Mismatched Sox wearing on Bobby?  —  Boston manager Valentine seems to be encountering problems from all directions … ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Halfway through Bobby Valentine's first season as manager of the Boston Red Sox, signs of disconnects are everywhere, regardless of how much he and others try to downplay them publicly.

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.

What's wrong with Rickie Weeks?  —  As the second half of the 2012 season begins, there is only one qualified hitter in all of baseball hitting below the Mendoza line.  That man is Rickie Weeks, who is batting.199.  The Mendoza line is a rather arbitrary cutoff point, but Weeks is struggling by any measurement.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Matt Joyce pegs return at two weeks  —  ST. PETERSBURG — While the return date of 3B Evan Longoria remains unclear, OF Matt Joyce is “pretty optimistic” he will be back in the Rays lineup within two weeks.  —  Joyce, out since mid June, said he feels good …

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.

Miami Marlins begin second half of season with plenty of questions to answer  —  MIAMI —  Manager Ozzie Guillen likes to keep things light.  But he was only half-joking Thursday when he looked up at the clouds above Marlins Park and said a mock prayer.  —  “You know what I want for second half?

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.

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 …

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.

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.

Will Reds fill leadoff need?  —  I'm at the San Diego airport about to board a plane for a flight back to the real world, where the weather gets hot and humid.  —  The break came at good time for the Reds.  An 11-game road trip to the West Coast is always a grind.