Miguel Cabrera talks retirement on ESPN: ‘Two more years and I am done’  —  St. Louis, Mo. — Miguel Cabrera has said it before, that he planned to honor his contract with the Tigers and retire.  But perhaps not as definitively as he expressed it in an interview with ESPN's Sage Steele Wednesday morning.

Here's where all 30 farm systems rank  —  You know how 900 prospects line up.  Now, how about their 30 farm systems?  —  MLB Pipeline has re-ranked all 30 organizations by their prospect talent in this last edition of the farm system rankings.  The in-season rankings provide a good snapshot …

Yadier Molina returning to St. Louis Cardinals for what will be catcher's ‘final season’ in 2022  —  Yadier Molina has agreed to a one-year extension with the St. Louis Cardinals, with president of baseball operations John Mozeliak indicating it will be the All-Star catcher's final year with his longtime team.

Return of Francisco Lindor does little for Mets in rout by Giants  —  There was the tiniest spark of optimism before the Mets took on the Giants Tuesday night at Citi Field.  See, this night heralded the return of Francisco Lindor, who had been out for a month thanks to an oblique strain.

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Caleb Smith gets 10-game ban for foreign substance on glove  —  PITTSBURGH — Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Caleb Smith has been suspended 10 games and fined an undisclosed amount for having a foreign substance on his glove during a game last week.

The incredible story of Ray Caldwell, the MLB pitcher who survived a lightning strike to finish a game  —  ON AUG. 24, 1919, Ray Caldwell puts on a Cleveland uniform for the first time.  The weather is brutally hot but clear — for now — and none of the 20,000 or so fans at League Park …

Reeling San Diego Padres fire pitching coach Larry Rothschild  —  The San Diego Padres, stumbling in their quest to reach the playoffs this season, fired pitching coach Larry Rothschild on Monday.  —  Ben Fritz, nearly 20 years removed from being among the headliners in the Oakland Athletics' famed …

Zack Britton's brutal 2021 continues with another IL trip, this time for elbow sprain  —  ATLANTA — The Yankees may be rolling, but the hits keep on coming.  Monday, it was reliever Zack Britton going on the injured list with what the team said is a “sprained left elbow.”

Shohei Ohtani in the Little League Classic?  MLB could find no better ambassador  —  Shohei Ohtani is a wonder.  —  My MLB career spanned the heart of the steroid era in baseball.  Its noxious cloud still makes us question today's players and their motives, and tantalizes any performer to consider modern shortcuts to gain an edge.

Yankees Notebook: Luis Severino to get an in-person once over by Dr. ElAttrache; Rougned Odor's HR that wasn't  —  Luis Severino will be traveling across the country with the Yankees to see Dr. Neal ElAttrache next week for an exam on his right shoulder.  The renowned orthopedic surgeon …

Quantrill, Indians beat Angels 3-0 in Little League Classic  —  WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — Cal Quantrill pitched two-hit ball over seven innings, Amed Rosario launched an early homer and the Cleveland Indians beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-0 in the Little League Classic on Sunday night.

Pirates have placed struggling outfielder Gregory Polanco on waivers, sources say  —  The Pirates have placed right fielder Gregory Polanco on outright waivers, multiple sources told The Athletic on Sunday.  —  The deadline for any of the other 29 clubs to claim Polanco is Tuesday.