Top News:
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:
Cubs Den, Pinstripe Alley, Bluebird Banter and True Blue LA
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, CBSSports.com and HardballTalk
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:
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Mariners, Rays Discussing David Price, Ben Zobrist — Though no deal is imminent, the Mariners have been engaged in ongoing discussions with the Rays regarding lefty David Price and utilityman Ben Zobrist, reports Jon Morosi of FOX Sports (Twitter links). Meanwhile, talks have stalled with the Phillies regarding Marlon Byrd.
Discussion:
The Good Phight and Al's Ramblings
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:
FanGraphs Baseball, HardballTalk, Pinstripe Alley and McCovey Chronicles
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
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
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 …
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
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
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