Top News:
Sam Borden / NY Daily News:
Yankees near a Bobby prize — Close to bringing Phils' RF to Bronx — The Yankees moved closer last night to landing Bobby Abreu, according to sources, as the field for the Phillies outfielder was narrowed to just three teams - with the Bombers believed to have the best chance of landing him.
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Phillies expected to deal Abreu to Yanks — The Bobby Abreu trade is likely to happen Sunday, and the Phillies are expected to send the right fielder to the Yankees — even though the Red Sox are still in the mix — FOXSports.com has learned. — The Yankees would get Abreu and right-hander Cory Lidle …
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
For moment, the tension is broken — David Ortiz stepped to the plate in the 11th inning on a hot summer day before a packed Fenway Park and saw the shift he often sees. — He's mumbled about it under his breath. Called it every name in the book. And once claimed it was costing him 30-40 points on his batting average.
Discussion:
Fire Brand of the …
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Tejada happy with O's … On a day when Miguel Tejada affirmed his desire to stay in Baltimore, the Orioles worked late into last night, mulling offers for their star shortstop. — The Los Angeles Angels, once considered the front-runner to land Tejada if he is moved …
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Could Soriano end up in California? — The Alfonso Soriano talks remain fluid, but the Angels could be the front-runner by process of elimination if they are unable to land Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada. — FOX Bite — Videos — Rosenthal on trade rumors
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Lee's a plus, but Rangers still need pitching — The Brewers didn't wait long to trade All-Star left fielder Carlos Lee. And they didn't accept minor leaguers for him, either. — In a blockbuster trade with major implications for both leagues, the Brewers sent Lee to the Rangers on Friday …
Discussion:
Baseball America, Dallas Star-Telegram, Dallas Morning News, Beyond the Box Score and Lone Star Ball
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Manny does it with 'D' — Manny Ramirez wasn't needed to provide walkoff dramatics with his bat yesterday, but he again offered proof with his throwing arm that he's not to be trifled with by opposing baserunners. — Los Angeles' Mike Napoli found out the hard way in yesterday's 7-6 …
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Fluto Shinzawa / Boston Globe:
Momentum shift — Ortiz's single in 11th caps Red Sox' rally — Like Josh Beckett, yesterday's starting pitcher, said after the Red Sox' 7-6, 11-inning victory over the Los Angeles Angels before 35,621 at Fenway Park, it has become the team joke. — He can't do it again, can he?
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Soriano Trade Talk Continues to Swirl — Dodgers Rip O'Connor, Top Nats Again: Dodgers 7, Nationals 5 — Washington Nationals General Manager Jim Bowden sat in the front row behind home plate Saturday afternoon at Dodger Stadium, BlackBerry in his hand, fiancée at his side, the entire baseball world spread out before him.
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Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:With Soriano as bait, Bowden is big fish
Discussion:
District of Baseball
NY Daily News:
Scout on Zito watch, deal Barry unlikely — ATLANTA - The Mets dispatched top scout Russ Bove to Oakland to watch Barry Zito's outing yesterday, but team insiders have continued to express pessimism that a deal will be made before tomorrow's 4 p.m. nonwaiver trading deadline.
Discussion:
Metsblog.com
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
They'd be double trouble — Santana and Liriano make Twins tough — We asked five major league baseball experts (three general managers, one special assignment scout, and one manager) to list the teams they wouldn't want to face in the playoffs in each league, in order of toughness.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Raymond Doswell / Kansas City Star:
'Bingo' is special to Jones — Actor thinks movie about black ballplayers was misunderstood. — With his signature baritone voice, James Earl Jones has compiled an award-winning acting career that spans decades and several unique roles. — For sports fans, however, Jones is a central figure in a number of baseball films.
Chris Jenkins / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Confused Lee Smith still waiting — Lee Smith will watch today's presentation and all the replays with pride, of course, because Bruce Sutter's a bud and a brother of sorts. Smith will be happy that somebody, anybody, of his ninth-inning ilk made it to Cooperstown.
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Jennifer Floyd Engel / Dallas Star-Telegram:
This time, don't blame Hart — ARLINGTON — When Rangers manager Buck Showalter finally exited The Ballpark on Friday, it was Saturday. — He had a lot on his mind, namely: Why had his players responded to a blockbuster deal that brought slugger Carlos Lee to Arlington …
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Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Towers might wait for 3B deal until after deadline — Kevin Towers said a few weeks ago that obtaining a third baseman was his team's top priority on the trade market. It still is, the Padres general manager said yesterday, but Towers described the market as "very weak" and said he won't force a fit onto his first-place club.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
John Michael Lauinger / NY Daily News:
The bell of the ballpark — The New York Mets were down seven runs by the seventh-inning stretch to the worst team in the National League one recent night, and it seemed the only thing keeping fans inside steamy-hot Shea Stadium was the promise of post-game pyrotechnics.
NY Daily News:
Here's the deal — Teams getting ready to bust a move — COOPERSTOWN - Let's be perfectly frank here. As much as fans, talk-radio hosts and the rumor-a-minute mongers at ESPN have desperately sought to keep alive the notion of a Dontrelle Willis or a Barry Zito suddenly becoming available …
