According to the report, the Red Sox would have to unload Mark Kotsay to make any deal and the team doesn't want to do that.

There's no shortage of options, including Nick Johnson, Chad Tracy, Garrett Atkins, and Victor Martinez. Don't expect anything for the next three weeks

"A big transition period? I don't think that," Rizzo said. "We'll make deals based on good baseballs decision. 'Firesale' means you want to dump people. We don't want to dump people."

Among those on Washington's 40-man roster, only two players — third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and catcher Jesus Flores — have the entrenched status where you can assume they'll be starting in 2011. Adam Dunn's two-year, $20 million contract expires at the end of 2010. Cristian Guzman's two-year, $16 million expires at the same time. Nick Johnson, currently earning $5.5 million, will be a free agent at year's end. Another veteran in the group drawing trade interest, corner outfielder Josh Willingham, is under club control (and arbitration eligible) for two more years, according to the Post.

"Why would you want to dump Willingham? We control him for two years, he's [30] years old, and he's a good hitter," Rizzo said. "I still think it's a young team. Willingham and Zim, those are guys in their primes or entering their primes. Including Dunn."

Asked specifically is Johnson was most likely to be dealt, Rizzo said, "Nick is probably the one with the most trade rumors, but we're not looking to move him. We'll only move him if we have the right opportunity. I don't want to put names as to who's most likely [to be traded], because we don't really know." Rizzo chuckled. "You know, I didn't know [Lastings] Milledge was the most likely."

The Pirates and San Francisco have had trade talks regarding second baseman Freddy Sanchez and, to a lesser extent, first baseman Adam LaRoche, each of whom can be a free agent after this season, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

According to the report, the Giants have had a scout following Sanchez, a source confirmed Saturday, and their interest in LaRoche goes back several months. Their preference at first base, though, is for a right-handed bat.

Sanchez has a vesting option in his contract that allows him to trigger an $8.5 million option if he achieves 635 plate appearances or 600 plate appearances plus an All-Star berth. The latter will be known Sunday when selections are made.

LaRoche is the Pirates' second-highest paid player at $7.05 million, and there is some skepticism within the team that he can be moved with about half of that amount still due.

Other players the Pirates are known to have discussed with other teams are shortstop Jack Wilson, reliever John Grabow and, only in an exploratory sense, closer Matt Capps. The latter apparently would be moved only at a high price, according to the Post-Gazette.

According to the New York Post, Perez gave up three runs on five hits (including a home run) and four walks in five-plus innings against Rochester, showing his typical lack of control along the way. He had four strikeouts, but he threw just half of his 92 pitches for strikes.

The Mets still might bring Perez off the disabled list to replace the ineffective Tim Redding in the rotation, but that decision appeared to be up in the air after Saturday night's uneven showing, according to the Post.

"I've got to take in . . . all that took place, and velocity and those types of things," Jerry Manuel said.

"Just because of the process it takes, I don't expect to see anything happen during the course of the season," Ryan said.

Rangers owner Tom Hicks is trying to sell the club, and Yahoo reported this week that Major League Baseball has loaned him several million dollars.

According to the Morning News, the signing of two international free agents Thursday was a sign that the team is forging ahead despite financial concerns. A baseball source said Thursday that the Rangers spent at least $2.5 million to sign the prospects. General manager Jon Daniels said Friday he could not confirm the signings until the players pass physicals.

"It has not affected us, with the exception that we let two baseball office employees go, which is always not a pleasant deal," Daniels said of the team's finances. "Outside of that, it has not changed how we do business, it did not affect how we approached the draft and it did not affect how we approach international free agency. I think it'll be the same thing for the trade deadline. ... If something comes up to improve the club and requires additional money, we'll present it to Tom and make a case for it."

According to the Inquirer, the Phillies leftfielder was scheduled to appear in a rehabilitation game with double-A Reading on Wednesday, and then on Thursday, but he was held out of action. The Phils have said they want him to play a few minor-league games before activating him.

