‘Keep it light.’ As Texas Rangers losing streak hits 12 games, manager, radio team adapt  —  Games are supposed to be fun after all.  And baseball is just a game.  —  That's an easy concept in theory, of course, but when you're a major league baseball team struggling at an historic rate …

San Diego Padres acquire All-Star second baseman Adam Frazier from Pittsburgh Pirates, sources say  —  MLB, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres  —  The San Diego Padres are acquiring second baseman Adam Frazier from the Pittsburgh Pirates, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan.

2021 hindsight: Inside the Trevor Bauer disaster and how the Dodgers got here  —  What could be Trevor Bauer's last public comment in a Dodgers uniform was uttered in frustration as the pitcher stood up to leave a videoconference following a 3-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants on June 28.

Tigers players shutting out the noise as trade deadline draws near  —  Kansas City, Mo. — Tigers manager AJ Hinch was talking last week about the upcoming series in Minnesota and offhandedly remarked that maybe the Twins will trade Nelson Cruz by then.  —  Well, about that.  The Twins did, in fact, trade Cruz.

Twins, Byron Buxton can't reach agreement on contract extension, increasing chance of offseason trade  —  Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton could not agree on a contract extension, increasing the possibility he will be traded this offseason and perhaps making the team more willing …

Some players say Los Angeles Angels failing in treatment at minor league level, as GM vows to address it  —  While consolidating the minor leagues during the 2020 season, Major League Baseball claimed that reducing and realigning its developmental leagues would increase player salaries at all levels …

Taijuan Walker has come back to Earth at the worst time for the Mets  —  After a dominant first half, Taijuan Walker has looked human for the better part of a month.  It finally caught up to the Mets on Saturday night, when Walker gave up six runs in four innings and the Mets fell to the Blue Jays, 10-3.

Marlins, Reds, Rockies should take advantage of MLB trade frenzy  —  The Marlins should have Sandy Alcantara on the trade market, just as the Reds should have Luis Castillo and the Rockies should have German Marquez.  —  There is no joy in recommending that your favorite team should shop its ace.

The Padres made a push for Nelson Cruz; Boras on Max Scherzer's no-trade clause; more notes  —  Two Triple-A right-handers who ranked among the better prospects in the Rays' pitching-rich system might sound like a steep price for a rental hitter, even one as gifted as Nelson Cruz.

Cole Popovich out on Patriots coaching staff  —  Cole Popovich, who shared offensive line coaching duties with Carmen Bricillo the last season, will not be coaching with the Patriots this season, according to a league source.  —  This season Bricillo will coach the offensive line alone.