Top News:
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
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.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, MLB Daily Dish, The Good Phight and Phillies Nation
RELATED:
Nick Cafardo / The Boston Globe:
Rays have big decisions as trade deadline nears — T minus four days to the non-waiver trade deadline. The engines are rip-roaring ready, showtime is between now and Thursday at 4 p.m. There are a number of big things and small things that could happen. But each day brings a new direction for some teams.
Discussion:
Inside the 'Zona, Federal Baseball and MLB Trade Rumors
Joe McDonald / ESPN:
Papi's pitch: Red Sox shouldn't trade Lester … BOSTON — David Ortiz believes teammate Jon Lester and the Red Sox should agree on a contract extension to keep the left-handed pitcher in Boston for a long time. — Amid speculation that the Red Sox are listening to trade offers for the ace …
Discussion:
Associated Press and Boston Globe
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Phillies Make Hamels Available; Dodgers Interested — 3:50pm: In today's Rumblings & Grumblings column, ESPN's Jayson Stark touched on Hamels' availability (highlights from the rest of the piece can be seen here, though it's worth reading in its entirety). — Officials from other teams tell Stark …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
Adam Kilgore / Washington Post:
Nationals trade rumors as deadline nears — Thursday's non-waiver trade deadline now stands only three days away, and the Nationals are, as ever, somewhat hard to read. They “seem to be very busy on multiple fronts,” as one executive from a selling team put it.
Discussion:
MLB.com, MLB Trade Rumors, Federal Baseball, MLB Daily Dish and CBSSports.com
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
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 …
Discussion:
Royals Review and MLB Daily Dish
RELATED:
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
History suggests Brewers will make a deal
History suggests Brewers will make a deal
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball and MLB Trade Rumors
Clark Spencer / MiamiHerald.com:
Continued surge could put Miami Marlins in buy mode for a starting pitcher — HOUSTON — Giancarlo Stanton hasn't played in many meaningful games with the Marlins, who have finished last in every one of his four seasons except for his first. — That's why he's looking forward …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and Fish Stripes
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
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.
Discussion:
JSOnline, DRaysBay, Brew Crew Ball, MLB Trade Rumors and Al's Ramblings
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Royals Acquire Liam Hendriks, Erik Kratz — 6:10pm: The Blue Jays announced that they have acquired Danny Valencia from the Royals in exchange for Hendricks and Kratz. Valencia, 29, posted a .282/.328/.382 slash line in 119 plate appearances for KC this season.
Discussion:
Royals Review and MLB Daily Dish
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
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.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Metsblog and River Avenue Blues
Associated Press:
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.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
RELATED:
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Dodgers Acquire Darwin Barney — 5:43pm: MLB.com's Carrie Muskat reports that the Dodgers will pay $500K of what is owed to Barney this season (Twitter link). — 2:32pm: The Dodgers have bolstered their infield depth and their defense with the acquisition of Darwin Barney from the Cubs, both teams announced.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk, True Blue LA, SBNation.com and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Fox Sports:
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 …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and The Crawfish Boxes