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:
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
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
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
Nationals trade rumors as deadline nears
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, MLB.com, 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
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
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 and Canadian Press
RELATED:
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
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
Chicago Tribune:
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 …
Discussion:
HardballTalk