Top News:
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 …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, HardballTalk and DRaysBay
RELATED:
Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Jake Peavy prepped for likely trade
Jake Peavy prepped for likely trade
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe, ESPN.com, MLB, HardballTalk and South Side Sox
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.
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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 …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, CBSSports.com, SI Wire, Bless You Boys, MLB Rumors and Phillies Nation
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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 …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
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
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David Santiago / MiamiHerald.com:
Miami Marlins hitting coach Tino Martinez resigns over allegations of abusive behavior
Miami Marlins hitting coach Tino Martinez resigns over allegations of abusive behavior
Discussion:
Fish Stripes, CBSSports.com, HardballTalk, SI Wire and CBSSports.com
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.
Discussion:
Baseball America, Tag's Lines, The Crawfish Boxes and SI Wire
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.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and McCovey Chronicles
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
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
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
All signs point to quiet Trade Deadline for Reds — Cincinnati banking on return of injured player more than outside help — LOS ANGELES — As Wednesday's 4 p.m. ET non-waiver Trade Deadline closes in, the Reds find themselves at a crossroads of sorts. — Adding a right-handed bat …
Discussion:
Red Reporter
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
Associated Press:
Heyward's Homer Helps Braves Sweep Cardinals, 5-2 — ATLANTA — Jason Heyward homered and drove in two runs to help the Atlanta Braves beat St. Louis 5-2 on Sunday night, capping their first three-game sweep of the Cardinals at home in 10 years. — The Braves broke a 2-all tie with two runs …
Discussion:
Talking Chop and TSN.ca