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 …

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 …

Nationals continue surge, send Reds to seventh straight loss  —  CINCINNATI, Ohio — Denard Span matched Cincinnati's hit total with his four singles, and Tanner Roark allowed only three singles over seven innings Friday night, leading the Washington Nationals to a 4-1 victory that extended their surge and the Reds' slump.

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.)

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.