Red Sox could end up trading Lester  —  It makes sense for Boston to deal its ace left-hander, but it would be a risky move  —  So who would have guessed last October that the central figure of Trade Deadline Week 2014 would be . . . Jon Lester?  —  But that's where Lester and the Red Sox find themselves all of a sudden.

Rangers will try to be opportunistic at Trade Deadline  —  ARLINGTON — With just a few shopping days left before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, there is one question surrounding the Rangers.  —  Who will be the next to go?  —  The Rangers already have shown they are willing …

Beat Rays, and Brewers raise their chances to get David Price … The Brewers, by defeating the Rays the next three days, could improve their chances in two different races.  —  Their realistic bid for the NL Central title. … And their unlikely bid to land Rays left-hander David Price.

Santana, Gattis Lead Braves to 2-0 Win Over Padres  —  ATLANTA — Ervin Santana threw eight scoreless innings, Evan Gattis homered for the first time in more than a month and the Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres 2-0 on Monday.  —  Santana (10-6) allowed just five hits and matched his career high with 11 strikeouts.

MLB trade deadline: All the latest news, notes & rumors  —  Which teams will buy and who will sell?  —  It's the big question surrounding one of the biggest weeks on the MLB calendar — the days leading up to Thursday's MLB non-waiver trade deadline.  —  In the box below …

Potential Suitors For Cuban Free Agent Rusney Castillo  —  After a showcase on Saturday at the University of Miami, the market for 27-year-old Cuban free agent Rusney Castillo is beginning to shape itself, with a contract likely coming in the next two weeks.

Dodgers Acquire Darwin Barney  —  The Dodgers have bolstered their infield depth and their defense with the acquisition of Darwin Barney from the Cubs, both teams announced.  Chicago will send Barney and cash considerations to Los Angeles in return for a player to be named later, according to releases from each team.

Transcript: Greg Maddux's Hall of Fame speech  —  Thank you.  Let me say, first of all, how grateful I am to be here.  I would like to thank the Hall of Fame voters.  It's obviously the biggest honor you can give to a ballplayer.  To put me here in Cooperstown with all of my childhood heroes …

Jacob deGrom named co-NL Player of the Week  —  Jacob deGrom was named co-National League Player of the Week, along with Marlins reliever Steve Cishek.  —  DeGrom went 2-0 with a 0.68 ERA over the past week.  In 13 1/3 innings — two starts — deGrom struck out 11, walked three and allowed just nine hits and one earned run.

John Henry takes stock of perplexing Red Sox  —  Photo by:  —  AP photo  —  Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz.  —  By:  —  The Red Sox are genuinely perplexed.  —  Barely more than two weeks ago, principal owner John Henry was told by his general manager that the Red Sox “are probably the best team in the division.