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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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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.
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 …
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.
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Twins Acquire Carl Pavano — The Twins deepened their rotation today, acquiring Carl Pavano from the Indians for a player to be named later, according to a team press release. Pavano, 33, has allowed 150 hits in 125.2 innings, posting a respectable 88K/23BB ratio.
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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.
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:
Yahoo! Sports, MLB.com, Let's Go Tribe!, 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 …
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 …
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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.
Discussion:
Dodger Thoughts
Los Angeles Times:
Rangers get to Angels early and often — Joe Saunders exits after 12/3 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
Rustin Dodd / MLB.com:
For Bannister, the secret is in the numbers — Right-hander finds success with Pitch f/x, sabermetrics — KANSAS CITY — Brian Bannister reaches into his locker and pulls out a baseball. — This is complicated stuff he's talking about, and he needs a prop.
Tim Kurkjian / ESPN:
Angels' offense hitting a high note — AL West leaders, usually rich in pitching, currently top the majors in runs scored — There is a general concern among major league managers that their teams aren't always ready to play in the days, even weeks, that follow the All-Star break.
JSOnline:
Tampa Bay claims Swindle — By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel — Houston - I was just informed that Tampa Bay claimed reliever R.J. Swindle, who was designated for assignment to clear a roster spot for new reliever Jesus Colome. — Why would Tampa Bay claim a pitcher with a 16.20 ERA, you ask?
