Top News:
Associated Press:
Bonds, trades among topics at Yankees' meetings — TAMPA, Fla. — Barry Bonds in pinstripes? If nothing else, the New York Yankees talked about it. — High-ranking Yankees officials gathered for meetings at their spring training complex Thursday, a day off for the team before it begins …
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Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Hey Yankees, I got some free advice for you guys — The Yankees have won six straight games since the All-Star break, and at 56-45, they're at their high-water mark for the season. — They flicked aside the Twins yesterday, 5-1, at Yankee Stadium, allowing them to fully enjoy their day off today …
Jim Molony / MLB.com:
Inside Pitch: Braves may be sellers — Atlanta in an intriguing situation as Trade Deadline looms — One of the triggers in the final week of this year's midsummer trade session is in the hands of a perennial buyer: the Atlanta Braves. — Year-in, year-out, the Braves have been buyers …
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ESPN:
Braves — In theory, by the end of this weekend — after a week of dueling the Marlins and Phillies — the Braves will know exactly whether they're in a race or out of one. But it seems as if the Braves have been stuck for weeks in what GM Frank Wren calls “that middle ground” between contention and oblivion.
Discussion:
Royals Review
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:Stark's Latest: Teixeira, Padilla, Sheffield, Beltre
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Associated Press:
Report: Mavs' Cuban among finalists to buy Cubs — NEW YORK — Tribune Co. is inviting at least three potential buyers who each submitted bids for the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field near or above $1 billion to participate in a second round of proposals, according to a person involved in the process.
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Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Mets may have filled Saturday slot — In Pedro's absence, Knight appears likely to step in and start — NEW YORK — With Pedro Martinez back in the Dominican Republic, grieving the loss of his father, Pablo, the Mets on Thursday set about the business of determining who his replacement might be.
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Tom Haudricourt / Brewers Blog:
Brewers not pursuing Sherrill — I've seen a lot of national reports in recent days that indicate the Brewers are interested in trading for Baltimore closer George Sherrill, so I called general manager Doug Melvin to see what's going on. — Melvin said he has not engaged the Orioles …
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Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
Orioles honor 1983 World Series team — Players reminisce about memorable championship season — BALTIMORE — It was an event 25 years in the making, a celebration designed to honor one of Baltimore's finest moments. The Orioles staged a full-fledged reunion of their 1983 World Series title team …
Kevin Cullen / Boston Globe:
Enough already — The Yankees are in town for a weekend series, and this would be a nice time to retire the stupidest chant in the world: Yankees suck. — Now, before you go all Hank Steinbrenner on me, hear me out. — I don't like the Yankees. I never did, though as a kid I liked …
Tyler Kepner / Bats:
What Ever Happened to Brett's Pine-Tar Bat? — Thursday marks the 25th anniversary of the “Pine Tar Game” at Yankee Stadium, an episode that George Brett still can't believe is his most famous moment in baseball. — “I never thought it would be that big of a deal,” Brett said on a conference call from Kansas City on Wednesday.
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George A. King III / New York Post:
POSADA DECIDES TO DELAY SURGERY — Jorge Posada and the Yankees confirmed what was reported in Wednesday's Post: The All-Star catcher needs right shoulder surgery that will require six months to recover from. But Posada wants to see if two weeks of rest will allow him to help as a designated hitter/first baseman.
Discussion:
iYankees, Sliding Into Home, Depressed Fan, YFSF, MLB Rumors, WasWatching.com and The LoHud Yankees Blog
Will Carroll / Baseball Prospectus:
The Mill — Early Churning … - While Tigers fans are talking comeback, the Tigers themselves have about a week to decide if that's actually going to happen. There are rumblings from outside the organization that the Tigers are starting to make calls about some of their players to determine …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Dan Graziano / New Jersey Online:
N.Y. Yankees in the market for a catcher — TRADEWINDS — YANKEES BUZZ — Word as of Wednesday afternoon was that the Yankees were looking everywhere for a catcher. Worried that Jose Molina might not be built to hold up the rest of the way as an everyday starter …
Ed Price / New Jersey Online:
Yankees' talks on Seattle lefty Washburn still hot — A person familiar with the Seattle Mariners' plans, who asked not to be named because of the sensitive nature of trade discussions, said a possible trade of lefty Jarrod Washburn to the Yankees has “got legs” and predicted “something will happen there.”
Joey Wahler / SNY.tv:
Garvey still waiting for Hall of Fame call — Ex-Dodger's chances now in Veteran Committee's hands — Jerry Manuel raised some eyebrows on June 17 in his first game as the Mets manager by using David Wright as the designated hitter, ending the third baseman's streak as the only Major Leaguer …
Nate Silver / Baseball Prospectus:
Lies, Damned Lies — Shrinking the Ballpark … Trivia question: Yankee Stadium seats 57,545 fans, which is presently the largest capacity of any park in Major League Baseball. When it closes this year, and is replaced by a ballpark that seats roughly 6,000 fewer fans …
Neil Best / Newsday:
Wilpon regrets letting Willie go in wee hours — Fred Wilpon and his organization endured a vicious beating from fans and the media last month for the circumstances of Willie Randolph's dismissal. — Wednesday, the Mets CEO had harsh words for himself: “I screwed up,” he said.
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Danielle Sessa / Bloomberg:Mets Owner Wilpon Says He ‘Screwed Up’ How Randolph Was Fired
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MLB FanHouse
