Top News:
Associated Press:
Ellsbury, Phelps Lead Yankees to 4-3 Win Over Reds — NEW YORK — Jacoby Ellsbury hit a two-run homer, and David Phelps pitched the Yankees to a fast start in the second half, leading New York to a 4-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night. — Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran …
Discussion:
Associated Press, Pinstripe Alley and CBS New York
RELATED:
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
CC to have season-ending surgery on right knee — Lefty scheduled to undergo arthroscopic debridement procedure on Wednesday — NEW YORK — CC Sabathia's season is over. The Yankees left-hander has been scheduled to have arthroscopic debridement surgery on his right knee …
Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
GM Brian Cashman to target pitchers
GM Brian Cashman to target pitchers
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, Pinstripe Alley, Red Reporter, Sports Rumor Alert and HardballTalk
Mike Puma / New York Post:
Alderson wants to see more before deadline buy or Murphy sell — Mets GM Sandy Alderson (inset) wants to see the Mets play 10 more games before making a trade deadline call on second baseman Daniel Murphy and others. — SAN DIEGO — Despite the Mets' improved play heading into the All-Star break …
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, Metsblog and ESPN
RELATED:
Marc Carig / Newsday:
Daniel Murphy would be amenable to contract extension
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Astros Fail To Sign Aiken, Nix, Marshall — 5:25pm: The Astros have released their own statement, saying that the club's final offer was “extremely fair considering all the factors involved in this case” and insisting that the team “approached these negotiations in good faith and with the best interests …
Discussion:
SBNation.com, The Crawfish Boxes, USA Today and HardballTalk
RELATED:
ESPN.com:
Astros can't strike deal with No. 1 pick Aiken — The Houston Astros have failed to sign the first pick in this year's draft, saying they didn't reach an agreement with high school pitcher Brady Aiken before Friday's 5 p.m. ET deadline. — The left-hander out of San Diego's Cathedral Catholic High …
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
Canadian Press:
Arencibia says he used to be his own worst enemy — TORONTO — A reflective J.P. Arencibia says he has been his own worst enemy in the past. — “A lot of my struggles were from doubts and trying to do too many things,” the former Blue Jay told reporters Friday upon his return to Rogers Centre with the Texas Rangers.
Discussion:
TSN.ca and Bluebird Banter
RELATED:
TSN.ca:
Jays open series with Rangers to start second half
Jays open series with Rangers to start second half
Discussion:
Canadian Press and Camden Chat
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Rangers Designate Carlos Pena For Assignment
Rangers Designate Carlos Pena For Assignment
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball and Bluebird Banter
Associated Press:
Sandoval's Homer Helps Giants Beat Marlins 9-1 — MIAMI — Pablo Sandoval hit a three-run homer off one of his favorite foils, and the San Francisco Giants beat the slumping Miami Marlins 9-1 Friday night. — All-Star Madison Bumgarner (11-7) allowed one run in six innings.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Braves Release Dan Uggla — 2:05pm: The Braves announced that they have officially released Uggla (Twitter link). — 1:40pm: The Braves will release embattled second baseman Dan Uggla, reports Joel Sherman of the New York Post (via Twitter). — The 34-year-old Uggla's tenure …
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles, Talking Chop, MLB Daily Dish and Athletics Nation
Lee Enterprises / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards notes: Wainwright will rest this weekend — • By Derrick Goold dgoold@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8285 — The made-for-television duel between the National League's top two pitchers and the aces Cardinals manager Mike Matheny chose between for this past week's All-Star Game start won't happen.
Discussion:
True Blue LA and HardballTalk
Fox Sports:
NINE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE BEST CHANGEUP IN BASEBALL … If the baseball season ended today, an awful lot of people would be awfully confused, and the Seattle Mariners would qualify for the playoffs. — There's no bigger reason for the Mariners' success than Felix Hernandez …
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball and U.S.S. Mariner
Andy McCulloughthe / Kansas City Star:
Billy Butler doesn't want to be traded, hopes Royals pick up $12.5 million option for 2015 — Billy Butler swung a pair of Mariucci bats inside the visitors' clubhouse at Fenway Park, rotating the lumber from hand to hand, pondering the factors behind his first-half torment.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Greenberg could follow Selig - but will he? — Commissioner Bud Selig already asked him. — He said no. — Baseball owners asked again, with a request as recently as last week. — No again. — While Major League Baseball searches for the next commissioner to replace Bud Selig …
Discussion:
LEEInks