Mets claim Dodgers OF Ledee on waivers  —  LOS ANGELES — Ricky Ledee is headed back to the Big Apple, this time with the New York Mets.  —  The backup outfielder was placed on waivers Monday night by the Los Angeles Dodgers and quickly claimed by New York.

Building the Best in Motor City, Part Two  —  Picking up from yesterday...  A month after nabbing their franchise shortstop, the Tigers signed a franchise catcher, Ivan Rodriguez.  On the surface, this made all kinds of sense; it's not often you get the opportunity to sign a surefire Hall of Famer who just turned 32.

Reds Place Ex-National Majewski on Disabled List  —  On the day the Cincinnati Reds placed relief pitcher Gary Majewski on the 15-day disabled list with a sore shoulder, Majewski revealed he had been treated for shoulder tendinitis while pitching for the Washington Nationals this season.

Papi may be a 21st-century Foxx  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. - If you haven't already, now would be a great time to start your David Ortiz home run pool.  —  Anyone can join, and all kinds of twists are involved.  —  A good one to start: Pick the date Ortiz passes Jimmie Foxx for most single-season home runs by a Red Sox player.

Cabrera, Benson back in rotation  —  TORONTO // As expected, Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo announced yesterday that Daniel Cabrera will start today's game against the Toronto Blue Jays.  —  It will be the 25-year-old's first start since July 13 against Texas, a game in which he gave up four earned runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Yankees' pitcher establishes himself  —  The Yankees signed Chien-Ming Wang on May 5, 2000 and sent him to pitch for their Class A team on Staten Island five weeks later.  The right-hander from Taiwan spoke no English and had never been to the United States before.

Owner, manager boil, but don't overheat  —  A bizarre clash of egos ended with a truce, but not before the Marlins almost lost the best young manager in baseball.  —  Heated words on a super-heated summer Sunday took owner Jeffrey Loria and manager Joe Girardi to the brink, but they found a way to calm down and shake hands.

Notes: Asst. GM high on additions  —  Rizzo originally drafted Chico, Mock; no damage in Hill's elbow  —  WASHINGTON — Assistant general manger Mike Rizzo was pleased that the Nationals were able to acquire left-hander Matt Chico and right-hander Garrett Mock from the Diamondbacks for right-hander Livan Hernandez on Monday.

Indians sign Lee to three-year, $14M extension  —  CLEVELAND — Cliff Lee signed a three-year, $14 million contract extension with the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday, another long-term commitment for a young player the club considers key to winning in the future.

Meltdown just plain Kay-razy  —  Thinking before one speaks has never been a prerequisite for gaining employment as a sports radio talkie.  In fact, some mouths are encouraged - in the name of ratings or buzz - to flap their yaps with no regard for truth, accuracy, or rationale.

Digging Beyond Statistics in Order to Figure Abreu  —  Bobby Abreu was 18 years old, four levels from the majors, in the summer of 1992.  He was the right fielder for the Asheville Tourists of the South Atlantic League, just another prospect in the Houston Astros' farm system.

Rangers forced to shuffle rotation  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — Rangers left-hander John Koronka admitted he was surprised at being optioned to Triple A Oklahoma.  —  The rookie, who was traded to the Rangers by the Chicago Cubs days before Opening Day, had been in the Rangers' starting rotation since the start of the season.

1. Adam Miller, rhp, Indians (Double-A Akron) … IN THE TEAM PHOTO … THE NOT-SO-HOT SHEET … BLAST FROM THE PAST … HELIUM WATCH

Escobar Is Free to Focus on a 6-3 Win  —  Without Pierzynski in the lineup, the Angels' pitcher has a fine six innings in Chicago.  —  CHICAGO — Kelvim Escobar would never admit it, but the fact A.J. Pierzynski was not in the Chicago White Sox's lineup Monday night may have helped …