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.

Yankees Sign Hensley For $1.2 Million  —  The Yankees have signed first-round pick Ty Hensley, a righthander from Santa Fe HS in Edmond, Okla., for $1.2 million.  —  Hensley originally agreed to a $1.6 million bonus shortly after the draft, matching the assigned pick value for his 30th overall selection.

Giants unlikely to make splash before Deadline  —  Club's focus figures to be on adding extra bat off bench, bullpen depth  —  KANSAS CITY — The Giants' record at the All-Star break mirrors their performance at the same juncture in 2010.  Their needs are similar, too.

Source: Phils preparing sizable offer for Hamels  —  The Philadelphia Phillies are preparing a substantial offer to their soon-to-be-free-agent left-hander Cole Hamels in an attempt to determine whether they can sign him to an extension in the next two weeks, sources told ESPN.com on Thursday.

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.

Ellsbury expected to rejoin Red Sox in Tampa … ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Line drives whistled off Jacoby Ellsbury's bat.  Dustin Pedroia hit a couple of balls into the seats.  Will Middlebrooks effortlessly fielded ground balls at third base.  Clay Buchholz took part in pitchers' fielding drills.

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 …

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 …

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” …

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.

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.