White Sox taking calls on Sale, Quintana, with Red Sox among many suitors  —  The White are being inundated with calls of interest in ace Chris Sale, who may be the best pitcher in the American League, and All-Star left-hander Jose Quintana on the day after it became public that they are contemplating a serious sale.

Rays are wisely playing hardball with pitching in demand at deadline  —  It's a seller's market as teams with coveted starting pitchers are sitting pretty  —  Some quick notes on the trade market:  —  • The Rangers are not optimistic that they will acquire one of the Rays' starting pitchers …

Trade talks heating up for Phillies, GM Matt Klentak also talks prospect promotions  —  Jeremy Hellickson is one Phillie who has had his name tied to a number of trade rumors.  (Michael Bryant / TNS File Photo)  —  PHILADELPHIA — It certainly won't be a repeat of last year's trade deadline …

Mets weigh their options before Aug. 1 trade deadline  —  MIAMI — Adding a middle reliever before the Aug. 1 trade deadline has become a near certainty for the Mets, at least that's how club officials are treating their search for an arm that would provide much-needed depth for this season's stretch run.

Mets' biggest trade need might not be so easy to get  —  More On:  —  MIAMI — A little extra bullpen help would be a relief to the Mets.  —  Even with the rotation showing signs of wear and tear, the team's primary focus heading toward the Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline remains another reliever …

President Obama honors 2015 World Series champion Royals at White House  —  #Yosted, “That's what speed do!” and other Royals phenomenons get shoutouts from POTUS  —  But, president says of Royals' nicknames: “We're going to have to work on those”  —  Royals' involvement in Urban Youth Academy also praised by Obama

Tim Beckham Leads Rays to 7-3 Victory Over Athletics  —  By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSJULY 22, 2016, 1:00 A.M. E.D.T.  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — Tim Beckham homered and then sparked a four-run inning with his eighth straight hit over three games to lead the Tampa Bay Rays to a 7-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Thursday night.

Royals Have Shown Some Interest In Nick Markakis  —  The Royals are among the clubs that have taken a look at Braves right fielder Nick Markakis, writes MLB.com's Mark Bowman.  The presence of two other cost-controlled left-handed-hitting outfielders with limited power (Ender Inciarte and Mallex Smith) …

Cardinals Rally for 6-5 Win Over Padres  —  ST. LOUIS — Aledmys Diaz's walk-off single in the ninth inning gave the St. Louis Cardinals a 6-5 come-from-behind victory over the San Diego Padres on Thursday night.  —  St. Louis, which scored four runs in the eighth, recorded …

Peter Thiel to tell RNC he's proudly gay  —  Cleveland (CNN)Peter Thiel is set to admonish the GOP for refusing to embrace LGBT rights on stage here tonight.  —  The tech billionaire will declare to the Republican National Convention that he is proud to be gay, a source familiar with Thiel's remarks told CNN.

Gonzalez, Bettis Help Rockies to 7-3 Win Over Braves  —  DENVER — Carlos Gonzalez hit a three-run homer to break a scoreless tie in the sixth inning, Chad Bettis threw efficiently into the seventh and the Colorado Rockies beat the Atlanta Braves 7-3 on Thursday night.