Top News:
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Game 109: Red Sox at Yankees — YANKEES (66-42) — Pitching: RHP A.J. Burnett (10-5, 3.89). — RED SOX (62-45) — Ellsbury CF — Pedroia 2B — Martinez 1B — Youkilis 3B — Ortiz DH — Drew RF — Varitek C — Reddick LF — Green SS — Pitching: RHP Josh Beckett (13-4, 3.27).
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Chad Finn / Boston Globe:
Smoltz designated for assignment — After eight starts and few glimpses of the repertoire that made him one of the dominant pitchers of his generation, John Smoltz's Red Sox career has come to a crossroads, and possibly an end. — The Red Sox have designated the 42-year-old righthander …
Discussion:
NESN.com, New York Times, The Joy of Sox, Surviving Grady, Boston Herald, YFSF and Deadspin
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Rodriguez's homer gives Yanks 2-0 win over Boston — It may have been warm, but it felt like October Friday night at Yankee Stadium. — Alex Rodriguez ended his home run drought in dramatic fashion, drilling a two-run shot in the 15th inning to lift the Yankees to a 2-0 win over the Red Sox after five hours and 33 minutes.
Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:
Tazawa replaces Smoltz; Woodward claimed on waivers — NEW YORK — Junichi Tazawa, the promising righthanded pitcher signed out of Japan's Industrial League in the offseason, was added to the Red Sox' roster tonight, replacing the ineffective John Smoltz, who was designated for assignment.
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox DFA John Smoltz — The Red Sox designated John Smoltz for assignment, according to DJ Bean of WEEI.com. Smoltz, 42, struggled in eight starts for the Red Sox. He only walked nine, but eight of the 59 hits he allowed were homers. His ERA ballooned to 8.32 after allowing eight earned runs at Yankee Stadium last night.
Kelly Thesier / MLB.com:
Twins bolster rotation, add Pavano — Veteran right-hander acquired for player to be named later — DETROIT — The Twins have been searching for ways to help their struggling rotation and on Friday, they added a veteran arm to the group by acquiring right-hander Carl Pavano from the Indians …
Discussion:
Pinstripes, Pa.
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:Twins Acquire Carl Pavano
Discussion:
Twinkie Town, TwinCities.com, River Avenue Blues, Fox Sports, Yahoo! Sports and Plain Dealer
Carl Pavano / Associated Press:Minnesota Twins get Carl Pavano from Cleveland Indians, demote R.A. Dickey
Paul Hoynes / Plain Dealer:Cleveland Indians trade pitcher Carl Pavano to Minnesota Twins …
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe!, Yahoo! Sports, MLB.com, Batter's Box Interactive …, MLB Daily Dish and Bats
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Sources: Jays face choices on Rios — A waiver claim has been placed on Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Alex Rios, according to MLB sources. — At a time when most teams have very little financial flexibility, it could be within the realm of possibility that the Blue Jays will consider a trade of Rios …
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Alex Rios Claimed On Waivers, Trade Next? — 10:02pm: Olney is now reporting that the White Sox “are most likely the team awarded claim on Rios, but the Blue Jays have not confirmed it.” The Sox face a mutual option on right fielder Jermaine Dye after the season, and could also consider using Rios in center field if they acquire him.
Associated Press:
A's Release Jason Giambi … OAKLAND, Calif. — Jason Giambi's second stint with the Oakland Athletics didn't pan out as either side had hoped. — On Friday, they parted ways — most certainly for good this time. — Giambi was released by the A's, cutting short the struggling slugger's return to his first major league club.
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The Sporting Green / San Francisco Chronicle:Giambi released — Jason Giambi has been released by the A's …
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Francoeur can no longer bear beard — SAN DIEGO - Jeff Francoeur is a realist. He's also clean-shaven again. — Several Mets players recently had resolved not to shave until the team reached .500, but Francoeur has decided to abandon the bonding exercise and go back to using a razor.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Jim Callis / Baseball America:
Bucs Land Cain For $1.125 Million — Though the Pirates went conservative by taking Boston College catcher Tony Sanchez with the No. 4 overall pick, they vowed to be aggressive in later rounds. After taking a baby step by signing seventh-rounder Trent Stevenson for $350,000 two weeks ago …
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Braves deliver in 12th to sink Dodgers — Anderson ties it in ninth, scores on Escobar's game-winner — LOS ANGELES — Twenty-four hours after experiencing the deflation of a walk-off loss, the Braves produced an inspired comeback victory that allowed them to forget about some of the anger …
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Los Angeles Times:
Rangers get to Angels early and often — Joe Saunders exits after 1 2/3 innings and goes on 15-day disabled list. — No matter that the Angels had won 14 of their last 18 games when the Texas Rangers arrived in Anaheim to open a three-game showdown in the American League West.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Associated Press:
Seattle Mariners LHP ErikBedard has fraying in pitching shoulder — SEATTLE — Since arriving in Seattle 18 months ago, Erik Bedard has been on and off the disabled list. He's been in and out of doctors offices and MRI machines. — Bedard — Now, he, his season and perhaps his tenure with the Mariners are in limbo.
Discussion:
Fox Sports
David Ely / MLB.com:
Billingsley exits with hamstring strain — Dodgers righty suffers injury after singling in sixth inning — LOS ANGLES — For a second consecutive start against the Braves, Dodgers right-hander Chad Billingsley was forced to exit the game because of a problem with one of his hamstrings.
Marc Topkin / The Heater:
Rays acquire C Gregg Zaun from Orioles, say he'll play “a fair amount” — UPDATE, 5:07: Executive VP Andrew Friedman said Zaun will “play a fair amount” and the decisions will be based on matchups. “We feel this will help us down the stretch,” Friedman said.
