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.

Martinez ready for first action at home as a Diamondback  —  PHOENIX (AP) — J.D. Martinez got a little lost trying to find Chase Field on Friday.  The Arizona Diamondbacks' new outfielder hasn't spent much time in the Phoenix area, and he found himself driving while looking at his phone for directions.

Yoenis Cespedes says he'd like to finish his career in Oakland  —  Yoenis Cespedes is feeling nostalgic while back in the Bay Area for an interleague series.  —  The New York Mets outfielder said that he would like to finish his career where it started, with the Oakland Athletics, according to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle.

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.

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.

Phillips out of Braves lineup with hamstring tightness  —  LOS ANGELES - Brandon Phillips was out of the Braves lineup Friday against the Dodgers, the night after right hamstring tightness forced the veteran second baseman to leave in the sixth inning of a 6-3 series-opening win at Dodger Stadium.

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 …

A's sign Carter to minor league deal, promote Montas, Olson  —  NEW YORK (AP) — The Oakland Athletics have signed free agent slugger Chris Carter to a minor league deal and promoted right-hander Frankie Montas and first baseman/outfielder Matt Olson to the majors.

Aaron Nola, Freddy Galvis lead Phils to 6-1 win over Brewers  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Aaron Nola tied a career-high with nine strikeouts in seven sharp innings, Freddy Galvis hit a two-run homer and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the reeling Milwaukee Brewers 6-1 on Friday night.

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 …

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 …

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.