Return of Rodriguez?  Amazin's could do worse  —  Mets on Twitter  —  The Mets want to upgrade their bullpen, and the Brewers' Francisco Rodriguez is on their list of targets, a person familiar with the club's thinking said yesterday.  —  Yes, Francisco Rodriguez.  As in “K-Rod.”

Red Sox making a series of roster moves  —  OAKLAND — The Red Sox are making a series of roster moves today.  Here is what we know so far:  —  • First baseman Mauro Gomez has recalled from Triple A Pawtucket.  —  • RHP Justin Germano has been purchased from Pawtucket.

Blue Jays Sign Marcus Stroman  —  The Blue Jays and first round selection Marcus Stroman have signed a contract, the pitcher and the team announced today.  Stroman obtained a bonus of $1.8MM, ESPN.com's Keith Law tweets.  The Blue Jays selected Stroman 22nd overall and the recommended bonus for that slot is exactly $1.8MM.

Tampa Bay Rays: Jose Lobaton gets married at the Trop; James Shields acknowledges some urgency  —  Rays vs. Yankees  —  When/where: 7:10 tonight; Tropicana Field  —  TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)  —  Tickets: $17-$275, available at Tropicana Field box office, Ticketmaster …

Twins Agree To Sign Australian Lefthander Lewis Thorpe  —  The Twins have agreed to sign Lewis Thorpe, a lefthander from Australia.  —  Several teams considered Thorpe, 16, the top prospect in Australia for July 2.  Thorpe pitched in the 16-and-under World Championship in Mexico last August …

NY Mets and Philadelphia Phillies find themselves in reversed roles as series at Citi Field opens  —  Phillies are no longer NL East division bullies as Amazin's may even have upper hand in matchup these days.  —  Mets starter Jonathon Niese looks to get them off on the right foot against the Phillies.

Craig hits 2 homers, Cardinals rip Rockies 9-3  —  ST. LOUIS—Allen Craig hit a pair home runs, Carlos Beltran extended his RBI streak to a major league high nine games and Kyle Lohse worked into the eighth inning of the St. Louis Cardinals' 9-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Monday night.

Indians Stray From Consensus, Sign Hector Caro For $1.1 Million  —  The Indians have signed Dominican corner outfielder Hector Caro for $1.1 million.  —  Cleveland appears to have strayed significantly from the industry consensus in its evaluation of Caro, a player several teams did not consider …

Jones, Walker homer, Pirates beat Astros 11-2  —  PITTSBURGH—Garrett Jones and Neil Walker hit back-to-back homers off the right-field foul pole to ignite Pittsburgh's offense and the Pirates beat the Houston Astros 11-2 on Monday night.  —  James McDonald pitched seven effective innings for Pittsburgh …

Yasmani Grandal continued his home run streak last night  —  Yasmani Grandal's debut on Saturday was historic, hitting home runs from both sides of the plate for his first two major league hits.  His Monday was pretty good too.  —  Grandal came up in the seventh after going 0 for 3 in his first three at bats.

Rookies Mesoraco, Frazier Lead Reds Over Dodgers  —  LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rookies Devin Mesoraco and Todd Frazier each drove in three runs and the Cincinnati Reds came back after Zack Cozart was beaned to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-2 Monday night.  —  Cozart sustained a concussion …

Intentional balks not the best way to end game  —  MODESTO: A's hitting instructor banned by California League over balks  —  MODESTO — There were about 800 people left in the stands as the scoreboard clock approached midnight on June 23.  It had been a sellout of 4,781 at John Thurman Field …

2012 SABR Convention Recap  —  As a Minnesotan news that the annual Society for American Baseball Research convention was coming to Minneapolis this year initially made me sad after attending eight consecutive SABR get-togethers in Cincinnati, Toronto, Seattle, St. Louis, Cleveland, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and Long Beach.

Surgery to end season for Cubs' Stewart  —  ATLANTA - Whether Ian Stewart is the Cubs' third baseman next year, he won't be for the rest of this one.  —  Confirming what Stewart tweeted early Monday morning, the team says Stewart will undergo exploratory arthroscopic surgery next week …