The Washington Nationals continued a busy after today by agreeing to terms with shortstop Cristian Guzman on a two-year contract extension through the 2010 season.

Guzman has led the Nationals’ offense this season, batting .310 with 56 runs scored, 26 doubles, three triples, five home runs and 34 RBI in 96 games. For his efforts, he was chosen to represent the Nationals in this year’s All-Star Game, which was played last week in New York. Guzman entered today leading the National League with 129 hits (third in MLB), and boasts the circuit’s seventh-best batting average. His 38 multi-hit games are second in the NL, and his 13 three-hit games are tops in the league.

The Arizona Diamondbacks today announced that they have acquired right-handed pitcher Jon Rauch from the Washington Nationals in exchange for infielder Emilio Bonifacio.

Rauch, 29, went 4-2 with a 2.98 ERA (16 ER in 48.1 IP) and 17 saves in 48 games out of the bullpen for the Nationals this season, walking seven and striking out 44.  He is tied for 10th in the National League with 17 saves and has finished 41 games, third in the NL.  Rauch’s 6.29 strikeout-to-walk ratio is the fourth-best in the Majors.

Bonifacio, 23, has appeared in eight games this season for the D-backs, batting .167 (2-for-12) with three runs scored, a double and two RBI.  He played in 85 games for Tucson (AAA) before being recalled on July 4, batting .302 (111-for-367) with 49 runs scored, 18 doubles, five triples, a home run, 29 RBI and 17 stolen bases.  Bonifacio was named to the Pacific Coast League All-Star team and was named to the World Team in the Major League Baseball Futures Game.

According to MLB.com, the Padres have traded Randy Wolf to the Astros for minor league pitcher Chad Reineke.

Wolf is 6-10 with a 4.74 ERA in 21 starts for the Padres this season.

A few teams out there — the Mets, Angels, and Phillies namely — have been chatting up Colorado Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd about acquiring last year’s NL MVP runner-up Matt Holliday. According to Jon Heyman:

O’Dowd wanted Carlos Beltran as part of a package from the Mets, a request that was rejected by New York. And, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times, O’Dowd sought second baseman Howie Kendrick, pitching prospect Nick Adenhart and either Ervin Santana or Joe Saunders for Holliday, a proposition the Angels also rejected.

And, per Ken Rosenthal:

For Holliday and [left-handed relief pitcher Brian] Fuentes, the Phillies probably would need to part with a package of Shane Victorino, left-hander J.A. Happ, Class AA right-hander Carlos Carrasco and Class AA catcher Lou Marson.

Obviously, O’Dowd’s asking price for Holliday is sky high and neither the Phillies nor the Mets have the Minor League depth to seriously contend for Holliday’s services. It may be a blessing in disguise because once Holliday leaves Coors Field, he takes a step back. Observe his home/away OPS throughout his career…

2004: 1.009 OPS home/.654 away (-.355 difference)
2005: 1.002 home/.729 away (-.273)
2006: 1.132 home/.819 away (-.313)
2007: 1.157 home/.860 away (-.297)
2008: 1.113 home/.859 away (-.254)
Career: 1.091 home/.790 away (-.301)

For a comparison, Geovany Soto has an overall .859 OPS this season, so Holliday is basically Soto away from Coors Field. Not that that’s a bad thing, it’s just that his numbers are overinflated and teams are likely going to overpay for production they’re not going to get.

If teams are looking for both Holliday and Fuentes like the Phillies are, then they should instead look to the Pittsburgh Pirates, who have outfielders Jason Bay and Xavier Nady and left-handed relievers John Grabow and Damaso Marte available.

Bay is fairly consistent whether it’s at home or on the road (this season, he’s sporting a .977 home OPS and a .832 road OPS, but this difference has not been the case throughout his career). Nady, while in Pittsburgh, has actually been better on the road. Even though they have nearly identical OPS figures this season, Bay is far and away the better of the two and there is a significant increase in price for him.

Of Marte and Grabow, Marte is the better of the two. Grabow’s defense has shaved nearly 1.25 runs off of his ERA while Marte’s hasn’t significantly affected his ERA (hurt it by 0.30). Grabow may be four years younger, but Marte has had an ERA+ over 118 for seven straight seasons while Grabow has only hit 96 or better three times in his career. If one of these lefties is involved in a package with Bay or Nady, there won’t be any significant increase in cost for Marte over Grabow.

For reference, here are the contract situations for the four Pirates…

Bay: Signed through ‘09; $5.75 million this season, $7.5 million next season.

Nady: Earning $3.35 million this season. Arbitration-eligible for ‘09, becomes free agent after ‘09. Likely to earn more than $5 million next season.

Grabow: Earning $1.135 million this season. Arbitration-eligible for ‘09, becomes free agent after ‘09.

Marte: Earning $2 million this season; club option for ‘09 worth $6 million (which the Pirates are highly likely to decline if they fail to trade him).

For teams that have both payroll issues and thin Minor League depth, a Nady/Grabow deal is probably as effective as a blockbuster Holliday/Fuentes acquisition. No combination of two Pirates is as productive as Holliday/Fuentes, but in terms of cost, it is the best option for teams in need of a corner outfielder and/or a late-innings left-handed relief pitcher.

