Top News:
Rustin Dodd / Kansas City Star:
Mike Moustakas clubs his 30th homer as Royals top Red Sox for ninth straight win — To hit a home run in the major leagues, a baseball player must possess a potent combination of tools. Enough hand-eye coordination to barrel a 95 mph fastball. Enough brute strength in the legs to launch a baseball 400 feet.
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Dodgers Acquire Luke Farrell From Royals — The Dodgers announced on Friday that they've acquired right-hander Luke Farrell from the Royals in exchange for cash. Farrell was designated for assignment earlier this week when Kansas City acquired the trio of Trevor Cahill, Brandon Maurer and Ryan Buchter from the Padres.
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Associated Press:
Baseball notes: Rays add another reliever by acquiring Steve Chishek from Mariners — The Tampa Bay Rays continued to bolster their bullpen for the pennant race on Friday, acquiring reliever Steve Cishek from the Seattle Mariners for versatile right-hander Erasmo Ramirez.
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Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Mariners Acquire Erasmo Ramirez From Rays For Steve Cishek
Mariners Acquire Erasmo Ramirez From Rays For Steve Cishek
Discussion:
SI.com, U.S.S. Mariner, DRaysBay, MLB Daily Dish and FanRag Sports
Paul Skrbina / Chicago Tribune:
Trade deadline waiting game: Will White Sox's Melky Cabrera be the next to go? — White Sox manager Rick Renteria discusses the impact Melky Cabrera has on the team's clubhouse on Friday, July 28, 2017. (Paul Skrbina/Chicago Tribune) — Chicago Tribune
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Stefan Stevenson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers open to trading Yu Darvish for right price
Rangers open to trading Yu Darvish for right price
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Masahiro Tanaka near-perfect, strikes out career-high 14 in Yankees' win over Rays — Masahiro Tanaka came up short in his bid for perfection on Friday night. — Still, he was absolutely dominant — and the Yankees need more of this type of dominance from their $155 million righty down the stretch.
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Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers' Magic Johnson guarantees World Series victory — Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, left, and Magic Johnson at Kershaw's 5th Annual Ping Pong 4 Purpose Celebrity Tournament at Dodger Stadium on Thursday. (Leon Bennett / Getty Images) — Magic Johnson called his shot Thursday night, and he wasn't shy about it.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com and NESN.com
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Vince Langford / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Adrian Beltre update: Just two away from 3,000 hits and chance for more Friday — Adrian Beltre is absolutely on fire with the bat and could burn his way Friday night to baseball history and major league baseball's iconic 3,000-hit milestone. — The Texas Rangers third baseman singled …
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ESPN:
MLB says that regular-season games will be played in Asia and in England in 2019 and 2020 — NEW YORK — Major League Baseball plans to start the 2019 and 2020 seasons in Asia and play regular-season games in England in June of both years. — The collective bargaining agreement reached …
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Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
MLB plans to move 13 series to foreign countries from 2018-21
MLB plans to move 13 series to foreign countries from 2018-21
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Jon Jay to bat leadoff for Cubs in series opener at Brewers — Cubs manager Joe Maddon on Kyle Schwarber, the White Sox rebuild and Jon Lester's outing after the 6-3 win over the Sox on Thursday, July 27, 2017. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune) — Chicago Tribune
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune
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Chris Kuc / Chicago Tribune:
Anthony Rizzo ‘would love to’ switch hit, but don't expect it to happen
Anthony Rizzo ‘would love to’ switch hit, but don't expect it to happen
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation
Sporting News:
Astros' George Springer put on 10-day DL with quad discomfort — Astros players are dropping like flies. — First Carlos Correa was ruled out for six to eight weeks with a torn thumb ligament, then Colin Moran suffered a facial fracture forcing him out for the same amount of time …
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports and The Crawfish Boxes
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Pedro Moura / Los Angeles Times:
Parker Bridwell rises up as the Angels sink the Blue Jays 7-2 — Parker Bridwell gave up one earned run on three hits over 7 1/3 innings against the Blue Jays on Friday in Toronto. (Tom Szczerbowski / Getty Images) — Parker Bridwell turned in another in a string of unexpected dominant starts …
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
Andy Martino / HuffPost:
Major League Baseball Has A Cocaine Problem — Players say it's a dirty secret that no one — including the league — wants to talk about. … A rookie infielder arrived in the big leagues in 2012, and a few of his teammates decided to take him out to a nightclub after a game.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com
Associated Press:
Arizona starter Robbie Ray carted off after line drive to head — ST. LOUIS — A line drive by Cardinals first baseman Luke Voit hit Arizona Diamondbacks starter Robbie Ray in the head during the second inning of Friday night's game. — Ray, a left-hander, dropped flat on the mound.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Stefan Stevenson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Austin Bibens-Dirkx set to make first start since June 30 — Rookie right-hander Austin Bibens-Dirkx will make his first start since June 30 in the Rangers' Saturday game against the Orioles. Bibens-Dirkx has made two relief appearances since that start against the White Sox in Chicago …
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Phillies scratch Jeremy Hellickson, trade could be near — The Phillies may be near to finding a trade partner for Jeremy Hellickson as the pitcher was scratched from Friday night's start just 30 minutes before he was set to take the mound. — Friday was scheduled to be Hellickson's final start before Monday's trade deadline.
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
Mitchell Forde / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Kelly ‘not scared’ of being thrust onto big stage — Most young players, upon being called up to the major leagues, make an effort to stick to the same pregame routine they employed in the minors. — Cardinals catcher Carson Kelly has not had that luxury. — Kelly made his first big-league start of the season on short notice.
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation, Deadspin, MLB on Yahoo! Sports, NESN.com and baseballmusings.com