Top News:
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
MLB trade deadline: Surprising teams that could go all-in and new names to watch as July 30 nears — Perhaps it should be no surprise that the San Diego Padres and Tampa Bay Rays, two of the most aggressive teams in baseball at improving their rosters, have placed themselves squarely …
Ryan Divish / The Seattle Times:
Mariners players feel ‘betrayed’ after team trades Kendall Graveman to Astros — Marco Gonzales stared at the concrete floor of the Mariners dugout, occasionally lifting his gaze to the field of T-Mobile Park and revealing puffy eyes red from tears. — He appeared to be listening …
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
The Yankees' Joey Gallo trade just got a little bit better — The Yankees will be receiving more than Joey Gallo and Joely Rodriguez from the Rangers - Texas also is paying both players' salaries the rest of the season, The Post has learned. — That is not insignificant …
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, Baseball America, MLB Trade Rumors, Bleacher Nation and Pinstripe Alley
Elliott Almond / Mercury News:
Sunisa Lee steps up for Simone Biles to keep U.S. gymnastics gold-medal streak alive — With Simone Biles watching in the stands Sunisa Lee wins win all-around title at Tokyo Games — An expressionless Sunisa Lee walked off the platform in her final rotation Thursday knowing she had performed admirably.
Discussion:
Orange County Register, Sports Illustrated and Chicago Sun-Times
Ken Rosenthal / The Athletic:
Max Scherzer prefers NL West contenders, sources say, and pace of talks accelerating — Padres manager Jayce Tingler and Max Scherzer just missed overlapping at the University of Missouri. Scherzer was teammates at Missouri with Padres bullpen catcher Brad Flanders for one season. All three remain friends.
Ken Rosenthal / The Athletic:
Concerns about Trevor Story; what Max Scherzer's unique contract means; more trade deadline notes — Rockies shortstop Trevor Story is one of the biggest names on the trade market, but mostly by reputation. Story, 28, is in the middle of his worst offensive season, and some baseball people are alarmed by his poor throwing.
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, NBCSports.com, Denver Post, FanGraphs Baseball, Bleacher Nation, MLB Trade Rumors and New York Post
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Diamondbacks release injury-prone pitcher Jon Duplantier — The Diamondbacks released oft-injured former top prospect Jon Duplantier on Tuesday in what was a sort of procedural transaction that they hope leads to him signing back with the club on a minor league deal, according to a source.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit and MLB Trade Rumors
Jim Bowden / The Athletic:
MLB trade deadline rumblings: Bowden on Marlins' ‘coup,’ Max Scherzer sweepstakes, expected ‘flurry of trades’ — “Be prepared for a flurry of trades with the unexpected ruling the day,” an American League general manager told me Wednesday morning. I'm not sure what that means or what will transpire …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com and MLB Trade Rumors
Associated Press:
Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg to have season-ending neck surgery — PHILADELPHIA — Stephen Strasburg will have season-ending neck surgery, ending another frustrating year for the Washington Nationals' 2019 World Series hero. — The three-time All-Star right-hander felt discomfort …
Discussion:
UPI
Tim Healey / Newsday:
Jerad Eickhoff struggles as Mets get routed by Atlanta — The Mets lost to Atlanta, 12-5, on Tuesday after fill-in starter Jered Eickhoff allowed 10 runs, all earned, in 3 1⁄3 innings. He re-signed with them two days prior after being cut — for the second time in a month — last week.
Discussion:
NorthJersey.com
Tom Haudricourt / USA Today:
Milwaukee Brewers leftfielder Christian Yelich has been placed in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 — PITTSBURGH - Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns announced Tuesday afternoon that leftfielder Christian Yelich had tested positive for COVID-19 and was placed …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and MLB | NBC Sports
Ken Davidoff / New York Post:
Mets' agreement with Kumar Rocker suddenly in jeopardy — The Mets' agreement with their first-round draft pick Kumar Rocker is in limbo after the team expressed concerns with the right-hander's pitching elbow during his physical examination, multiple industry sources told The Post.
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, MLB Trade Rumors, Lone Star Ball and Amazin' Avenue