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Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Photos: Arizona Diamondbacks in the MLB All-Star Game … ATLANTA - As the Diamondbacks hope for the best with right-hander Shelby Miller's latest elbow issue, their return to this city stirred bad memories of the trade that brought him to Arizona in the first place, a deal that has …
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Alden GonzalezESPN / ESPN:
How fast is Shohei Ohtani? Faster than you think — ANAHEIM, Calif. — Billy Eppler had been traveling to Japan to scout Shohei Ohtani since 2013, which meant that by the time this spring rolled around, Eppler's Los Angeles Angels knew pretty much everything there was to know about Ohtani's on-field ability.
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Bernie Wilson / Toronto Sun:
Stripling, Dodgers beat Ross, Padres 3-2 to take 3 of 4
ESPN:
Jordan Hicks: Bud Norris has ‘best intentions for me’ — Rookie reliever Jordan Hicks addressed reports of potential conflict within the St. Louis Cardinals' locker room, saying teammate and closer Bud Norris has his best interests in mind. — “He has the best intentions for me,” Hicks told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Thursday.
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Viva El Birdos
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Rift in Cards bullpen doesn't exist — rookie Hicks knows veteran Norris ‘has best intentions for me’ — A few hours before a game in the Cardinals' previous home stand, the team's relievers filtered into the clubhouse and, with a quick twist of one wrist, the music started thumping.
Bucky Dent / UPI:
Cardinals face different Reds team this time around
Bradford DoolittleESPN / ESPN:
Manny Machado's top 12 landing spots and MLB's next big thing — The Manny Machado Watch has intensified over the past couple of weeks. In some ways, that's hard to believe. After all, this has been going on since last winter, when the Baltimore Orioles' star infielder was reportedly …
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Arizona Sports and MLB Baseball News …
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Tom Haudricourt / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Brewers looking to go big with Manny Machado, who is an absolutely perfect fit
Brewers looking to go big with Manny Machado, who is an absolutely perfect fit
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MLB Trade Rumors
Tom Withers / Associated Press:
Yankees score twice in 8th off Kluber, top Indians 7-4 — CLEVELAND (AP) - Aaron Hicks drove home Didi Gregorius from first base with a one-out double in the eighth inning off Cleveland ace Corey Kluber, sending the New York Yankees to a 7-4 win over the Indians on Thursday night.
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Pinstripe Alley, Let's Go Tribe and MLB Baseball News …
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Coley HarveyESPN / ESPN:
Brett Gardner, bullpen help Yankees pick up Luis Severino
Ryan Gaydos / Fox News:
MLB suspends Papa John's promotion until after All-Star break, pizza company says — John Schnatter quits as chairman after using racial slur during a conference call on how to handle controversial situations. — Major League Baseball's promotion with Papa John's has been suspended until …
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Phillies Nation
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Dave Campbell / Toronto Sun:
Gibson, Twins top Rays 5-1 in rain-delayed series opener — MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Nine years after drafting Kyle Gibson in the first round and six seasons into his major league career, the faith the Minnesota Twins have had in the lanky right-hander has finally been rewarded on a consistent basis.
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Athletics Nation
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Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays get blame in Willy Adames demotion
Rays get blame in Willy Adames demotion
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DRaysBay and MLB Baseball News …
Bill Madden / New York Daily News:
Cashman's Machado call is part of his process....nothing more, nothing less — Amazing how a simple phone call from Brian Cashman to Orioles GM Dan Duquette was able to set the entire baseball media into such a feeding frenzy. — The Yankee GM was doing what he always does when a prominent player …
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Pinstripe Alley and Brew Crew Ball
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Todd Karpovich / UPI:
Orioles face Rangers, with Machado likely on way out
Tommy Birch / Des Moines Register:
Veteran pitcher Casey Coleman was contemplating retirement. Then the Cubs called. — Triple-A baseball came to Des Moines in 1968 with the Iowa Oaks, and the Iowa Cubs have carried the torch since 1982. Here's a collection of some of the biggest names and best players during that time.
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Jerry CrasnickESPN Senior / ESPN:
Minor-league extra-innings rule has helped shorten games
Minor-league extra-innings rule has helped shorten games
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Bleed Cubbie Blue and baseballmusings.com
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Jerry Blevins continues to struggle against lefties, gives up big home run in NY Mets loss — Jerry Blevins on his first start in the 8-7 loss to the Dodgers Matt Ehalt, Staff Writer, @MattEhalt — NEW YORK — Relievers are always hot commodities at the trade deadline.
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NorthJersey.com
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Addison Russell on the rebound after meeting with Chili Davis: .298 with 15 RBIs in 14 games — Chicago Tribune — While Javier Baez and Kyle Schwarber were being interviewed Wednesday about their selection for the Home Run Derby, Kris Bryant sported a grin after returning to the Cubs lineup for the first time in 2½ weeks.
Jesse RogersESPN / ESPN:
Cubs All-Star Javier Baez is the most exciting player in baseball — SAN DIEGO — It's not easy to walk the streets or have a meal with budding Chicago Cubs star Javier Baez. Just ask his teammates, who have seen Baez rise from a piece in the Cubs puzzle to an All-Star who is must-watch at the plate, on the bases and in the field.
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays Blake Snell named to AL All-Star team after all — Rays LHP Blake Snell is going to the All-Star Game after all. — Snell was named as a replacement for Cleveland's Corey Kluber on the American League team for Tuesday's game in an announcement by MLB.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Biggest question for White Sox in second half: When is Eloy Jimenez coming? — Photos of the White Sox outfielder and No. 4-ranked prosepct by Baseball America. — Chicago Tribune — It's hard to keep track of all of the injuries to White Sox prospects, but look at the bright side …
Bob Brookover / Philly.com:
Maikel Franco's career with the Phillies could just be taking off | Bob Brookover — We forget sometimes how difficult it is to become an established everyday player, one that is consistently good and capable of handling the physical and mental grinds that come with playing a three-hour game every day for six straight months.
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Three up, three down: Blake Treinen is on fire, Dexter Fowler isn't — Three up — Bullet Trein: The perennially rebuilding Athletics could be trade-deadline buyers after going 19-5 from June 16 through Thursday, the best record in baseball in that span, to improve to 53-41 …