Top News:
Buster OlneyESPN Senior / ESPN:
Olney: How deadline dominoes will fall following Machado deal — It is true the Orioles possess some kind of all-time record for deals wrecked by failed medical examinations, and yes, their proposed trade of Manny Machado to the Dodgers was slowed by a snag in the doctor review.
Discussion:
True Blue LA and Arizona Sports
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Scooby Axson / Sports Illustrated:
MLB Trade Rumors: Brewers Turn Focus To Brian Dozier After Losing Out on Manny Machado — Which contending teams will shake up their roster and make a deal before the trade deadline? — The All-Star break is officially over as teams start the second half of the season.
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, CBSSports.com and Phillies Nation
Jon Meoli / Baltimore Sun:
Evaluating Yusniel Díaz and the other prospects the Orioles acquired in the Manny Machado trade
Evaluating Yusniel Díaz and the other prospects the Orioles acquired in the Manny Machado trade
Discussion:
Camden Chat and True Blue LA
Steve Gardner / USA Today:
Meet the prospects the Dodgers gave up for Manny Machado
Meet the prospects the Dodgers gave up for Manny Machado
Discussion:
DodgerBlue.com
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Indians Acquire Brad Hand, Adam Cimber For Francisco Mejia — In a sudden and abrupt development, the Indians and Padres announced a blockbuster trade Thursday that will send one of baseball's best relievers, Brad Hand, and emerging setup man Adam Cimber from San Diego to Cleveland in exchange …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Gaslamp Ball, Brew Crew Ball, NESN.com, MLB Daily Dish and Let's Go Tribe
RELATED:
Joe Giglio / New Jersey Online:
MLB trade rumors: Padres' Brad Hand to Phillies talk increasing? — With Manny Machado off the table, the Phillies will have to get creative in order to improve for the stretch run. — One idea that could lead to more wins: Upgrading the bullpen with another dominant arm …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Gaslamp Ball, Minor League Ball and Let's Go Tribe
Alex Butler / UPI:
Cleveland Indians trade for All-Star pitcher Brad Hand
Sarah Langs / ESPN:
What it means to be in first place coming out of the All-Star break — As baseball enters its second half, the Red Sox, Indians, Astros, Phillies, Cubs and Dodgers lead their respective divisions. But how much does that really matter? We look back to see what history tells us. — EDITOR'S PICKS
Discussion:
The Good Phight
RELATED:
Evan Drellich / NBCSports.com:
Red Sox identity, standing as league's best will be tested
Red Sox identity, standing as league's best will be tested
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Chad Finn / Boston Globe:
9 superlatives from Red Sox' first half of the season
9 superlatives from Red Sox' first half of the season
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Jesse RogersESPN / ESPN:
What would it take for the Cubs to pull off a deGrom blockbuster? — CHICAGO — It's a dilemma every general manager grapples with at one time or another: Do you make a trade from a strength to shore up a weakness while hoping and praying that moving those parts doesn't create a new hole to fill?
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
RELATED:
Jeff Arnold / UPI:
Chicago Cubs look to stay hot against fading St. Louis Cardinals
Chicago Cubs look to stay hot against fading St. Louis Cardinals
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Teddy Greenstein / Chicago Tribune:
Yu Darvish still ‘weeks away,’ Cubs pitching coach tells the Score — Chicago Tribune — Yu Darvish is not close to rejoining the Cubs. — Cubs pitching coach Jim Hickey confirmed everyone's suspicion Thursday morning during an interview on WSCR-AM 670, saying Darvish is “a number of weeks” away.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
RELATED:
ESPN:
Winning isn't the only thing: Realistic second-half goals for all 30 teams — Before the season, we wanted to define what success would look like for every major league team this year. We believe in a broad definition of success, and we tried to appreciate that a single great memory …
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Duquette: Machado Trade Marks Beginning Of Rebuild — The trade of Manny Machado to the Dodgers will be the first of many for the Orioles, as executive vice president/general manager Dan Duquette told reporters in a conference call Wednesday night that the Orioles are set to embark on a rebuild …
Discussion:
Baltimore Sun, BaltimoreBaseball.com, School of Roch and Al's Ramblings
RELATED:
Keith LawESPN Senior / ESPN:
Keith Law's midseason top 50 prospects update — A handful of promotions earlier this season have shuffled the top of my rankings, which now feature five players signed as international (July 2nd) free agents in the first five slots. The list also skews quite young, with teenagers constituting more than 20% of the players here.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball and Talking Chop
Chelsea Janes / Chicago Tribune:
Nationals players express concerns about Dave Martinez's handling of the pitching staff — The Washington Post — Relievers are the canaries of major league rosters, the first players tossed into the mine, the first to get a sense of a manager's strategic know-how and feel its effects.
Keith LawESPN Senior / ESPN:
Orioles get quantity, but no future stars, in Machado trade — The Orioles missed their ideal window for trading Manny Machado, which would have been last offseason so the acquiring team would have gotten a whole year of playing time plus the potential to get a draft pick as compensation when he hits free agency this winter.
ESPN:
Cubs' Brandon Morrow placed on DL with biceps injury — Chicago Cubs closer Brandon Morrow is going back on the 10-day disabled list, this time with right biceps inflammation. — The move is retroactive to Monday. Chicago kicks off MLB's second half of the season against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday (ESPN, 7 p.m. ET).
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Twins Acquire Jeremy Hazelbaker From Rays — The Twins have acquired outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker from the Rays organization in exchange for cash, the Twins' top affiliate in Rochester announced today. Hazelbaker, who is not on the 40-man roster, has been assigned to Triple-A Rochester.
Discussion:
Twinkie Town