Ibanez took batting practice and fielded fly balls last night at Citizens Bank Park before the Phillies won their series opener against the New York Mets. There was a simple reason he didn't begin the rehab assignment, according to the Inquirer.

"He still feels something in there," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said before the game. "What that something is, I can't be too specific because I can't tell you what it is. But as long as he is feeling something in there and he doesn't feel comfortable and our medical people don't feel comfortable having him go out to play, there is no reason to risk it."

Minaya said he has been given permission by management to add to the club's NL-high $143 million budget. That would make the Mets an attractive trading partner to the numerous teams experiencing economic stress this summer.

But Minaya said the Mets' expectation that Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado will return by early August is limiting their interest in a big trade.

"It's fair to say that, if we're looking for reinforcements right now, some of our DL guys are probably going to be the reinforcements," Minaya said. "If we can get all our guys back healthy, our healthy guys, its going to be hard to make trades that are going to be better than Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado."

Corner infielder Chad Tracy who has just come off the DL with an oblique strain is a chip the Diamondbacks would like to move. While Tracy spent most of his career as a third baseman (330 games) he's become more of a first baseman. His offensive production has declined since a productive early career, according to the Globe.

The 6-2, 200-pound left-handed hitter does hit the ball the opposite way which could be a factor at Fenway. The Sox have Mike Lowell on the disabled list with his balky hip, but Lowell is already feeling better and should be able to go after the All-Star break, according to the Globe.

The Red Sox really don't have a lot of obvious roster space to add another hitter with Rocco Baldelli and Mark Kotsay already occupying key bench spots. Julio Lugo has been hitting and he may be increasing his trade value.

According to the Times, he fires a fastball that exceeds 100 miles per hour and is widely considered the premier pitching prospect in Cuba. His age was reported Thursday as 21, but reports in March at the World Baseball Classic said he was 26.

Bart Hernandez, an agent who is hoping to represent Chapman, said Chapman threw 100 and 101 m.p.h. "If he polishes up his changeup and tightens up his slider, he can be a young Randy Johnson," Hernandez said.

Chapman had a 5.68 earned run average over six and a third innings while pitching for Cuba in the World Baseball Classic in March. He was in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, with the Cubans for a tournament but left the team's hoteland defected. Chapman's defection was first reported by cubaencuentro.com, according to the Times.

"The question is whether Paul Byrd is going to be any better than any of the guys that we have — Rodrigo Lopez, or Carrasco, or Carpenter or Kendrick," Amaro said. "Why would he be any better than those guys? We've brought up the name, we've talked about it. We've talked about almost every guy that might be available, whether it is free agency or what."

Although the Phillies will call up 33-year-old veteran Rodrigo Lopez to start Friday night against the Mets, there is still a chance that you will see top pitching prospect Carlos Carrasco or fellow prospect Andrew Carpenter before the end of the season, the Daily News reported.

It is unclear who the Rockies will receive in return for Baker or the Cubs' plans for him.

Baker, an infielder, went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 27 and was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 24. He began a minor league rehab assignment June 19.

According to Foxsports.com, the D-backs do not intend to trade Haren, who leads the National League in ERA.

"I almost can't conceive of a package that would motivate us to move him," one Diamondbacks official said.

According to Foxsports.com, The D-backs, viewing Haren as a critical part of their future, declined to engage in serious discussions with the Angels, who could have used their surplus of catchers and middle infielders to put together a blockbuster offer. The report indicated the talks could accelerate if the Angels overwhelmed the Diamondbacks with the right combination of players, one source said. But such a deal, for now, appears to be a longshot.

The Angels' motivation in pursuing Haren is obvious — to add him to a rotation that already includes Lackey, right-hander Jered Weaver and left-hander Joe Saunders and is awaiting the return of righty Ervin Santana.

According to the New York Post, Ricco said the Mets thought the asking price for DeRosa — right-hander Bobby Parnell — was too high.

