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MLB trade deadline buzz: Wednesday's edition — With the July 31 MLB non-waiver trade deadline fast approaching, FOXSports.com baseball reporters Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi have all the latest buzz. All times below are ET. — Phils lead Lee race; Dodgers plan a push — 11:41 a.m.
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MLB trade: Cliff Lee traded to Philadelphia Phillies by Cleveland Indians … The Cleveland Indians traded Cliff Lee and outfielder Ben Francisco to the Philadelphia Phillies for four minor leaguers on Wednesday. — Triple-A right-hander Carlos Carrasco, Class A righty Jason Knapp …

YANKS STILL NOT PLAYING ON HALLADAY, LEE — Yankees GM Brian Cashman did check in Tuesday with Toronto officials about Roy Halladay and Indians officials about Cliff Lee. But with roughly 48 hours until the deadline, the Yankees are still showing no inclination to chase either of the top starters …

Phillies Acquire Lee, Francisco — 6:05pm: After a little confusion, the deal is now official, according to a press release. The Phils add an ace and a right-handed bat, and the Indians receive four top rebuilding pieces. Ed Price at AOL Fanhouse says that Donald, Marson and Carrasco …

Why the Halladay deal will get done, plus more trade discussions … Despite the self-imposed Blue Jays deadline of Tuesday, plus semi-regular predictions from Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi that Roy Halladay will remain a Blue Jay, Toronto is still in discussions with multiple teams …

With Phillies landing Lee, are Sox frontrunner for Halladay? — With the Phillies on the verge of finalizing a deal with the Cleveland Indians for lefthander Cliff Lee that would take them out of the running for Toronto ace Roy Halladay, do the Red Sox become the favorite to land the 32-year-old former Cy Young Award winner?

Jack Wilson, Ian Snell of Pittsburgh Pirates traded to Seattle Mariners for five players — The Pittsburgh Pirates have dealt shortstop Jack Wilson and right-handed pitcher Ian Snell to the Seattle Mariners for shortstop Ronny Cedeno, first baseman Jeff Clement, and right-handed pitching …
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FanGraphs Baseball, MLB Rumors, Associated Press, ESPN, NESN.com, WasWatching.com, Batter's Box Interactive … and Sliding Into Home
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Pirates And Mariners Make Seven Player Deal — 1:24pm: Kovacevic reports that the Pirates will pay nearly all of the money owed to Wilson and Snell this year. The Mariners will pay each player $400k. Kovacevic breaks out the calculator and finds that the Pirates will send a total …

Pirates trade Wilson, Snell to Seattle; significant cash to Mariners, too — The Pirates have traded shortstop Jack Wilson, their most tenured player, to the Seattle Mariners. No word yet on the return. — Details to come. — UPDATE 12:41 p.m.: Ian Snell is in the deal, too …
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Baseball America, Bucs Dugout, Where Have You Gone …, Pittsburgh Lumber Co., MLB Daily Dish and Lookout Landing

Breaking news: Surgery for Wang — Chien-Ming Wang needs season-ending shoulder surgery It'll be tomorrow morning — More to come. — UPDATE, 10:49 p.m.: Wang needs a tear in his capsule repaired, apparently. The capsule is the soft-tissue membrane. Typically, the capsule is tightened in surgery.
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Aceves admits to sore shoulder
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Blogging the Bombers, iYankees, Pinstripe Alley, River Avenue Blues and Sliding Into Home

SEE IT: Mets Players Unveil Clothing Designs — Tuesday, during a Citi Field press conference, Mets players Daniel Murphy, Bobby Parnell, J.J. Putz, Omir Santos and Gary Sheffield unveiled The Players Choice Signature Series featuring jerseys, T-shirts and caps they designed exclusively for their fans …
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Francoeur comes to grips, settles in with Mets
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The 'Ropolitans

Pirates All-Star Freddy Sanchez traded to the Giants for prospect Tim Alderson — The San Francisco Giants, taking another step to upgrade the National League's 15th ranked offense, acquired three-time All-Star Freddy Sanchez from Pittsburgh on Wednesday for pitching prospect Tim Alderson.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles, Yahoo! Sports, Twinkie Town, NESN.com, Honest Wagner and Associated Press

Dodgers' tribute to Vin Scully needs to be a home run — The longtime voice for the franchise says he'll probably work one season, giving the Dodgers 15 months to send him off the right way. — While the Dodgers' acquisition of a top starting pitcher before the trading deadline remains woefully uncertain …
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Game 101: Yankees at Rays — YANKEES (61-39) — Pitching: RHP Joba Chamberlain (6-2, 3.86). — RAYS (55-46) — Upton CF — Crawford LF — Longoria 3B — Zobrist 2B — Pena 1B — Burrell DH — Gross RF — Navarro C — Bartlett SS — Pitching: RHP Matt Garza (7-7, 3.68).

Big trade by deadline seems more unlikely — But some teams have shown interest in closer Sherrill — As the nonwaiver trade deadline approaches Friday, the Orioles are moving further away from making a noteworthy deal - unless it involves closer George Sherrill.
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Morgan sets tone for Nationals victory — Speedster hits leadoff homer, drives in three against Crew — MILWAUKEE — Nyjer Morgan's bat and Collin Balester's arm helped the Nationals defeat the Brewers, 8-3, at Miller Park on Tuesday night. — Morgan was the catalyst of the offense …
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Wells' arm, Soriano's bat lead Cubs over Astros — CHICAGO (USATODAY.com) — Randy Wells (FSY) pitched eight shutout innings and Alfonso Soriano (FSY) hit a three-run homer during a six-run first inning Wednesday, leading the Chicago Cubs to an 12-0 victory over the Houston Astros.


Dice-K's beatdown begins — A day after Dice-K declared the Red Sox' training methods as the reason for his injuries (no word on whether he blamed them for his second chin and inability to throw a pitch down the middle), the team is striking back. And, as is the custom in Boston, they're doing it through the media.