Top News:
Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
The show must go on in another forgettable Blue Jays season — There is no mercy rule in baseball, the games and the drama must go on. — For the 2018 Toronto Blue Jays, the post-all-star break still has 67 games to be played, most of them with minimal consequence beyond future development.
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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
Donald Duench / Toronto Sun:
On Deck: Orioles at Blue Jays — BALTIMORE ORIOLES at TORONTO BLUE JAYS — STARTING PITCHERS — RHP Dylan Bundy (6-9, 4.35 ERA) vs. RHP Sam Gaviglio (2-3, 4.58 ERA) — Bundy was 3-0, 1.98 ERA, 0.99 WHIP in June before he went on the DL with a left ankle sprain.
Scooby Axson / Sports Illustrated:
MLB Trade Rumors: Brewers Turn Focus To Brian Dozier After Losing Out on Manny Machado
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, CBSSports.com and Phillies Nation
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Duquette: Machado Trade Marks Beginning Of Rebuild
Discussion:
Baltimore Sun, BaltimoreBaseball.com, School of Roch and Al's Ramblings
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:
NESN.com, Gaslamp Ball, MLB Daily Dish, Brew Crew Ball, Let's Go Tribe and MLB Baseball News …
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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:
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Yu Darvish must fight off ‘soft’ reputation as he rehabs elbow injury
Teddy Greenstein / Chicago Tribune:
Yu Darvish still ‘weeks away,’ Cubs pitching coach tells the Score
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays journal: Catcher needed with Wilson Ramos on DL — ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays did not have any answers Thursday about the state of their catching situation as to how long Wilson Ramos will be out and who will be added to replace him Friday against the Marlins.
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Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays should trade Chris Archer — ST. PETERSBURG — Chris Archer wants the Rays to get going. — Trade more veterans. Bring back Willy Adames and bring up the next group of kids. Get on with getting better, and get back to reaching the postseason, as they did four times over six years that seems a long time ago.
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:
MLB Baseball News … and The Good Phight
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Evan Drellich / NBCSports.com:
Red Sox identity, standing as league's best will be tested
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Boston Globe and Over the Monster
Teddy Greenstein / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' Kyle Schwarber says Home Run Derby 'wasn't rigged' — Photos from the 2018 Home Run Derby at Nationals Park on July 16, 2018. — Chicago Tribune — Kyle Schwarber woke up Tuesday feeling like he had been in a car wreck. — What was sore? — “Arms, sides, back ... about everything,” the Cubs left fielder said.
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Teddy Greenstein / Chicago Tribune:
No Javier Baez or Willson Contreras as Cubs open 5-game series against Cardinals at Wrigley — Photos from the Cubs-Cardinals game at Wrigley Field on Thursday, July 19, 2018. — Chicago Tribune — The question: Would Joe Maddon opt to rest any of his All-Stars on their first day back from D.C.?
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.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and baseballmusings.com
Associated Press:
Josh Hader to rejoin Brewers for first time since insensitive tweets surfaced — MILWAUKEE — Brewers general manager David Stearns wants reliever Josh Hader to “re-earn the trust” of his teammates when he rejoins the team Friday. — Milwaukee is set to resume its season following the All-Star break …
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).
RELATED:
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Cubs Place Brandon Morrow On 10-Day DL
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
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 …
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
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Shohei Ohtani Cleared To Begin Throwing Progression — Angels starter/DH Shohei Ohtani has been cleared medically to resume throwing, per a club announcement. The news came on the heels of his examination after six weeks of rest following stem cell and platelet-rich plasma treatment.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