The Atlanta Braves are on the bubble.  They are either turning the corner and are on the verge of getting back into contention or they are treading water until they will fade.  The team’s showing against the Nationals at home did not help their playoff chances.  However, after shutting out the Marlins last night, the Braves sit six games out of first place, but are nine games back in the wild card race.  Unless the Braves can make a push to win the division, they are unlikely to make the playoffs by leapfrogging over the eight teams ahead of them in the wild card standings.

So, should the Braves buy or sell?  Given the rash of injuries, particularly to the pitching staff, the Braves have been limping through the season.  It would take another starting pitcher and another solid bat to seriously contend (Xavier Nady is one of the rumored possible acquistions).  In recent years, the Braves have not been keen on paying for rental players - those players in their walk year that will be free agents at the end of the season.

At the same time, the Braves have also been reluctant to resign pending free agents who will command hefty salaries.  The one player that fits that description is 1B Mark Teixeira who is currently finishing out the one year, $12.5 million contract he signed over the winter.  Teixeira is likely to command at least $15 million a year on the open market, which the Braves may not be willing to pay.  Rumors abound about trades involving Teixeira.

While it’s a close call, I never like to see a team pack it in before Memorial Day, particularly one that is only 6 games out.  If the Braves can get healthy, they might be able to stay in contention down to the wire.  Further, Teixeira attended Georgia Tech, so he has local popularity.  If the Braves can win the current series against the Marlins and at least split with the Phillies, they might creep a bit closer. 

According to Terence Moore of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, manager Bobby Cox told his club to ignore any trade rumors because the team is still trying to win the NL East.

We will find out soon, as the trade deadline is next week.

BDD’s Blog was down for a week so we petitioned Major League Baseball to stop making worthwhile news while the blog was down and despite our argument that everyone was waiting in line to see “The Dark Knight” anyway, MLB disagreed and continued on as if nothing were wrong.  It was on to Plan B for us and, in case you remained loyal to our Blog and failed to follow all of the News, Notes & Rumors around baseball, here’s what you might have missed:

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

TAMPA BAY RAYS (58-40, 1st Place/AL East, Up By 1.5 Games)

NEWS: Al Reyes returned from the DL on Friday and closer Troy Percival returned from the DL on Saturday.  The only other roster move saw pitcher Gary Glover go on the disabled list on Saturday.

NOTES: The Rays benefited from a sweep by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of the Boston Red Sox which pushed the Rays back into first place.  Scott Kazmir survived the 14 pitches he threw in the All-Star Game and won his first start on Monday with seven innings of two-hit, shutout ball in their 4-0 win over the Athletics.

RUMORS: There is a little buzz that the Rays might go after a position player and were tied in with a rumor that they might be after Willy Taveras or Clint Barmes in Colorado.  The problem is the Colorado Rockies refuse to fall out of the race in the NL West (more on that later).

BOSTON RED SOX (58-43, 2nd Place/AL East, 1.5 Games Out)

NEWS: The team misses their “Big Papi”.  They were swept by the Angels and dropped from their short stay on top of the AL East.  Good news is that David Ortiz returns on July 24 against the Yankees and has hit three home runs in his Minor League rehab assignment.  Boston brought back Justin Masterson from Triple-A Pawtucket and put pitcher David Aardsma on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 19 with a right groin strain.  The Red Sox also signed first round draft pick Casey Kelly — son of former Major Leaguer Pat Kelly — to a five-year deal worth $600,000 a year.  Kelly joined the Red Sox of the Gulf Coast Rookie League.

NOTES: J.D. Drew was the MVP of the All-Star Game.

RUMORS: Since it looks like it will be a strong return for Ortiz, there’s a good chance the Red Sox will remain idle as the Trade Deadline approaches.  There were rumors of the Red Sox chasing a replacement bat for “Big Papi” but his rehab session has been impressive and it looks like they won’t have to look elsewhere.

NEW YORK YANKEES (54-45, 3rd Place/AL East, 4.5 Games Out)

NEWS: Hideki Matsui is likely out for the year and if he elects surgery that would seal the end of his season.  The Yankees reacted quickly and scooped up recently released Richie Sexson from the Seattle Mariners on Friday.  To clear a spot on the roster, pitcher Billy Traber was sent down to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.  The Yankees also lost catcher Jorge Posada to the disabled list on Monday and an MRI on Tuesday will determine whether he needs season-ending surgery.  Outfielder Johnny Damon returned from the DL on Monday to replace Posada on the roster.

NOTES: Matsui declined surgery despite urging by medical experts for him to elect the season-ending procedure.  Keep an eye out for further developments here.  The Yankees won their fourth straight on Monday and are back in the thick of things in the AL East and Wild Card race.  The team also squashed reports of their interest in Barry Bonds over the weekend.  (Football reporters are required to mention Brett Favre at least once a day and we’re required to mention Bonds… it’s in the rules & regulations.)

RUMORS: The Yankees have scooped up Sidney Ponson and Sexson off the waiver wire and both moves have worked out well for the team.  Whether they have interest in Astros cast-off Shawn Chacon or free agent Freddy Garcia.  With the potential loss of Posada for the season, it will be interesting to see if the Yankees go after one of the many catchers rumored to be on the market. 

BALTIMORE ORIOLES (48-50, 4th Place/AL East, 10 Games Out)

NEWS: The Orioles were busy on Saturday.  They acquired shortstop Juan Castro from the Colorado Rockies for Mike McCoy then recalled Castro from Triple-A and sent down Freddie Bynum to Norfolk.  They also activated Randor Bierd from the 15-day disabled list and placed Greg Aquino on the DL retroactive to July 13.

