note …
Discussion:
The Birdwatch
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Marlins begin thinking playoffs — In spring training, it would have sounded like a bad joke to suggest that the Florida Marlins - with their puny, $15 million payroll and roster full of rookies - could compete for a playoff spot. — Even a month ago, after they rebounded from a horrendous April …
Dave Studeman / The Hardball Times:
Ten Things I Didn't Know Last Week — Here's a list of my latest strong opinions, weakly held: — Chipper Jones is hot when healthy. — Chipper has been injured the last few games and may stay out of the Braves' lineup until Friday, which is too bad. He is in the midst of a monster hitting streak.
Discussion:
Clutchiness
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Agressive Astros looking to add more 'punch' — The defending National League champion Astros plan a major push to add an impact hitter before Monday's non-waiver deadline. — How major? — The club intends to be "super-aggressive," one major-league official says …
NY Daily News:
ESPN's silence covers Reynolds rap — While responding to inquires concerning his demise at ESPN, Harold Reynolds presented a variety of answers, which only led to more questions. — Questions that will follow him for quite awhile. — Reynolds told the New York Post he wanted his job back …
Discussion:
Deadspin
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Bannister bent on bolstering Mets staff — Right-hander's rookie campaign hamstrung by early injury — "And we note our place with bookmarkers that measure what we've lost." — Paul Simon — Big League seasons are, first and foremost, long. They are tests of endurance and the ability …
Discussion:
Mike's Mets
Associated Press:
Twins extend Redmond for two years — MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins agreed to terms with backup catcher Mike Redmond on a two-year extension Thursday, with a club option for 2009. — The 35-year-old Redmond has been superb while backing up All-Star Joe Mauer this season.
Discussion:
AaronGleeman.com
