Top News:
Conor Ryan / Full Count:
Ben Cherington on D&C: 'I didn't do a good enough job building a complete offense' — Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington joined Dennis & Callahan on Thursday morning to discuss the contract negotiations between the team and Jon Lester as well as the state of the club.
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, HardballTalk, Camden Chat and LEEInks
RELATED:
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
TYLER CHATWOOD OUT FOR ROCKIES REST OF SEASON, WILL HAVE TOMMY JOHN SURGERY — The Denver Post — Tyler Chatwood (32) of the Colorado Rockies delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox Sept. 24, 2013 at Coors Field. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and HardballTalk
Keith Law / ESPN:
Top 50 MLB prospects — Cubs' Kris Bryant unseats Byron Buxton as baseball's top prospect — From left to right: Buxton, the former No. 1; Bryant, the new top dog for the Cubs; and stud SS Correa. — At the MLB season's halfway point, and in the wake of the deadline to sign draftees …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball and Over the Monster
Dan Bickley / Arizona Republic:
Diamondbacks' Derrick Hall would be ideal commissioner — Maybe we've got it all wrong. Maybe Derrick Hall hired the smartest guy in the room for personal reasons. — Maybe he hired Tony La Russa to be his successor, as a parting gift to Ken Kendrick and not as the new DH (designated henchman) for Kevin Towers and Kirk Gibson.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Agent: Dodgers' Kemp open to trade if not playing every day — Matt Kemp isn't asking the Dodgers to trade him. But he isn't necessarily opposed to the idea, either. — The outfielder's agent, former major-league pitcher Dave Stewart, told FOX Sports on Wednesday that Kemp again wants …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Pinstripe Alley and McCovey Chronicles
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Blue Jays Claim Brad Mills From Athletics — The Blue Jays have claimed lefty Brad Mills off waivers from the Athletics, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Mills was designated for assignment on July 7 to make room for trade acquisition Jason Hammel.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Brewers Claim Irving Falu, Designate Kevin Shackelford — The Brewers have claimed infielder Irving Falu off waivers from the Padres, the club announced. Milwaukee designated righty Kevin Shackelford for assignment to create roster space. — Falu spent about three weeks in the San Diego organization …
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
Jason Butt / Washington Post:
Nationals' Anthony Rendon: 'I don't watch baseball — it's too long and boring' — Of the Nationals' All-Star snubs, Anthony Rendon's was the biggest — though missing out on the game probably didn't matter much to the second-year infielder. — After playing in 89 of the Nationals' 93 games …
Discussion:
MLB, Deadspin and HardballTalk
Marc Carig / Newsday:
Mets' Travis d'Arnaud has rediscovered his swing since trip to minors — Travis d'Arnaud found relief almost immediately, and looking back at it now, that might have been the most critical part of his turnaround. — He had just gone from a clubhouse in San Francisco to one in Colorado Springs …
Discussion:
Metsblog
Steven Marcus / Newsday:
Mets expect Citi Field attendance to increase in second half — Mets home attendance appears likely to rise over last season, when the team experienced the franchise's lowest home total since 1997, a club official said this week. — “Halfway through the year we have our slight uptick in attendance already …
Discussion:
Metsblog
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
D-backs look ahead after injuries, struggles in first half — Goldschmidt, Miley among highlights; changes looming after break — PHOENIX — The second half of the 2014 season is really about 2015 when it comes to the Arizona Diamondbacks. — A horrendous start to the season along …
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Royals Designate Jimmy Paredes For Assignment — The Royals announced that they have designated infielder Jimmy Paredes for assignment and optioned right-hander Louis Coleman to Triple-A Omaha in order to clear room on the roster for the newly acquired Jason Frasor.
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
RELATED:
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Royals Acquire Jason Frasor
Royals Acquire Jason Frasor
Discussion:
Minor League Ball, Sports Rumor Alert, Royals Review and Bucs Dugout