Top News:
ESPN:
GM: Red Sox not giving up yet — Boston general manager Ben Cherington insisted the Red Sox's front office is not giving up on 2014 just yet, and said the next couple of weeks are crucial in determining what the team does at the trade deadline. — “We're going to do whatever we feel gives …
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster
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Conor Ryan / Full Count:
Ben Cherington on D&C: 'I didn't do a good enough job building a complete offense'
Ben Cherington on D&C: 'I didn't do a good enough job building a complete offense'
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Camden Chat, CBSSports.com and LEEInks
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, Purple Row, CBSSports.com 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:
Bluebird Banter, Cubs Den, Camden Chat, Pinstripe Alley and True Blue LA
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:
ESPN, FanGraphs Baseball, CBSSports.com, Pinstripe Alley, HardballTalk, McCovey Chronicles and MLB Daily Dish
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:
HardballTalk, MLB Daily Dish, Lookout Landing, The Good Phight and Al's Ramblings
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
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 …
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
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
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:
Deadspin, HardballTalk and MLB
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
James Wagner / Washington Post:
Research supports the notion of the ‘hot hand’; baseball players always believed in it — (Post Sports Live/The Washington Post) — The phrases permeate baseball — “He's on fire,” “I'm seeing the ball well” or “He's locked in” — but, really, what do they all mean?
Discussion:
HardballTalk and baseballmusings.com
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 …