Blue Jays give INF Encarnacion $27 million deal  —  TORONTO — Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Edwin Encarnacion has signed a three-year contract extension.  —  The $27 million deal announced Thursday includes a $10 million club option for the 2016 season.

MLB will uphold Rangers' deal with Jairo Beras but suspend Dominican prospect for age fraud  —  Major League Baseball will uphold Dominican teenager Jairo Beras' $4.5 million contract with the Texas Rangers but suspend him for a year after the league determined he had lied about his age, sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Top 50 prospects update  —  Rangers shortstop Jurickson Profar moves into the top spot  —  At the MLB season's midpoint, just before the signing deadline for drafted players, here is a fresh look at the top 50 prospects still in the minor leagues, including a new name on top.

Cards in the market for pitching help  —  Image  —  Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak has tapped down expectations the last two years before transacting significant deals immediately before the non-waiver trade deadline July 31.  While conceding the need for pitching help …

Like Curt Flood before me, I respectfully request (consumer) free-agency  —  To Whom It May Concern:  —  I do not know the exact parameters of the agreements between the cable television companies (Cox, Time Warner, etc.) and the government of San Diego.  I only know that this market …

McClellan undergoes shoulder surgery  —  Image  —  Cardinals reliever Kyle McClellan can't win for losing when it comes to his health.  —  On July 3, the versatile righthander threw for the first time since going on the disabled list in mid-May with a strained right elbow.

Will these bubble teams buy or sell?  —  Who will be traded?  Rosenthal and Morosi preview the second half.  —  Let's come right out and say it: The second wild card is fool's gold.  —  If you're the general manager of a team on the fringe of contention, you shouldn't “buy” …

Dodgers Eyeing Aramis, Headley  —  The Dodgers have identified Aramis Ramirez as a potential trade target in case the Brewers decide to trade veteran players this summer, Yahoo's Tim Brown reports (on Twitter).  However, the Dodgers prefer Chase Headley of the Padres.

Q&A: Terry Ryan, Twins general manager  —  Few people in baseball understand the ins and outs of scouting and player development better than Terry Ryan.  His expertise in those areas helped turn the Minnesota Twins into a model small-market franchise — six playoff berths from 2002 to 2010 …

Cubs generally pleased with manager's job  —  After a victory over the Braves in Atlanta last week, Dale Sveum discussed the idea of watching Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo grow together as Cubs.  —  “Hopefully I'm around when they're here in 10 years,” the manager said.

Mets pitcher Gee could face additional surgery  —  New York Mets right-hander Dillon Gee will be discharged from Manhattan's New York-Presbyterian Hospital later today, after doctors successfully broke up a blood clot in his pitching shoulder.  —  Gee may face an additional surgery to prevent …

Six first-rounders unsigned as deadline nears  —  New CBA changes strategy; last day for clubs and picks to agree is Friday  —  When the new First-Year Player Draft system was collectively bargained, the expectation was that it would rein in costs, get players to sign early and avoid signing deadline drama.