Mariners, Cubs Swap Mike Montgomery, Dan Vogelbach In Four-Player Deal  —  The Cubs have long been tied to left-handed relief help, and they landed just such an asset today, although not one that many expected, announcing that they've acquired lefty Mike Montgomery and minor league right-hander Jordan Pries from the Mariners.

Rangers' Prince Fielder may need neck surgery; Shin-Soo Choo on DL  —  Texas Rangers slugger Prince Fielder is facing the prospect of season-ending surgery after an MRI revealed a herniation of disks in his neck just above an area that was repaired two years ago.

Pineda Pitches 6 Strong Innings, Yankees Beat Orioles 5-0  —  NEW YORK — The Yankees are finally hitting and pitching well at the same time, and that may keep these batters and hurlers together in New York for at least a little while longer.  —  Michael Pineda didn't allow a run …

Indians, Brewers Discussing Jonathan Lucroy  —  The Indians and Brewers are in trade talks pertaining to catcher Jonathan Lucroy, reports ESPN's Buster Olney (via Twitter).  Olney notes that it's possible that yesterday's setback for Michael Brantley (and, presumably, the injury to Yan Gomes) has urged Cleveland to add a hitter.

Gyorko Hits 2 More HRs, Cardinals Beat Padres 3-2 for Sweep  —  ST. LOUIS — Jedd Gyorko homered for the fifth straight game off San Diego pitching, connecting twice with all three RBIs in a 3-2 victory that gave the St. Louis Cardinals a doubleheader sweep Wednesday night.

Naquin, Carrasco Send Indians to 11-4 Romp Over Royals  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In the span of three innings, the Indians' Tyler Naquin homered to left field, sent a two-run double down the right-field line and connected on a three-run homer over the center-field wall.  —  Talk about using all fields.

Twins Homer Twice Off Rodriguez, Beat Tigers 4-1  —  DETROIT — Max Kepler and Eddie Rosario homered off Francisco Rodriguez in the ninth, and the Minnesota Twins scored three runs in the inning to beat the Detroit Tigers 4-1 on Wednesday.  —  Detroit wasted a fine start by Justin Verlander …

Hellickson, Goeddel Lead Phillies to 4-1 Win Over Marlins  —  PHILADELPHIA — Jeremy Hellickson struck out eight in eight impressive innings, Tyler Goeddel hit a two-run homer and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Miami Marlins 4-1 on Wednesday night.  —  Hellickson (7-7) …

The potential bombshell Cubs trade that never materialized  —  Plus Jerry Manuel's new calling and more in Ken Rosenthal's latest notes.  —  Every year before the non-waiver deadline, I write that we should expect the unexpected.  Something will happen to make our heads spin.  Something always does.

Twins Outright Neil Ramirez  —  The Twins announced to the media following today's win over the Tigers that right-hander Neil Ramirez has been outrighted to Triple-A Rochester (Twitter link via Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press).  Left-hander Buddy Boshers has been recalled in his place …

Alex Wood To Undergo Elbow Procedure  —  The Dodgers have announced that lefty Alex Wood will “undergo an arthroscopic debridement” of his pitching elbow.  The southpaw is expected to miss eight weeks after the surgery is complete, per the announcement.  —  Doing the math, things don't look terribly promising for a return in 2016.