Mariners send top prospect O'Neill to Cardinals for Gonzales  —  SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners paid a hefty price to add a pitcher who may not be ready to help them in the playoff hunt this season.  —  The Mariners acquired young left-hander Marco Gonzales from the St. Louis Cardinals …

Cardinals end Cubs' 6-game winning streak after 9-run 8th inning  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Paul DeJong hit a tiebreaking two-run double in St. Louis' nine-run eighth inning, and the Cardinals cooled off the Chicago Cubs with an 11-4 victory on Friday.  —  Chicago carried a 3-2 lead into the eighth, looking for its seventh consecutive win.

Yoenis Cespedes wants to finish career in Oakland  —  NEW YORK — Here's something for A's fans to look forward to a few years down the road, potentially: former Oakland star Yoenis Céspedes wants to finish his career with the A's.  —  In a rare interview conducted entirely in English …

These Red Sox trade targets could be Boston-bound  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — By the time the Boston Red Sox are ready to jet home from Seattle on Wednesday night, the trade winds might be blowing hard enough in their direction to shave a few precious hours off their flight time.

Rumor Central: Rangers laying groundwork for potential Yu Darvish deal  —  The Texas Rangers are “talking to multiple contenders” about starting pitcher Yu Darvish as they lay the groundwork to potentially deal the right-hander at the July 31 trade deadline, reports ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.

Royals' Eric Hosmer to miss Friday's game to attend to family matter  —  Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer will miss Friday night's series opener against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium to attend to an undisclosed family matter.  —  Brandon Moss is starting and will bat fourth in the lineup in place of Hosmer.

It's official: The Yankees are the most-hated team in baseball — and the Dodgers aren't far behind  —  The New York Yankees celebrate their 4-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday.  (Elaine Thompson / Associated Press)  —  America has spoken, and the New York Yankees are the country's most-hated baseball team.

FANTASY PLAYS: Looking at effects of Yankees-White Sox trade  —  The MLB trade deadline is fast approaching, and we already have some significant fantasy baseball players affected by the moves.  Not only is there a new batter for the Yankees, but a new closer has emerged, while a Rockies hitter is mashing …

3 minor leaguers suspended for positive drug tests  —  Cincinnati pitcher Brian Hunter has been suspended for 80 games under baseball's minor league drug program following a positive test for a banned performance-enhancing substance, and Los Angeles Angels pitcher Greg Belton …

A's have talked to Marcus Semien about multiyear deal  —  Oakland doesn't sign its players to multiyear deals, or so the story goes.  —  That hasn't always been true, of course.  The team has inked many of its key contributors to multiyear deals during the Billy Beane era, some just through their arbitration years, a few longer.

Giants look to end recent struggles vs. Padres (Jul 21, 2017)  —  SAN FRANCISCO — The San Diego Padres will seek to continue their recent mastery of the San Francisco Giants when the clubs meet for a second time in their four-game series Friday night.  —  After taking two of three …

Asdrubal Cabrera likely to play third as trade suitors line up  —  Dexter Fowler is tagged out by Asdrubal Cabrera during the Mets' 3-2 win on Thursday.  —  Getty Images … Asdrubal Cabrera's trade market is developing better than the Mets could have anticipated.

Andrew Romine starting at catcher?  Don't rule it out for this season  —  We take a look at the centerpiece of the Detroit Tigers' J.D. Martinez trade: Dawel Lugo, an infielder that was considered one of the Arizona Diamondbacks' best prospects.  Video by Brian Manzullo, DFP.  Wochit

White Sox To Acquire Mark Lowe, Jean Machi  —  The White Sox have acquired veteran relievers Mark Lowe and Jean Machi from the Mariners, according to Triple-A Tacoma broadcaster Mike Curto (Twitter link).  Both will report to Chicago's top affiliate.  —  It seems that this isn't a part …

Tigers' Zimmermann looks to build off last start, continue good location … MINNEAPOLIS - Jordan Zimmermann wanted to start the second half well and did that on Monday.  Now he hopes to build off one of his best starts of the season.  —  “I was able to throw curveballs and sliders in any count …

Sinton grad Banda to make MLB debut  —  The Diamondbacks tweeted on Friday that Sinton's Anthony Banda, the organization's top prospect, has been promoted and will make his major league debut on Saturday.  —  Torey Lovullo says Anthony Banda is set to start for the #Dbacks tomorrow.

Five MLB prospects who won't get traded - but could star in October  —  The trade deadline generates such hype and expectation every year that it's easy to forget teams can often get just as big a boost from the midseason promotion of a prospect as they would from a new acquisition.

Yoenis Cespedes still fond of Oakland, hopes to end career by returning there  —  Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes told the San Francisco Chronicle on Friday that he wants to finish his career with the Athletics, the team with which he made his major league debut.  —  The 31-year-old is signed through 2020.