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2:30 PM ET, July 29, 2013

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Braves Acquire Scott Downs  —  The Braves found their left-handed reliever, acquiring veteran Scott Downs from the Angels for righty reliever Cory Rasmus, according to Halos communications director Eric Kay.  —  Downs, 37, has a 1.84 ERA, 6.8 K/9, 3.4 BB/9, 0.31 HR/9, and 63.1% groundball rate in 29 1/3 innings this year.
RELATED:
Jon Paul Morosi / Fox Sports:
MLB trade deadline blog  —  Source: Dodgers, Phillies quiet on a Lee deal  —  The Dodgers and Phillies have not discussed a trade involving pitcher Cliff Lee recently, according to a source.  —  The Braves have acquired left-handed pitcher Scott Downs from the Angels in exchange for right-handed pitcher Cory Rasmus.
Discussion: MLB Rumors and HardballTalk
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Tigers Acquire Jose Veras  —  The first-place Tigers augmented their bullpen, at a time the back end finally seemed to have stabilized.  Detroit acquired reliever Jose Veras today from the Astros for outfield prospect Danry Vasquez and a player to be named later, which will be decided on or before September 15th.
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Jake Peavy trade clock keeps ticking  —  As the deadline approaches, the White Sox appear closer to dealing him  —  Last week, it was the Cubs who were racing feverishly to trade Matt Garza before he headed for the mound to make his next start.  This week, it's the White Sox and Jake Peavy's turn to re-enact that drama.
Discussion: MLB Rumors and ESPN
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Will Phillies be able to trade Lee?  —  If it's July, Cliff Lee must be on the trade market.  —  Actually, Lee hasn't been traded during the season since 2010.  Chances are, he will not be traded before the non-waiver deadline at 4 p.m. ET Wednesday.  But the Phillies are discussing …
Darren Rovell / MLB:
Brewers offering August vouchers  —  Challenged by the news of Ryan Braun's suspension and a disappointing season, Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio is reaching into his wallet.  —  The team announced Monday that each fan that shows up with a ticket to any of the team's 12 home games …
Discussion: SI Wire
RELATED:
MLB.com:
Fans eat free for all August games at Miller Park  —  Fans should plan to bring their appetite for baseball, food and drinks to upcoming games at Miller Park because for the month of August, the Brewers are treating.  —  Milwaukee Brewers Chairman and Principal Owner Mark Attanasio today announced …
Discussion: Al's Ramblings
Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Source: Jesse Crain trade close  —  The Chicago White Sox are close to trading All-Star reliever Jesse Crain in a “complicated” deal involving two teams, including the Tampa Bay Rays, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.  —  The complicated part could center on the fact …
Fox Sports:
Has baseball set bad precedent?  —  Whatever happens with Alex Rodriguez, no matter how many players baseball suspends, the debate over the sport's investigation of Biogenesis does not figure to end anytime soon.  —  To some, Ryan Braun's acceptance of a 65-game suspension indicated that for baseball, the end justified the means.
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Giant change of fortune for champs  —  They played 15 postseason games in 2010 and 16 in 2012.  They sent nine players to the World Baseball Classic last spring, and six of them later suffered injuries.  No one should be surprised that for the San Francisco Giants, the bill finally is coming due.
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
Waiting for a surge, underachieving Nats not in selling mode  —  “We are certainly not giving up on this season,” Rizzo said.  —  The Nats were widely viewed not only as the NL East favorite, but the NL favorites and — because of young talents such as Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper …
Discussion: MLB Rumors and MLB Daily Dish
RELATED:
David Santiago / MiamiHerald.com:   Miami Marlins hitting coach Tino Martinez resigns over allegations of abusive behavior
Associated Press:
Twins activate Mauer after birth of daughters  —  MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins have reinstated catcher Joe Mauer from the restricted list after a six-game absence for the birth of his twin daughters.  —  The move was made on Monday.  The Twins start a homestand on Tuesday against Kansas City …
Discussion: Twinkie Town
USA Today:
Nightengale: Baseball braces itself for punishment  —  BIOGENESIS' IMPACT ON MLB  —  As many as 20 Major League players have been linked to MLB's investigation into performance-enhancing drugs and the Biogenesis clinic in Miami.  Here's a look at some of the high-profile players that are linked …
Discussion: HardballTalk
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Padres looking to parlay chips into arms at Deadline  —  GM Byrnes wants to make improvements to club's starting rotation  —  SAN DIEGO — The Padres' freefall in July saw them drop to last place in the National League West.  But it didn't end their pursuit of roster upgrades.
Discussion: MLB Rumors
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Short-term interests on Mets' minds at Deadline  —  Byrd holds trade value, but GM Alderson not willing to disrupt roster plan  —  WASHINGTON — At last year's non-waiver Trade Deadline, the Mets shocked many of their peers by holding onto Scott Hairston, a valuable asset who likely could have fetched a reasonable prospect in return.
Discussion: Metsblog
Rob Schumacher / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks weigh whether to deal or not deal  —  Arizona Diamondbacks General Manager Kevin Towers watches batting practice during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields.  —  FONT:  —  By Zach Buchanan  —  azcentral sports  —  PHOENIX — On Monday, scouts for the Diamondbacks will converge on Tampa.
Todd Zolecki / MLB.com:
Papelbon: Phillies need changes from top, down  —  DETROIT — Jonathan Papelbon had only a couple minutes to talk Sunday morning at Comerica Park, but he said plenty, expressing the need for changes in the organization if things do not improve on the field.  —  Papelbon signed a four-year …
 
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 More News: 
Matt Eddy / Baseball America:
Tigers Add Bullpen Depth In Trade For Jose Veras
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
All signs point to quiet Trade Deadline for Reds
Discussion: Red Reporter
Associated Press:
Heyward's Homer Helps Braves Sweep Cardinals, 5-2
Discussion: Talking Chop and TSN.ca
Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
With No Living Inductees, Only Echoes Stir the Quiet at the Hall of Fame
Discussion: Hardball Times
Associated Press:
Franklin Hits 2 Homers, Mariners Beat Twins 6-4
Discussion: Lookout Landing and Twinkie Town
David Murphy / Philly.com:
Rollins unlikely to waive no-trade clause
Discussion: HardballTalk and Phillies Nation
 Earlier Picks: 
Associated Press:
Rasmus Has Winning Hit; Blue Jays Beat Astros 2-1
Associated Press:
Nats pitching coach taken to hospital
Nick Cafardo / The Boston Globe:
MLB trade deadline certain to create a frenzy
Discussion: Bluebird Banter
Doug Brown / Scene and Heard:
Texas Rangers pitcher sucker-punched in Cleveland, police say no big deal (updated)
Associated Press:
Lester, Ortiz Carry Red Sox Over Orioles 5-0
Michael Baron / Metsblog:
Final Score: Nationals 14 Mets 1
Discussion: Amazin' Avenue
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Jeff Francis recalled by Rockies to help in bullpen
Discussion: Purple Row
Edward Creech / MLB Rumors:
Reds Designate Greg Reynolds For Assignment
 

 
From WeSmirch:

TMZ.com:
Kate Middleton Seen in New Video Enjoying Windsor Farm Shop with William

Richard Simmons:
I have some news to tell you.  Please don't be sad.  I am ....dying.  Oh I can see your faces now. …

Snejana Farberov / New York Post:
King Charles is not dead, despite Russian media ‘announcement’ forcing palace to scramble

 
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