NOTES: Adam Loewen wants to convert to a position player.  Faced with another surgery that would sideline him for another 18 months, Loewen has informed the team that he will not have another surgery and will attempt a Rick Ankiel-type conversion to further his Major League career.  Loewen’s current contract is complicated and will most likely need to be re-worked to allow Loewen to go to the lower levels of the Minors.  Switching positions has become a theme around the Orioles organization.  Former Major League catcher Ben Davis was released from Norfolk after a 1-for-20 slump and Davis returned to his native Aston — a suburb of Philadelphia — to begin working on furthering his Major League career as a PITCHER!  Davis joined Chester of the Delco League and picked up a win and a save in his first two outings.  At 31, the 6′ 5″, 250 lb. Davis has a long road back but he has already shown surprisingly good control and a fastball in the low 90s.

RUMORS: Are the Orioles buyers or sellers?  No one seems to know.  The team does not feel that Castro is a long-term solution at short and would definitely like to upgrade.  A handful of players on the team have been rumored to be trade bait if the team goes the selling route.  Brian Roberts, Aubrey Huff, Daniel Cabrera, Jay Payton, Kevin Millar, Ramon Hernandez, Jamie Walker, George Sherrill and Chad Bradford have all been rumored to be “on the block” should the Orioles decide to sell.  Eight teams have shown interest Sherrill with the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers at the top of the list.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS (48-51, 5th Place/AL East, 10.5 Games Out)

NEWS: Pitcher Shawn Marcum is scheduled to return on Tuesday although he will be limited to 65-70 pitches in his first outing. 

NOTES: From all indications, A.J. Burnett is not on the trading block if you believe comments made by general manager J.P. Ricciardi.  Ricciardi says he doesn’t see him going anywhere.

RUMORS: Other than Burnett, the Jays are shopping both Rod Barajas and Gregg Zaun and 40-year old Matt Stairs has gained some interest.  Earlier this month, talk heated up that the Orioles were after shortstop David Eckstein but that has died off.

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL

CHICAGO WHITE SOX (55-43, 1st Place/AL Central, Up By 0.5 Games)

NEWS: While we were away, pitcher D.J. Carrasco was sent down on Thursday to make room for the return of pitcher Bobby Jenks from the DL on Saturday but then the team recalled Carrasco on Sunday when pitcher Jose Contreras was placed on the 15-day disabled list and Adam Russell was sent down to Triple-A Charlotte.

NOTES: Outfielder Jermaine Dye was hit by a pitch on Sunday and missed Monday’s game but is expected back in the lineup on Tuesday.  Also, manager Ozzie Guillen decided to get in a war of words with Rangers’ closer C.J. Wilson after he felt Wilson showed up his players during a game before the All-Star break.  Guillen called Wilson a profane term that equated to “bad” and “cocky”. 

RUMORS: There have been little rumors surrounding the White Sox during the “trade season” although the injury to Contreras has had some media members around the team speculating that the Sox might pursue a starting pitcher.  There’s not much out there but their previous ties to soon-to-be available pitcher Freddy Garcia who is supposed to be ready to pitch in August and is mentioned as a possible solution for a number of teams.

MINNESOTA TWINS (55-44, 2nd Place/AL Central, 0.5 Games Out)

NEWS: The Twins are in contention to be the story of 2008.  They traded away Johan Santana to New York, let Torii Hunter go to Los Angeles and are just 1/2 game out of first place in the AL Central.  Over the weekend, they held the top offense in baseball — the Texas Rangers — to just three runs in three games and nearly pulled off a sweep. 

NOTES: Pitcher Francisco Liriano is not happy with being stuck in the Minors and his agent, Greg Grenske, filed a complaint with the Players’ Association last Thursday to look into why he has not been called up.  The move irritated manager Rod Gardenhire who publicly dissed Liriano’s agent who claims the move was made by the Twins to prevent Liriano from becoming eligible for salary arbitration.  At Triple-A Rochester, Liriano is 4-0 with a 0.32 ERA.

RUMORS: Most rumors that mention the Twins have talked about their interest in obtaining a third baseman although pitcher Livan Hernandez has sometimes been mentioned as a player on their team that is available for the right offer.  The name most frequently tied to Twins’ rumors is Seattle’s Adrian Beltre where a fire sale is expected any day.  Also, the team has been linked to Hank Blalock of Texas, Garrett Atkins of Colorado and Casey Blake of Cleveland. 

DETROIT TIGERS (50-49, 3rd Place/AL Central, 5.5 Games Out)

NEWS: Outfielder Clete Thomas was sent down on Wednesday to make room for the return of Magglio Ordonez on Thursday.  Also, catcher Dane Sardinha cleared waivers and was sent down to Triple-A Toledo.

NOTES: The Tigers went over .500 for the fifth time this season with their 19-4 win over the Royals on Monday but have yet to get higher than two games above .500.  However, for a team as many as 12 games under .500 as late as the first week of June, being in contention at this point is an impressive feat.

RUMORS: Reliever Fernando Rodney is available for the right price and the Marlins have inquired about catcher Ivan Rodriguez.  It’s hard to gauge whether the Tigers will be buyers or sellers over the next 10 days but they are one of the few teams that might be both.  They have also been mentioned in the Freddy Garcia sweepstakes. 

