Report: Red Sox get catching help in Javy Lopez  —  Looking for help at catcher following the injury to captain Jason Varitek, the Red Sox have acquired veteran Javy Lopez from the Baltimore Orioles, ESPN Radio 890 in Boston reported.  —  Lopez, who will join the team tomorrow in Tampa …

Mets lock up Reyes with four-year, $23.25 million deal  —  NEW YORK — Jose Reyes can count on buying a nice, big house in New York.  —  The speedy All-Star shortstop signed a $23.25 million, four-year contract extension with the Mets on Thursday, the sides working quickly this week to ensure him a home through the 2010 season.

Something's Rotten in Den...ver  —  Thanks to all of you who checked in with assistance on the Tejada/Tehama thing.  I've added the name of the Orioles' shortstop to my Word dictionary, which has solved the problem.  As always, writing for people smarter than yourself has its privileges.

Weak NL West is up for grabs  —  The trading deadline has come and gone, and for some contenders, it went well.  They were able to get what they needed to vie for a playoff spot and possibly the World Series.  And then there are teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers that went out and made trades …

A's key victory may be costly  —  THEY EXTEND LEAD OVER ANGELS; PAYTON HIT BY SHIELDS PITCH  —  ANAHEIM - The natural inclination Wednesday was to pump up the stereo and feel good, and this the A's did after winning two of three games from the Los Angeles Angels.

Not quite showtime for Volquez, Danks  —  Pitchers one step from the Rangers but still have much to prove  —  OKLAHOMA CITY - It didn't take John Danks long to figure out the differences between Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Oklahoma when he was called up in late June.

Daily Dish: Aug. 3  —  One of the premiere pitching matchups across the minors took place at Double-A Reading on Wednesday, as Phillies lefthander Gio Gonzalez went up against Yankees righthander Philip Hughes.  —  Gonzalez wound up on the winning side, as the Phillies downed Trenton 5-1 …

IN TRAX- ION  —  There's an unfortunate reality in sports; loyalty comes second to winning championships.  —  It's a realm where great ten years ago means little if you're below average now.  The phrase "thanks for the memories" only applies in the short term.  Cold and wrong as it can appear, such is life in the sports world.

Death, Taxes, and Major League Waivers  —  MLB's rules are complex and convoluted, but they're not hard.  I've heard various people in front offices referred to as "rules experts" or - my favorite "waivers experts."  The rule on waivers (Rule 9) runs nine pages, a large part of which revolve around resolving the order of claims.

Cubs' Wood skips surgery on shoulder  —  Right-hander will come out of the bullpen after rehab  —  CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood has decided not to have surgery to repair a partially torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder, and also has accepted that he may have to pitch in relief rather than start when he does return.

Breaking News - Royals Sign Hochevar  —  A new era continues to evolve at Kauffman with the announcement that the Royals signed first round draft pick Luke Hochevar to a 4-year, major league contract.  —  We all remember the Alex Gordon negotiations of last year when the Royals would not budge …

What are the Odds  —  Chase Utley is 22 games from tying Joe DiMaggio's hit streak, 10 games from tying Rose and Keeler for the NL record.  Let's take a look at the odds of him making it.  —  For the probability of getting a hit, I like to use something I call hit average.

Lies, Damned Lies  —  Is Bigger Better?  —  friendly  —  Contact  —  Which was the more important trade deadline acquisition: Carlos Lee, or Todd Walker?  —  If ESPN took a SportsNation poll on that one, the map would probably be about as monotone as the 1984 presidential election.

Cuban star Gourriel has no interest in deserting … At 22 and already with an impressive résumé in local and international events.  Cuban infielder Yulieski Gourriel is considered one of the world's best baseball players.  —  And as with other Cuban greats since Fidel Castro …

Mariners Notebook: Beltre savors second chance  —  After long foul, HR came on a repeat fastball  —  BALTIMORE — Adrian Beltre thought he missed his shot for a first-inning home run when he jumped on an Erik Bedard fastball and yanked it deep but foul.  —  "It was a fastball, and I was right on it," Beltre said.