Top News:
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Cardinals Close To Signing A.J. Pierzynski — 8:46pm: Pierzynski is already in Chicago and will join the Cardinals tomorrow, tweets Rosenthal. — 8:33pm: A deal appears to be close, Goold reports, with Pierzynski leaving a visit to Cooperstown for induction weekend, per Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter).
Discussion:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, HardballTalk and CBSSports.com
RELATED:
Canadian Press:
Valbuena rallies Cubs past slumping Cardinals — CHICAGO — Luis Valbuena hit a decisive two-run homer in the seventh inning Friday, and the Chicago Cubs overcame a three-run deficit to hand the St. Louis Cardinals the fourth straight loss, 7-6. — The teams combined for five home runs …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, Viva El Birdos and ESPN
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com:
Kemp's agent Stewart on trade talks: ‘Sometimes change is good’ — The Dodgers, after somehow fitting five players into three outfield spots for more than a year now, are trying to alleviate a numbers crunch that's become a problem for Matt Kemp (and could become one for manager Don Mattingly and the team …
Discussion:
ESPN, HardballTalk, True Blue LA and Pinstripe Alley
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
How a Bartolo Colon trade would go down (and how much money the NY Mets would eat); What about a big trade for a Colorado hitter? — The Bartolo Colon trade market is not yet scorching, but it is far too early to say that it won't get there. When you zoom out and look around the league …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, HardballTalk, Bless You Boys, Amazin' Avenue and Metsblog
Nick Groke / Denver Post:
MARINERS OFFER ROCKIES DEAL FOR DREW STUBBS; CAPUANO DEALT TO YANKEES — The Denver Post — Chris Capuano, pitching here for the Los Angeles Dodgers, during a game against the Rockies at Coors Field on June 1, 2012. (Karl Gehring, The Denver Post) — As trade talk swirled around …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED:
Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Rockies aren't in active talks about Stubbs
Rockies aren't in active talks about Stubbs
Discussion:
On the Rox and MLB Daily Dish
csnphilly.com:
Ruben Amaro shoots down Ryan Howard release talk — Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. emphatically shot down reports that the organization is considering releasing struggling slugger Ryan Howard after the season. — “That is not something we are contemplating,” Amaro said Friday morning.
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, HardballTalk, Phillies Nation and The Good Phight
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Latest On Rusney Castillo — 5:33pm: The Reds, too, will join the party, according to a tweet from C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Likewise, the Padres will be on hand, tweets Corey Brock of MLB.com. The brings the current tally of teams reportedly planning to have a look at Castillo to 17.
Discussion:
Metsblog and River Avenue Blues
MLB.com:
A's Acquire RHP Deck McGuire from Toronto for Cash Considerations — OAKLAND, Calif. - The Oakland Athletics have acquired right-handed pitcher Deck McGuire from the Toronto Blue Jays for cash considerations, the team announced today. McGuire will be optioned to Triple-A Sacramento.
Discussion:
Minor League Ball and Bluebird Banter
Steve Phillips / TSN.ca:
ON RASMUS-LEWIS BUNT CONTROVERSY, DARVISH AND MORE — TSN Baseball Insider Steve Phillips answers several questions each week. This week's topics include the Colby Rasmus-Colby Lewis bunting controversy, Yu Darvish suggesting a six-man rotation and the difficulties faced by the Colorado Rockies.
Discussion:
Royals Review
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Giants Designate Nick Noonan, Jose De Paula — The Giants have designated infielder Nick Noonan and lefty Jose De Paula for assignment, the club announced. In corresponding moves, the club purchased the contracts of Dan Uggla and Tony Abreu. (To create active roster space, Marco Scutaro and Ehire Adrianza were DL'ed.)
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Evan Drellich / Ultimate Astros:
Union files grievance against Astros over draft, Brady Aiken — OAKLAND — The MLB Players Association has filed a grievance against the Astros for their handling of first-round draft pick Brady Aiken and two players selected later in the draft, a person familiar with the filing told the Chronicle.
Discussion:
Baseball America and The Crawfish Boxes
RELATED:
Murray Chass / Murray Chass On Baseball:
MORE MANIPULATION OF THE MARKET — Have Major League Baseball …
MORE MANIPULATION OF THE MARKET — Have Major League Baseball …
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes, CBSSports.com, MLB Trade Rumors, Ultimate Astros and HardballTalk
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Jeter receives a ‘Terrific’ endorsement — Seaver expects Yanks captain to become first unanimous Hall of Fame inductee — NEW YORK — The pride that flows through the body of Tom Seaver these days defies measurement. He is a rightfully proud man, but he doesn't beat his chest.
Discussion:
New Jersey Online
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
FREE GIANCARLO STANTON — C'mon Marlins, get on with it already. — You are not signing Giancarlo Stanton long term. Repeat: You are not keeping Stanton. The only question, then, is when you trade him. And you know how this works, having done it, oh, a few times before: The earlier you jump, the better the deal.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes and Fish Stripes