KANSAS CITY ROYALS (45-55, 4th Place/AL Central, 11 Games Out)

NEWS: Setup man Leo Nunez was activated from the DL on Monday and reliever Joel Peralta was returned to Triple-A Omaha.  The team also added a sports psychologist to the medical staff.  Andrew Jacobs joined the team’s staff last week and will serve as the psychologist to the players.  Anyone else picturing that scene from The Natural — repeat after me, “Losing is a disease!”

NOTES: The Royals took two out of three from the White Sox this weekend to win their first series at U.S. Cellular Field since September 2003.

RUMORS: Left-handed reliever Ron Mahay is supposedly available and David DeJesus could be had but is apparently carrying a hefty price tag.  The Marlins have catcher Miguel Olivo on their long “short” list of catchers but most around the Royals feel the team will stand pat in the next 10 days.

CLEVELAND INDIANS (44-54, 5th Place/AL Central, 11 Games Out)

NEWS: The Indians recalled infielder Asdrubal Cabrera from Triple-A Buffalo and sent down infielder Jorge Velandia to Buffalo to open a spot on the roster for him.

NOTES: Fausto Carmona — out since May 23 — is scheduled to return on Saturday.  Carmona is 4-2 with a 3.10 ERA in 10 starts this season and was a 19-game winner in 2007. 

RUMORS: With pitcher CC Sabathia gone, the Indians still hold a few puzzle pieces other team would like to acquire.  Tops on the list is Casey Blake who has attracted interest from the Mets, Dodgers and Twins.  Pitcher Paul Byrd is also available but probably not gaining much interest with a 3-10 record and 5.47 ERA.  Some players more likely to move during the offseason than before the trade deadline are Franklin Gutierrez, Ryan Garko and Jhonny Peralta.

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST

LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (60-39, 1st Place/AL West, Up By 8.5 Games)

NEWS: Francisco Rodriguez became the fastest to 40 saves in the history of baseball as the Angels completed a three-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.  Their 60-39 record and .606 winning percentage is the best in baseball. 

NOTES: Gary Matthews Jr. was diagnosed with a small tear of the patellar tendon in his right knee and has opted to skip a stop on the DL and play whenever his knee feels good. 

RUMORS: With Matthews Jr. potentially a part-time player, the Angels might back off of talks of moving outfielder Juan Rivera before the trade deadline.  The Angels have been quiet in the trade rumor mill but that never means anything as the deadline nears.

TEXAS RANGERS (52-48, 2nd Place/AL West, 8.5 Games Out)

NEWS: On Saturday, the Rangers activated third baseman Hank Blalock and called up catcher Taylor Teagarden from Triple-A Oklahoma and sent down pitcher Kameron Loe to Oklahoma and designated pitcher Joselo Diaz for assignment which will make him available via waivers before he can be sent down.  On Sunday, the team activated Vincente Padilla who pitched a gem to salvage one out of three against the Twins and sent down infielder German Duran.  Roster moves continued on Monday with the return of Teagarden to Oklahoma to bring up pitcher Scott Feldman from Double-A Frisco who started Monday’s game.  Also, last week it was announced that starter Kason Gabbard was done for the season.

NOTES: Feldman became the choice for Monday’s game when pitcher Eric Hurley — on the DL since July 8 with a hamstring injury — felt soreness in his throwing arm and his return was pushed back by one start for precautionary reasons.  Minor Leaguer Nelson Cruz hit three homers on Saturday for Oklahoma and is a Triple Crown contender in the Pacific Coast League.  He is third in hitting at .344, second in home runs with 31 and leads the PCL in RBI with 82.  The move to return Teagarden to the Minors puts him on track to join Team USA in China for the Olympics.

RUMORS: Another team that could be buyers or sellers at the deadline and Cruz is their best chance at landing someone productive.  Blalock has often been rumored as a solution for a number of teams at third base including the Twins but nothing concrete.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS (51-48, 3rd Place/AL West, 9 Games Out)

NEWS: During the break, the Athletics sent pitcher Joe Blanton to Philadelphia for two legitimate prospects in pitcher Josh Outman and second baseman Adrian Cardenas and a throw-in outfielder in Matt Spencer.  The second sale of the trade season has many speculating that the Athletics have conceded the division to the Angels.  First baseman Daric Barton injured himself during his off time by diving head first into a shallow pool.  He hit his head on the bottom and required a trip to the hospital which earned Barton six staples and a stiff neck.  (Don’t those shallow pools always have a warning about not doing something like that?)  Barton was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 14 and replaced on the roster by Wes Bankston from Triple-A Sacramento.  The team also sent down infielder Gregorio Petit to Sacramento, called up pitcher Lenny DiNardo and activated shortstop Bobby Crosby from the DL.

NOTES: A number of players voiced concerns over the trade of Blanton to the Phillies including pitcher Justin Duchscherer.  “Sometimes you wonder as a player what the organization is doing, giving up the season or what,” Duchscherer said.  “But I’m going to go out there and do my best to help us win.”

RUMORS: Are the Athletics done?  It’s unlikely the Athletics will make any more moves before the deadline and only closer Huston Street has made it into recent rumors.

SEATTLE MARINERS (38-61, 4th Place/AL West, 22 Games Out)

NEWS: Over the weekend, Seattle recalled first baseman Bryan LaHair from Triple-A Tacoma and activated closer J.J. Putz from the DL.  Pitcher Ryan Rowand Smith and infielder Tug Hulett were returned to Tacoma to round out their post-All-Star break moves.

