Rangers in arms race against the clock  —  With deadline nearing, gaps in the rotation and the bullpen loom large  —  ARLINGTON - The hunt for pitching goes on.  Time, however, is running out.  —  With less than 48 hours until the waivers-free trading deadline expires …

Will's Mill  —  Saturday Love  —  Saturday, July 29, noon ET: The Astros and Angels have made their final offers on Miguel Tejada.  The Orioles now have to decide if it's enough to give up their star shortstop.  The Astros have a backup plan in Julio Lugo, but need to act quickly …

Rox not shy of bunting  —  Colorado leads majors in sacrifice hits … Is it me or does Clint Hurdle manage the team like a slow-pitch softball team?  He had three chances July 14 at Cincinnati to play small ball.  He only did it once, when the game was fading into the later innings.

Lugo wants winning plan in place  —  NEW YORK - In addition to proper terms of the deal, shortstop Julio Lugo said the Devil Rays must show him they have a plan in place to become a winning team if he is to agree to a long-term contract.  —  Money is important, Lugo said …

Players pack their favorites for road trips  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Shawn Green brings his own soap on every road trip.  Mike Cameron never forgets his lavender linen spray and orange-scented spray for the room.  Ichiro Suzuki depends on an electric massager that takes up nearly half his suitcase.

Notes: Chipper to go on disabled list  —  Third baseman's strained oblique will need time to heal  —  ATLANTA — When Willy Aybar arrives in Atlanta in time for Sunday afternoon's game, he'll find himself beginning at least a two-week stint as the Braves starting third baseman.

Indians promote Marte to Majors  —  Club wants to get prospect at-bats before September  —  CLEVELAND — The key piece to one of the winter's most buzz-worthy trades has finally been fitted into the Indians' Major League puzzle.  —  Andy Marte, the big prize in the Coco Crisp trade …

Beckett shoots for 14th vs. phenom  —  Los Angeles (53-49) at Boston (61-40), 1:20 p.m. ET  —  On their road to October, the Red Sox have been cruising for most of the season in first place of the American League East.  However, a shaky start to the second half of the season has the Sox looking …

As Deadline Nears, Yankees Consider Abreu and Pitchers  —  Yankees Manager Joe Torre talks to General Manager Brian Cashman six, seven, eight times a day, securing trade updates here and offering opinions about players there.  Mostly, it has been the same routine.

No movement on trade front  —  PHILADELPHIA - Although owner Jeffrey Loria joined his baseball operations team in Philadelphia on Saturday, the Marlins still remain on the outside of major trade rumors.  —  "In terms of major changes for this team, I wouldn't anticipate that happening,'' General Manager Larry Beinfest said. "

Quicker hook is plan for Buehrle  —  Guillen: No 6th unless he's sharp  —  BALTIMORE — Javier Vazquez has dubious company.  —  White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said he and his staff have discussed giving embattled left-hander Mark Buehrle a quicker hook in future starts until he pitches through his current troubles.

Could be Zito or nobody  —  ATLANTA - While the Mets mull the value of second-tier options such as Jon Lieber, Livan Hernandez and Kip Wells, what they seem to really want is the big prize, and he takes the mound Saturday in Oakland.  —  That would be Barry Zito, and it's a subject …

Handle with care  —  Yankees developing young pitchers, not trading them.  —  Besides Andy Pettitte, no drafted-and-developed Yankees pitcher has made more than 10 starts in a major league season since 1995.  —  That was the year Sterling Hitchcock and Scott Kamieniecki joined Pettitte in the same rotation for Buck Showalter.

Hall of Fame class ready for induction  —  Four living members share memories at luncheon  —  CLEVELAND — Late-night games of poker didn't entice Rocky Colavito and Herb Score the way they did their respective roommates during the Indians' Spring Training in 1953.

Barfield is putting up the numbers  —  DENVER - Josh Barfield is a big fan of the logic-based number game Sudoku.  —  As teammates play cards, work crossword puzzles or read to pass the time before games in the Padres clubhouse, Barfield wrestles with the lines of numbers.