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.

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 …

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.

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.

Strasburg addresses possible innings dilemma  —  If the Washington Nationals make the World Series, don't tell Stephen Strasburg — who is on a team-imposed innings limit — that he won't be able to pitch.  —  “They're going to have to rip the ball out of my hands,” Strasburg said on MLB Network Radio.

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” …

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.

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 …

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.