Top News:
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Five teams to keep a close eye on — Phillies, Dodgers, Rangers, Giants and Cubs could be big players at deadline … Editor's note: Jayson Stark will be writing a Daily Rumble each day leading up to the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline. — As that cool countdown clock atop our ESPN.com MLB page …
Discussion:
Bowman's Blog, Viva El Birdos, MLB, MLB Daily Dish, Red Reporter, Chad Moriyama, SI Tracking Blog, Baseball Nation and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Cliff Lee Trade Unlikely — 4:06pm: Philadelphia's discussions with Texas about Lee have all but ended, according to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark (via Buster Olney on Twitter). A trade sending Lee back to Texas is “not going to happen,” Stark reports (on Twitter).
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
10 Degrees: Red Sox want to trade Josh Beckett — The dysfunctional 2012 Boston Red Sox are trying to rid themselves of a major piece of their 2011 meltdown: Josh Beckett. — Boston officials have placed calls to teams including Texas and Atlanta within the last two days gauging interest …
Associated Press:
Buchholz leads Red Sox past Tigers for third straight win — BOSTON — Dustin Pedroia hit a tiebreaking homer and drove in three runs to support Clay Buchholz's eight solid innings, leading the Boston Red Sox over the Detroit Tigers 7-3 Monday night for their third straight win.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Over the Monster, CBSSports.com, Boston Herald and TSN.ca
RELATED:
Enrique Rojas / ESPN:
Heel pain likely to delay Sox DH Ortiz's return — NEW YORK — Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz canceled his planned exercises in Yankee Stadium on Sunday, making it unlikely that he will return from the disabled list on Wednesday, when he is first eligible to come back.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Over the Monster, the joy of sox, HardballTalk and NESN.com
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Francona apologies to Valentine for clubhouse sitdown
Discussion:
ESPN, Red Sox Monster, Minor League Ball and HardballTalk
Mike Fitzpatrick / Associated Press:
Ciriaco delivers against Yanks again, Red Sox win
Discussion:
ESPN, Pinstripe Alley and Over the Monster
D.J. Short / HardballTalk:
Kendrys Morales becomes third player ever to homer from both sides of the plate in same inning — Kendrys Morales accomplished a very rare feat during the sixth inning tonight against the Rangers, homering from both sides of the plate while driving in six runs. — The Angels scored nine runs in the inning.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, baseballmusings.com and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Associated Press:
Rookie Gonzalez Solid as Orioles Hold Off Yankees — NEW YORK (AP) — Nick Markakis drove in two runs to back a solid outing by rookie Miguel Gonzalez and the Baltimore Orioles held on to beat the struggling New York Yankees 5-4 Monday night. — Gonzalez (3-2) cruised through 6 2-3 innings …
Discussion:
Camden Chat
Associated Press:
Heyward homers; Braves end losing skid, beating Marlins — ATLANTA — Jason Heyward homered and scored three runs and the Atlanta Braves snapped a string of 16 straight losses on Mondays, including 12 this season, by beating the Miami Marlins 8-2 on Monday night.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Fish Stripes and Associated Press
Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:
Blanton to Orioles not done; money could be an issue — The Orioles are in deep negotiations with the Philadelphia Phillies about acquiring right-hander Joe Blanton, but the amount of money the Orioles would have to pick up in the deal could be a sticking point in reaching an agreement before Tuesday's 4 p.m. non-waiver trade deadline.
Discussion:
Philly.com, Britt's Bird Watch, CBSSports.com Sports News …, SI Tracking Blog, The Good Phight and MLB Rumors
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
D'Backs Designate Lyle Overbay For Assignment — The Diamondbacks announced that they designated first baseman Lyle Overbay for assignment. The move creates roster space for newly-acquired infielder Chris Johnson. — Overbay, 35, posted a .292/.367/.448 batting line in 110 plate appearances this year.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Al's Ramblings, Baseball America and AZ Snake Pit
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Sox starter Sale to get extended break — ARLINGTON, Texas — Chris Sale's next start remains uncertain as the Chicago White Sox haven't said when their prized left-hander will make his next start. — “Going through a little dead-arm period I guess,” said Sale, who has thrown 124 innings …
Discussion:
Hardball Times, Twinkie Town, HardballTalk and South Side Sox
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Ned Yost bans fraternizing on the basepaths because it angers Rex Hudler — Maybe there's more to this story than meets the eye, but what's meeting the eye here seems pretty dumb: Royals announcer Rex Hudler has made it his personal mission to stop Royals players from being friendly …
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, NESN.com and Baseball Prospectus