NOTES: Erik Bedard might be close to being able to throw and most think this latest injury has destroyed his trade value.  They hoped to trade him this year with 2009 being a contract year and typically players have less value in the trade market with only one year remaining on their contract.

RUMORS: Other than Bedard, nearly everyone on Seattle’s roster is available.  The only players considered untouchable are Ichiro, starter Felix Hernandez and reliever Brandon Morrow.  Adrian Beltre is a name that frequently comes up in trade rumors.

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (53-46, Tied-1st Place/NL East)

NEWS: The Phillies grew tired of watching Adam Eaton struggle every fifth day and acquired pitcher Joe Blanton from the Athletics.  Blanton will start against the Mets on Tuesday.  In addition, the team announced the return of Brett Myers to the rotation scheduled for this Thursday against the Mets. 

NOTES: Many have criticized the Phillies for trading away two legitimate prospects for Blanton who is struggling this season. However, the Phillies avoided parting with their more coveted players — pitcher Carlos Corrasco and catcher Lou Marson — and obtained a replacement for Eaton which seemed to be a necessity.  Their options were limited with their unwillingness to part with Carrasco or Marson which might have landed A.J. Burnett from Toronto.  A few local media talking heads have been ripping Jimmy Rollins for not hustling from first base on a bloop double in the seventh inning of Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Marlins.  If Rollins did hustle, the contention is he would have scored easily and the team might have avoided wasting another excellent start by Cole Hamels.  The bigger question — why has Rollins lost his hustle?  This is the second time since an early season injury sidelined the ‘07 MVP that Rollins was spotted not hustling.

RUMORS: Even with the number of runs they’ve scored this season, the Phillies need a more consistent bat.  Some say a deal with the Rockies for outfielder Matt Holliday and setup man Brian Fuentes was close but the asking price was Shane Victorino and three prospects — Carrasco, Marson and pitcher J.A. Happ — and the deal never came to life. 

NEW YORK METS (53-46, Tied-1st Place/NL East)

NEWS: The Mets pushed their winning streak to 10 before finally dropping two in a row to the Reds but won on Sunday to earn a tie for the NL East lead with the Phillies. 

NOTES: Injuries have been tough on the Mets and they show no sign of letting up.  Pedro Martinez was scratched from his start on Tuesday and will not pitch until their series with the Cardinals this weekend.  Also, Orlando Hernandez, Angel Pagan and Ryan Church all suffered setbacks which should extend their stays on the DL.  Finally, the one that has the team holding their breath is the MRI scheduled for Tuesday on closer Billy Wagner’s shoulder who experienced tightness in his shoulder while closing out Sunday’s win.  He doesn’t think it is serious but an examination on Monday concerned the Mets enough to schedule an exam.

RUMORS: The Mets are the media favorites to win the NL East but have a lot of room for improvement.  A corner outfielder is their biggest need and the uncertainty surrounding Martinez’s health and Hernandez’s return could make them a candidate for a starter but there’s not much out there. 

FLORIDA MARLINS (52-47, 3rd Place/NL East, 1 Game Out)

NEWS: Pitcher Andrew Miller went on the 15-day disabled list on Thursday creating a hole in the rotation which will finally be filled this Tuesday when the Marlins recall Rick VandenHurk to take the hill against the Braves.  The two moves saw Jesus Delgado come and go for the team.

NOTES: The Marlins picked up their ninth walk-off win of the season on Sunday against the Phillies but failed to join the Phillies and Mets on top of the East when they lost 4-0 to the Braves on Monday.

RUMORS: Catcher, catcher, catcher.  Whenever the trade deadline is mentioned, the Marlins need behind the plate quickly become a topic of conversation.  The names often mentioned are Detroit’s Ivan Rodriguez, Colorado’s Yorvit Torrealba, Kansas City’s Miguel Olivo and Cincinnati’s David Ross.  The Marlins might be happy enough with John Baker’s production to wait out Matt Treanor’s stay on the DL and hold tight with what they have and could also seek an outfielder before the deadline.

ATLANTA BRAVES (47-52, 4th Place/NL East, 6 Games Out)

NEWS: On Monday, the Braves activated closer Rafael Soriano from the 15-day disabled list but he might have trouble taking the job back from Mike Gonzalez who has been strong in the role.  Soriano replaced reliever Vladimir Nunez who was designated for assignment and must clear waivers for the Braves to retain his services in the Minors.

NOTES: Veteran Tom Glavine might make it back to the team before the end of the season yet as his rehab has progressed well.  On the other hand, Mike Hampton’s comeback was slowed again as he was sidelined by a groin injury last week. 

RUMORS: The Braves don’t feel like they are out of it despite being five games under .500 and trailing three teams in the NL East.  The team has publicly said they are just as happy with draft compensation should they lose Mark Teixeira should they not trade him before the deadline and fail to resign him. 

WASHINGTON NATIONALS (38-61, 5th Place/NL East, 15 Games Out)

NEWS: The Nationals signed their second-round pick Destin Hood last week and assigned him to their Gulf Coast Rookie League affiliate.  They also lost the services of outfielder Wily Mo Pena who opted for surgery on his left shoulder and went on the 15-day disabled list and most likely is done for the year.  With Pena’s trip to the DL, catcher Johnny Estrada returned from his extended stay on the DL.  On Sunday, they lost the services of first baseman Dmitri Young who needed to go on the DL due to complications from his diabetes.  The only good news for the team — outfielder Willy Harris was named National League Player of the Week.

