Yanks want to talk deal with A-Rod during season  —  The New York Yankees are willing to bend their own rules to keep Alex Rodriguez in pinstripes beyond this season.  —  The Yankees have changed their traditional stance and are now willing to negotiate during the season with their star third baseman …

Hafner gets 4-year, $57M extension  —  FOXSports.com, Updated 8 minutes ago  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  The Indians have signed designated hitter Travis Hafner to a four-year, $57 million contract extension, FOXSports.com has learned.  —  Hafner, 30, was eligible for free agency after the 2008 season.

AL participants say All-Star dominance merely coincidence … SAN FRANCISCO // Officially, Tuesday's 5-4 win will go down as another American League All-Star Game victory during one of the most lopsided periods in the sport's history.  —  But it sure didn't feel like it for the AL squad …

Papelbon: Ditch the lousy radar guns, will ya?  —  With Jonathan Papelbon performing ably in the All-Star Game last night, I did some searching on Google this morning in an attempt to find pictures, quotes and the like.  And what pops up?  Papelbon going off this morning in an out-of-town …

Twins, Yankees Like Dan Johnson  —  There's a lot of buzz going around that the A's may become sellers soon, nine games back in their division and eight out in the Wild Card.  Typical impending free agent parts like Mike Piazza and Shannon Stewart are candidates to be moved.

Diamondbacks fire hitting coach Seitzer, promote Schu  —  PHOENIX (TICKER) — The Arizona Diamondbacks announced on Wednesday they have replaced hitting coach Kevin Seitzer with the organization's hitting coordinator, Rick Schu.  —  Schu, 45, is in his 10th season with the Diamondbacks franchise.

Yanks, Twins may enter Hillenbrand fray  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  Infielder Shea Hillenbrand, who cleared waivers on Wednesday, is expected to draw interest from the Yankees, Twins and possibly one other club, according to major-league sources.  —  Hillenbrand, who turns 32 on July 27 …

Milledge to play tonight in Troy?  In the words of the late Gilda Radner, never mind  —  UPDATE to UPDATE to UPDATE:  —  If you see Lastings Milledge, have him give me a call.  —  He is not in Troy tonight.  —  After hours of he's coming/maybe/no/yes/maybe, it turns …

Building case for '09 Yanks  —  News' experts dream up team for new Stadium  —  Across the way, the new Yankee Stadium grows larger every day, and with it so do questions about the team that will play there come 2009.  —  The new Stadium will have new features such as large concourses, luxury suites and a myriad of new concessions.

Zito's Deal May Rank Among the All-Time Worst  —  For San Francisco Giants fans, last night's All-Star Game should have been a wonderful event, a chance to show off their beautiful ballpark and shower love on the twin pillars of their franchise — Barry Bonds, their unaccountably beloved left fielder …

Balmy Weather May Bench a Baseball Staple  —  RUSSELL, Pa. — Careers at stake with each swing, baseball players leave little to sport when it comes to their bats.  They weigh them.  They count their grains.  They talk to them.  —  But in towns like this one, in the heart of the mountain forests …

ICHIRO ACES INSIDE JOB  —  Ichiro Suzuki once again showed the world what a unique talent he is on the baseball field.  —  Ichiro's fifth-inning, two-run, inside-the-park homer was the key hit in the American League's 5-4 win last night in the 78th All-Star Game.

Union Gets Approval to Intervene in Steroids Case  —  The Major League Baseball Players Association won approval yesterday to intervene on the side of the United States attorney's office in San Francisco in the effort to prevent the names of current and former major league players …

Ramirez named NL Player of the Week  —  Marlins shortstop hits .520 with three homers to cap first half  —  MIAMI — Most players are glad to see the All-Star break come, because it gives them a chance to rest, relax and visit family for a few days.  For Marlins opponents, however …

Seattle's Japanese superstar displays a sublime sense of timing  —  Since it appears the Mariners are poised to offer as much as $100 million in a new contract for Ichiro, perhaps they should meet him at his San Francisco hotel for breakfast this morning before his price goes up.