Different approach at DH  —  Seattle (38-62) vs. Boston (59-43), Wednesday, 1:40 p.m. PT  —  SEATTLE — Most American League teams use the designated hitter position to stick a little more pop in their lineup.  David Ortiz of the visiting Boston Red Sox would be a prime example.

Red Sox looking to acquire Uribe in deal with Chicago  —  The Red Sox are deep in conversations with the White Sox on a trade that would send infielder Juan Uribe to Boston, according to sources.  —  Uribe is batting just .225 in limited playing time this season, but his three home runs …

Mets looking closer at 'pen help through trade  —  With plenty of deals already made throughout the league, and exactly a week left before next Thursday's 4 p.m. trade deadline, the Mets are still deciding when — or if — to pull the trigger themselves.  The most obvious need is for a corner outfielder …

Wilpon: I screwed up firing  —  Fred Wilpon said he learned something from firing Willie Randolph.  And it is this: The next time he fires a manager he'll do it in the light of day, when reporters are not sleeping.  —  Wilpon talked about his “lesson” in the studio of his SportsNet New York …

Arroyo: Please keep me  —  Remember when Bronson Arroyo's favorite song had the words, “Please Come to Boston” in them.  No more.  He wants to stay right in Cincinnati and if he has to eat five-way chili over New England clam chowder, so be it.  —  Arroyo, hearing the rumors of possible trades …

Breaking down the draft: Picks 36-44  —  Continuing our “Breaking Down the Draft” series, today we break down draft picks 36-44.  In case you missed the previous three parts of this series, I have listed them below:  —  Breaking Down the Draft: Part One  —  Breaking Down the Draft: Picks 18 - 26

Do veteran players ‘know how to win’?  —  It was my first sabermetric argument.  At least, the first one I remember.  The year was 1984, and my beloved Mets were battling the Cubs for the NL East division lead.  I had a buddy who felt that the Cubs were going to take it …

Finally, coast is clear  —  SEATTLE - Yankees tomorrow.  At Fenway.  The return of David Ortiz.  Maybe the return of Manny Ramírez.  Joba Chamberlain and Josh Beckett throwing darts.  —  Get there early.  This could be the beginning of the pennant race in the American League East.

Cubs activate Soriano, Eyre  —  Option Hoffpauir, Hart to Triple-A Iowa  —  CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs today activated outfielder Alfonso Soriano and left-handed pitcher Scott Eyre from the 15-day disabled list and optioned infielder Micah Hoffpauir and right-handed pitcher Kevin Hart to Triple-A Iowa.

PADRES: Wolf sent to Astros for minor league pitcher  —  Towers insists that club won't initiate a fire sale  —  The Padres traded their second veteran player since the All-Star break on Tuesday, sending pitcher Randy Wolf to Houston for a minor-league pitcher.

Coonelly ‘frustrated’ with Alvarez talks  —  HOUSTON — Pirates president Frank Coonelly tonight described himself as “frustrated” by the pace of talks with first-round draft pick Pedro Alvarez, marking the first time anyone on either side — including Alvarez's agent, Scott Boras — spoke publicly on the matter.

Source: Yankees likely to make trades and ‘make a run’  —  With the trade deadline looming a week from Thursday, the Yankees' brain trust will gather Thursday in Tampa to discuss potential moves.  —  The meeting will include co-chairmen Hank and Hal Steinbrenner, president Randy Levine …

Market shifts as deadline nears … The word is that the asking price for Pirates outfielder Xavier Nady has “loosened” a tad, and that Pittsburgh seems more interested than before in trading him.  —  The Pirates were said a couple weeks ago by the New York Post to be seeking “two top prospects” …

Reliever Ziegler sets league scoreless mark  —  (07-23) 04:00 PDT St. Petersburg, Fla. — Brad Ziegler, Oakland's rookie submarine-style reliever, established an American League record for the longest scoreless streak at the start of a career, and the next inning, Carlos Peña almost brought the streak to an end.