Top News:
Jim Callis / Baseball America:
Mock Draft 4.0: June 4 — Jim Callis' Last Attempt To Line Up Talent In Unpredictable Year — The Astros' public position with the No. 1 overall pick is that they're looking at five players and may not make their decision until shortly before they officially go on the clock at 7:09 p.m. Eastern tonight.
RELATED:
Keith Law / ESPN:
2012 MLB Mock draft 4.0 — Consensus has Astros taking Appel No. 1; Buxton goes No. 2 to Twins — This is it ... sort of, since I'll update this over the course of the day on Monday if any new information emerges. As always, everything here is based on information gleaned from industry sources.
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, River Avenue Blues and Bucs Dugout
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
2012 Mock Draft — A weak talent class and a new collective bargaining agreement have made the 2012 draft the most unpredictable in recent memory. Further confusing things are huge wild cards early on, especially the Mariners at three and the Royals at five.
Dave Perkin / Sports Illustrated:
Buxton, Zunino follow Appel in SI.com's 2012 MLB mock draft
Buxton, Zunino follow Appel in SI.com's 2012 MLB mock draft
Discussion:
MetsMinorLeagueBlog.com and Bucs Dugout
Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:
Draft day begins with no clear-cut top pick
Draft day begins with no clear-cut top pick
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Lookout Landing, MetsBlog.com, Hit and Run, Let's Go Tribe, Diamond Hoggers and The Crawfish Boxes
John Manuel / Baseball America:
Red Sox Take Deven Marrero — The Red Sox have two first-round picks, and with the first at No. 24, they went for a shortstop from Arizona State. — That worked out well for the Red Sox in 2004 with Dustin Pedroia, and they hope it works again with Deven Marrero.
Discussion:
Boston Globe and Over the Monster
RELATED:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
MLB draft gets started — 9:37 p.m.: The Sox took Arizona State shortstop Deven Marrero. Dustin Pedroia will be very excited. — Marrero is a defensively gifted player who did not have a good offensive season. But he did play well in the Cape Cod League. — 9:33 p.m.: Red Sox are up .
Discussion:
Camden Chat
Rob Bradford / WEEI:
WHY THE RED SOX ARE STILL ON THE HUNT FOR STARTING PITCHING
WHY THE RED SOX ARE STILL ON THE HUNT FOR STARTING PITCHING
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Niese to get heart procedure during ASG break … NEW YORK — Jon Niese came away from an examination with team doctors Monday satisfied he had no significant heart issue, but the New York Mets left-hander expects to undergo a minor surgical procedure during the All-Star break to correct a heartbeat that occasionally becomes irregular.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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Ben Walker / Associated Press:
Craig, Cardinals stop 5-game skid, beat Mets — NEW YORK—Allen Craig hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals found a bit of missing pop, beating the New York Mets 5-4 Monday and stopping their season-worst losing streak at five.
Discussion:
ESPN and Viva El Birdos
Fox Sports:
Expect surprises this trade season — Only one rule applies during trading season: — Don't assume anything. — At this time last season, hardly anyone thought the Rockies would trade Ubaldo Jimenez. In 2010, few predicted that the Angels would get Dan Haren.
Discussion:
Philly.com and HardballTalk
Nick Hurm / Cincinnati Reds:
Pedro Borbon dead at 65 — Former Reds pitcher Pedro Borbon has died at age 65 of complications from cancer, according to his business agent Charles Sotto. — Pedro Borbon was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 2010. — Borbon is the Reds leader in career pitching appearances with 531 …
Discussion:
NESN.com, baseballmusings.com and Yahoo! Sports
Conor Glassey / Baseball America:
Mariners Take Mike Zunino — With the third overall pick, the Mariners selected Florida catcher Mike Zunino. The Mariners are loaded with pitching prospects and needed offensive contributors. While the team would have loved a shot at the toolsy high school prospects who went before them …
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner
Zoo With Roy:
Zoo With Roy's Awesome Emma Interviews Cole Hamels — Wait what Awesome Emma and Cole Hamels and a ZWR Microphone?! Oh you know. — So last week The Hamels Foundation (which does absolutely amazing work that will resonate for generations) sent out a press release noting a tremendous project/donation …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and baseballmusings.com
Wayne Coffey / NY Daily News:
Former NY Mets GM Jim Duquette donates kidney to young daughter, Lindsey, to fight rare disease, Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis — Father steps up to plate for his 10-year-old girl — MLB analyst Jim Duquette, formerly GM of the Mets, donates a kidney to his 10-year-old daughter Lindsey.
Discussion:
NESN.com and MetsBlog.com