NOTES: Young’s place on the roster is expected to be filled by third baseman Ryan Zimmerman who could return on Tuesday.  The Nationals are also trying to extend the contract of Cristian Guzman, their lone representative at this year’s All-Star Game.

RUMORS: The team expected to shop Pena and Young but injuries have ruined those plans.  Teams have shown interest in Jon Rauch and Guzman and some around the league think Tim Redding could be had although no specific rumors have been tied to his name.  The Nationals would most likely be willing to part with a catcher but both Estrada and Paul Lo Duca are damaged goods this season.

NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL

CHICAGO CUBS (58-41, 1st Place/NL Central, Up By 2 Games)

NEWS: Pitcher Jon Lieber went on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday retroactive to July 11 and infielder Micah Hoffpauir was recalled from Triple-A Iowa to take his roster spot.

NOTES: Alfonso Soriano is scheduled to return from the DL on Thursday and closer Kerry Wood’s blister might need a stay on the 15-day disabled list to heal although the latest treatment he received might heal the blister in time for him to return on Wednesday.  Wrigley Field will host an NHL game between the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings on January 1.

RUMORS: The Cubs already made one big trade when they acquired Rich Harden but not much else has been rumored out of Chicago.  Their latest struggles to score runs and the Brewers and Cardinals gaining ground might see the Cubs push the panic button and make a move before the deadline though.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS (56-43, 2nd Place/NL Central, 2 Games out)

NEWS: The Brewers made another trade over the weekend when they acquired second baseman Ray Durham from the Giants for two Minor Leaguers — pitcher Steve Hammond and outfielder Darren Ford.  The move was to provide depth and the 36-year old’s .293 average and .385 on-base percentage is higher than any player on the Brewers.  Struggling second baseman Rickie Weeks will continue to start and lead-off but Durham will more than likely cut into his playing time.  To clear room on the 25-man roster, the Brewers sent down Joe Dillon to Triple-A Nashville.

NOTES: CC Sabathia is 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA in three starts since joining the Brewers.  Remember when Ned Yost was rumored to be the first manager fired this season?

RUMORS: Are the Brewers done dealing?  At this point, it looks like Milwaukee will stop at nothing to put themselves in the best position possible to contend for the NL Central and the Wild Card. 

SAINT LOUIS CARDINALS (57-44, 3rd Place/NL Central, 2 Games Out)

NEWS: Over the weekend, the Cardinals activated pitcher Randy Flores from the DL and recalled Kelvin Jimenez from Triple-A Memphis and sent down outfielder Joe Mather and pitcher Chris Perez to make room.  On Monday, the team recalled pitcher Mitchell Boggs and sent down Jaime Garcia to Memphis after he made his first Major League start on Sunday.

NOTES: Pitcher Chris Carpenter made a rehab start on Sunday — his first since Tommy John surgery on July 24, 2007 — and the Cardinals hope he will be able to return to the Major League rotation faster than the 30 days allotted for a rehab assignment.  Carpenter told the media he felt good on Monday following the start.

RUMORS: The Cardinals are the one team in the thick of the NL Central race not to make a move yet.  Many thought the team would go after a starting pitcher but nothing has come to light as of yet.

CINCINNATI REDS (48-53, 4th Place/NL Central, 11 Games Out)

NEWS: On Thursday, utilityman Jerry Hairston Jr. went on the 15-day disabled list while infielder Jolbert Cabrera returned.  They also activated pitcher Bobby Livingston from the 60-day disabled list and sent him to Double-A Chattanooga.  On Saturday, the team recalled pitcher Todd Coffey from Triple-A Louisville to replace pitcher Jared Burton who joined Hairston on the 15-day disabled list.

NOTES: The Reads announced outfielder Ryan Freel — out since June 3 — was scheduled to have surgery on his knee tendon and might be done for the year.  The surgery is scheduled for Wednesday and recovery time will be determined after surgery is completed.

RUMORS: With Freel out, a number of Reds’ players remain in the mix as possible trade bait.  Bronson Arroyo, Adam Dunn, David Ross and Ken Griffey Jr.’s name frequently come up but most of the names seem to be more of a media creation than anything especially in the case of Griffey.  The Reds have 13 potential free agents including Dunn, Griffey Jr. and Ross.  Also on that list, outfielder Corey Patterson, Hairston, Cabrera, catchers Paul Bako and Javier Valentin, pitchers Josh Fogg, David Weathers, Mike Lincoln, Jeremy Affeldt and Kent Mercker.

HOUSTON ASTROS (46-53, 5th Place/NL Central, 12 Games Out)

NEWS: On Saturday, the Astros placed pitcher Roy Oswalt on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 12 and recalled pitcher Runelvys Hernandez on Sunday to start Monday’s game against the Pirates.  On Monday, they activated catcher Humberto Quintero from the DL and sent down catcher J.R. Towles to Round Rock.

NOTES: The Astros are expected to recall pitcher Jack Cassel from Triple-A Round Rock to start Tuesday’s game against the Pirates and designated pitcher Dave Borkowski for assignment to make room for him.

RUMORS: GM Ed Wade still thinks they are still in the race for at least the Wild Card (OK, OK, he has to say that) and thinks they might be buyers as the deadline approaches.  Although Wade hedged his bets by saying he will attempt to improve the team either in the short-term or long-term which reading between the lines says they could be sellers at the deadline.  There has been a lot of interest in Oswalt but it looked like he was unavailable and now he’s hurt.  Lance Berkman is also untouchable. 

