Mets Notes: Carlos, Quesada, Castillo, Wheeler, Niese  —  The Mets have long been on the lookout for a shortstop, but while many have speculated on the possibility of a trade with the Cubs or D'Backs, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports that the team will take a look at an under-the-radar Cuban shortstop in the coming days.

Red Sox To Sign Rusney Castillo  —  11:50am: Castillo will take his physical tomorrow, tweets Bob Nightengale of USA Today.  He will earn $72MM from 2015-20, Nightengale adds.  Presumably, Castillo is receiving $500K (or perhaps the pro-rated version of that sum) for the 2014 campaign.

Ryan, Gardenhire expected to return to Twins  —  The Twins GM said those decisions will be made at the end of the year but implied they'll remain.  —  Terry Ryan indicated strongly Thursday that if he is the Twins' general manager when the 2015 season begins, Ron Gardenhire will be back for a 13th season as manager.

Thursday's Game 2 recap: Giants 5, Cubs 3  —  The summary  —  Travis Wood couldn't hold a 3-1 lead as the Giants took the lead for good on a home run by Buster Posey in the fifth.  Justin Ruggiano and Welington Castillo hit consecutive home runs in the first off Madison Bumgarner, who struck out 12 in seven innings.

ESPN's Jayson Stark: Phillies shake-up coming, Ruben Amaro not safe  —  Don't be so sure Ruben Amaro is coming back, even though Phillies president David Montgomery told fans this week that the general manager “is not on the hot seat.”  —  That's the word from ESPN baseball writer Jayson Stark …

Cubs cut grounds crew's hours to avoid paying health benefits — sources  —  Thanks a lot, Obama.  —  Add the Affordable Care Act - or, specifically, the big-business Cubs' response to it - to the causes behind Tuesday night's tarp fiasco and rare successful protest by the San Francisco Giants.

Surging Orioles set for challenges of stretch run  —  Rotation's continued success, Machado's return keys for Baltimore in pennant race  —  CHICAGO — The Orioles, winners in nine of their past 10 series, have their largest lead — nine games — in the American League East since 1997 …

Without Davis, Philadelphia falls to Chicago at LLWS  —  SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Chicago manager Darold Butler has a message for the Windy City.  —  “Keep cheering,” Butler said Thursday night after the biggest victory of his baseball career.  “We hear you.  It's working.  Make it louder.”

Chapman's return a bright spot for Reds  —  CINCINNATI — The only bit of good news to come from the Reds' 8-0 loss to the Braves on Thursday was the healthy return of closer Aroldis Chapman, who threw a perfect eighth inning.  The lefty struck out his first two batters and got a fly ball to center field.

Braves Beat Reds 8-0 for 6th Win in Last 7  —  CINCINNATI — Justin Upton extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a bases-loaded single during Atlanta's decisive third inning, and the Braves extended their offensive resurgence with an 8-0 victory over the fading Cincinnati Reds on Thursday night.