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.

Upton shutting out trade rumors  —  CHICAGO — After finishing the first half on a strong note, it seemed odd that D-backs outfielder Justin Upton would have to answer questions about possibly being traded.  —  But rumors continue to swirl around baseball that Upton could find himself wearing …

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 …

Berkman will go to Cincy, poised for return  —  ST. LOUIS  • Cardinals first baseman Lance Berkman has successfully lobbied the team to skip a rehab assignment and prove that he can go straight from knee surgery to the major-league roster.  —  It just won't happen Friday.

Duncan sounds like he's done in the dugout  —  Dave Duncan, still officially the Cardinals' pitching coach, participated in his seventh All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Kansas City, sixth as a coach and one as a player.  —  He was in uniform for the first time since Game 7 of last year's World Series.

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” …

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 …

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 …

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.

Source: 2nd surgery may KO Gee for season … New York Mets right-hander Dillon Gee will undergo potentially season-ending surgery Friday in St. Louis to fix artery damage in his pitching shoulder, which should prevent a recurrence of clotting, a source familiar with the plan told ESPNNewYork.com on Wednesday.