PITTSBURGH PIRATES (45-54, 6th Place/NL Central, 13 Games)

NEWS: The Pirates recalled pitcher Marino Salas from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday and then sent him down on Monday to make room for pitcher John Van Benschoten to come back from Indianapolis and start on Monday.  Despite the collective groan from the Pirates’ faithful (you guys deserve a medal!), Van Benschoten had one of the best outings of his career with the Pirates — he gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits and four walks in five innings — and earned a no decision as the Pirates came back and won with a seven run ninth inning to beat the Astros 9-3.

NOTES: Here’s a little ray of hope for those who root for the Pirates.  Prospect Tony Watson threw seven hitless innings for Class A Lynchburg on Saturday.  It was the longest outing of his career for their 2007 ninth round Draft pick.

RUMORS: Teams want outfielders Xavier Nady and Jason Bay but apparently the price tag the Pirates have put on them is too high.  Many have speculated that reliever Damaso Marte could also move and the Jack Wilson to the Dodgers rumor continues to float around. 

NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST

LOS ANGELES DODGERS (49-50, Tied-1st Place/NL West)

NEWS: The big news for the Dodgers other than climbing into a tie with the D-Backs for first place was the loss of closer Takashi Saito for at least six weeks.  Pitcher Jason Johnson was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas to take Saito’s roster spot.  Also, the team announced that pitcher Clayton Kershaw would be recalled today to start against the Rockies bumping Johnson from his first start since 2006 but Johnson will remain with the team in the bullpen and someone else will be announced today to clear a spot for Kershaw on the roster.

NOTES: Jonathan Broxton was used as a closer over the weekend and impressed but manager Joe Torre has not ruled out using Chan Ho Park in the closer role also.

RUMORS: Torre told reporters on Monday that he expects the team to make a move to add at least one player before the July 31 deadline.  The team wants a shortstop or third baseman.  On the possibles list are Cleveland’s Casey Blake and Seattle’s Adrian Beltre.  The team also has shown interest in shortstop Jack Wilson of the Pirates and outfielder Matt Stairs of the Dodgers.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (49-50, Tied-1st Place/NL West)

NEWS: The D-Backs had a busy week.  On Wednesday, they signed first-round pick Dan Schlereth which included a $1.33 million signing bonus.  On Thursday, the team reacquired first baseman Tony Clark from the Padres in exchange for Class A pitcher Evan Scribner.  On Friday, the team placed outfielder Justin Upton on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 9 to make room for Clark.  On Saturday, reliever Doug Slaten went on the DL and was replaced by pitcher Billy Buckner from Triple-A Tucson.  On Sunday, they fell into a tie with the Dodgers at the top of the NL West and then shut out the Cubs to keep pace with the Dodgers on Monday.

NOTES: Randy Johnson picked up career win #291 with a seven inning, two hit outing against the Cubs on Monday.  He is 13-0 in 14 career starts against the Cubs and first player to ever win his first 13 decisions against the Cubs.

RUMORS: The trade for Tony Clark might be all the activity we see from Arizona.  Other than Clark, the team’s name was briefly tied to Seattle’s Raul Ibanez but Seattle’s asking price was too high.

COLORADO ROCKIES (43-58, 3rd Place/NL West, 7 Games Out)

NEWS: The Rox recalled infielder Ian Stewart and pitcher Juan Merillo from Triple-A Colorado Springs and designated infielder Jayson Nix and pitcher Mark Redman for assignment.  With both players exposed to the waiver wire, it is possible that either player could be traded or scooped up by another team before becoming eligible to return to the Minors.  Nix is likely to join Team USA to play in the Olympics in Beijing.  On Monday, shortstop Troy Tulowitski and pitcher Kip Wells returned from the DL and first baseman Joe Koshansky and pitcher Juan Morillo were sent down to Colorado Springs.

NOTES: Tulowitski and Wells had polar opposite returns from injury on Monday.  Tulowitski went 5-for-5 with a double, a run scored and an RBI and Wells started and lasted just 1/3 of an inning and picked up the loss.  In the 16-10 loss to the Dodgers, Wells gave up eight runs (seven earned) on seven hits and a walk and threw 40 pitches in his first start since going on the DL on April 29.

RUMORS: Buyers or sellers?  That’s the #1 question surrounding this team.  The Rockies are familiar with coming from behind and are reluctant to give up on the season after what they accomplished last season but a number of players are considered to be “on the trading block.”  The list of players include outfielders Matt Holliday and Willy Taveras, catcher Yorvit Torrealba, third baseman Garrett Atkins, infielder Clint Barmes and setup man/closer Brian Fuentes.  On the flip side, at just seven games out, the Rockies could decide to be buyers and make a run at the NL West title.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (40-58, 4th Place/NL West, 8.5 Games Out)

NEWS: The Giants acquired two Minor Leaguers — pitcher Steve Hammond and outfielder Darren Ford — from the Brewers for second baseman Ray Durham and placed pitcher Keiichi Yabu on the 15-day disabled list on Sunday.  To replace Yabu, the team called up pitcher Geno Espineli from Triple-A Fresno.

NOTES: On September 6, the Giants will dedicate a bronze statue in honor of Orlando Cepeda joining Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and Juan Marichal who also have life-size statues of themselves at the stadium.

