Yanks land Nady, Marte in Bucs swap … NEW YORK — According to SI.com's Jon Heyman, the Yankees have acquired outfielder Xavier Nady and reliever Damaso Marte from the Pirates for Jose Tabata, Ross Ohlendorf, Phil Coke and one other minor league prospect.  —  While the trade has been agreed upon …

Pirates trade Nady and Marte  —  Source says deal is with Yankees for pitcher, three prospects  —  PITTSBURGH — Pirates right fielder Xavier Nady and reliever Damaso Marte have been traded to the Yankees.  —  Though the team confirmed a trade, the Pirates have not confirmed that both players are indeed going to New York.

Nady, Marte Traded To Yankees  —  7:25pm: Ken Rosenthal confirms it: minor leaguers Ohlendorf, Coke, Kontos, and Tabata.  My impression at first glance: the return is not terribly impressive for Nady and Marte.  I don't like the idea of the Bucs taking Tabata as the centerpiece - there is too much projection involved with him.

Manny scratched  —  After being penciled into his regular cleanup spot earlier in the afternoon, Manny Ramirez was scratched from tonight's lineup with soreness in his right knee.  —  In his pregame meeting with the media (which took place before Manny was scratched), Red Sox manager Terry Francona …

‘Empire’ and ‘Nation’ set to meet again  —  Long-time rivals face off in AL East showdown  —  Everyone out there who doubted, deep down, that it would come to this, raise your voice.  —  Hear that?  Deathly silence.  —  Late July.  Fenway Park.  The Yankees and the Red Sox …

3 UP: The Mets Are First, and Faulty Rumors  —  1. The Mets are alone in first place for the first time since April 19.  But that is not as interesting to me as this: There is so much talk about the parity in baseball.  But there is not parity...  And while the Marlins and Cardinals are very competitive …