RUMORS: The Giants will continue to entertain offers and the team is most likely to be willing to part with outfielder Randy Winn, third baseman/first baseman Rich Aurillia and any reliever with the exception of closer Brian Wilson.

SAN DIEGO PADRES (38-62, 5th Place/NL West, 11.5 Games Out)

NEWS: The Padres sent Tony Clark back to Arizona in exchange for Minor League pitcher Evan Scribner and recalled pitcher Clay Hensley to replace Clark on the 25-man roster. 

NOTES: How much has Greg Maddux’s value dropped since winning his 350th career game?  Since he won #350 on May 10, Maddux is 0-5 in 13 starts with a 4.62 ERA in one of many disappointments for a team some thought would be in contention in the NL West.

RUMORS: Two of the pitchers often rumored as available are in San Diego — lefty Randy Wolf and righty Maddux.  The latest rumor is that there has been slow progress made in moving either Wolf or Maddux.  Maddux has a no-trade clause, lives in Las Vegas and likes playing in San Diego but GM Kevin Towers did discuss teams that have shown interest in Maddux with the veteran. 

 There you have it… now, you are caught up!

- J.J. Hardy went 4-for-6, Rickie Weeks reached base 3 times and belted a 3-run homer, and Bill Hall hit a solo home run to lead a 3-run 10th inning rally as the Brewers knocked off the Cardinals, 6-3.
- Adam Jones and Ramon Hernandez each had 2 hits, a home run, and 2 RBI, and the Baltimore bullpen was superb for 3 1/3 innings as the Orioles quieted the Blue Jays, 8-3.
- Scott Kazmir pitched 2-hit ball while striking out 9 over 7 scoreless innings, and Evan Longoria hit his 19th home run of the season and drove in 2 runs as the Rays blanked the A’s, 4-0. Oakland has lost 4 in a row since the All-Star break and will almost certainly continue to be sellers as we approach the trade deadline.
- Xavier Nady and Nate McLouth had 3 hits apiece, and Jason Bay, Freddy Sanchez, and Adam LaRoche each hit 9th inning home runs as the Pirates exploded for 7 runs in the final frame to shock the Astros, 9-3. Jose Valverde was lit up by Pittsburgh, giving up 6 runs on 5 hits, one walk and 2 home runs in just 1/3 of an inning. Ed Wade can’t possibly be serious about trying to compete against the Cubs and Cardinals this year.
- Josh Hamilton hit his first home run since the All-Star break, and Hank Blalock hit his first home run in over 3 months as the Rangers offense showed some life in defeating the White Sox, 6-1. Scott Feldman gave up just one over 6 innings for Texas.
- Rich Harden allowed just a solo home run the entire evening, but that’s all the Diamondbacks would need to go on and edge the Cubs, 2-0. Alex Romero hit his first career homer for Arizona while Randy Johnson allowed just 2 hits through 7 shutout innings. Harden finished the evening with 10 strikeouts over 7 innings of work.
- Jon Lester threw 7 1/3 shutout innings, Manny Ramirez had 3 hits, and Jed Lowrie and Jason Varitek had 2 hits and 2 RBI apiece as the Red Sox shut out the hapless Mariners, 4-0.
- Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano each collected 2 hits, a home run, and 2 RBI, and Alex Rodriguez tacked on his 21st homer of the year and drove in 3 more runs as the Yankees turned out the lights on Nick Blackburn and the Twins, 12-4. Denard Span singled, doubled, and tripled, and Alexi Casilla contributed 3 hits and 2 RBI for Minnesota.
- Atlanta was finally the recipient of a well pitched game by one of its starting pitchers. Jorge Campillo tossed 7 scoreless innings of 2-hit ball, and Mark Teixeira and Mark Kotsay led the offense with 2 hits and an RBI apiece to lead the Braves to a 4-0 win over the Marlins.
- Scott Hairston was on base 4 times, homered, and scored twice, Edgar Gonzalez went 3-for-4, and Kevin Kouzmanoff drove in 3 runs, including the game winner in the top of the 9th, as the Padres rallied to beat the Reds, 6-4. Cincinnati’s Ken Griffey Jr. hit home run #606 for his career.
- Miguel Cabrera went 5-for-6 with 2 doubles and 6 RBI, and Matt Joyce had 4 hits, tripled, homered, and knocked in 5 to lead a 19-hit, 9-walk attack by Detroit as the Tigers demolished the Royals, 19-4. The only Kansas City pitcher that took part in the game but did not allow a run was a shortstop! That’s right, Tony Pena Jr. pitched a perfect 9th inning and even struck out a batter!
- The Dodgers stormed out of the gate, scoring 11 times over the first 3 frames, and receiving 3 hits and 5 RBI from James Loney, 3 hits, 2 doubles, 3 runs, and 2 RBI from Jeff Kent, and 3 more hits and runs from Russell Martin on the way to a 16-10 win over the Rockies at Coors Field. Troy Tulowitzki returned to the lineup for Colorado and promptly went 5-for-5 on the evening. Matt Holliday singled, doubled, homered, drove in 3 runs, and scored twice in another impressive performance.
- Paul Byrd yielded just one run over 5 1/3 innings, and Andy Marte, Casey Blake, and Jhonny Peralta all went deep for Cleveland as the Indians solved Ervin Santana and the Angels, 5-2. Howie Kendrick collected 3 hits and hit a solo home run.

Monday’s Scoreboard