Ricco said he and general manager Omar Minaya have been working the phones looking for a deal.

"We have plenty of holes to fill, and Omar is making a lot of calls," Ricco said. "I'm making calls. From that standpoint, we couldn't be any more aggressive."

Cashman told the New York Times: "He knows his role. He can help us at third, first, left, right, D.H. He can pinch-hit, and that's a difficult thing, to be used to doing something like that and handling it. And he's a pro. He's been through the trenches in the American League East."

In a broader sense, Hinske is taking the place of outfielder Xavier Nady, who was on track to return this week before reinjuring his elbow last Thursday and ending his season. The Yankees had already been counting on having a more experienced bat on the bench, and in Hinske, they get the bonus of a player who can still play third base, the Times reported.

Backe, 31, missed two months with an oblique injury and then didn't pitch well in four relief appearances and one start for Houston, allowing 21 hits, 15 earned runs and five home runs in 13 innings. He's due $1.55 million this season, but his new club would only be responsible for a prorated portion of the $400,000 Major League minimum.

"You have to at least take a look," Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash said.

In that start, Santana gave up three hits, struck out seven and walked none in 3¹⁄³ innings of an Arizona Summer League game in Phoenix.

Santana, on the disabled list because of an inflamed triceps, will throw in the bullpen Wednesday, and if he comes out of that workout OK, Manager Mike Scioscia said Santana will be folded back into the rotation this weekend against Baltimore.

According to the New York Daily News, Gossage believes Rivera is the greatest closer in Yankees' history — and baseball history, for that matter — but that's not to say the Hall of Famer doesn't consider himself to be in the same class as the newest member of the 500 club.

Gossage points out how different it is to be a closer today, saying pitchers such as Rivera and Trevor Hoffman have it easy compared to the load that he was asked to carry during the prime years of his career.

"He might be the greatest closer of all-time, but we weren't closers," Gossage said Monday. "That word hadn't been coined yet. We were relief pitchers; we did a job it now takes three guys to do. I don't know who the greatest relief pitcher is because we did different jobs."

Washington Nationals' Nick Johnson and Adam Dunn, and Aubrey Huff of the Baltimore Orioles have been linked most often to the Mets after Mark DeRosa's weekend trade to the Cardinals.

According to the Post, the serious aspect of for Beltran is that if microfracture surgery is necessary it would sideline him for the end of the season and potentially jeopardize his career. Beltran, 32, already has had arthroscopic surgery on both knees, doing so after the 2007 season.

Steadman, who runs the clinic where Alex Rodriguez's hip surgery was performed this year, devised microfracture surgery in the 1990s to mimic missing cartilage in the patient's knee. The surgery, which involves drilling small holes so that blood and marrow clot to form a cartilage-like buffer between bones, has been done on numerous pro athletes.

Beltran was steered to Steadman for a second opinion by his agent, Scott Boras, with no backlash from the Mets after the initial diagnosis by Dr. David Altchek of the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan.

According to the report, Pittsburgh GM Neal Huntington apparently wants Nationals acting GM Mike Rizzo to add a second player before he would consider making the trade.

Morgan offers great speed and defense. Milledge offers potentially outstanding power, something the Pirates has in short supply both the major leagues and minors, and good speed. Morgan turns 29 on Thursday. Though he has improved greatly since first coming to the major leagues late in the 2007 season, he is almost assuredly at his peak now.

Milledge, meanwhile, is 24 and seemingly has quite a bit of upside despite spending part of the last four seasons in the major leagues.

"A deal would send the message they want to win and will do what it takes to help us," one veteran player said. "I'm not saying to make a deal for the sake of making a deal, but something that can make a difference every day like a hitter. The other teams in our division have been losing lately so we're missing an opportunity. Yes, we've been shut down by good pitching. But playoff teams should be beating the better pitchers a lot of the time."

According to the Daily News, Minaya has said that the asking price for reinforcements has been too high, possibly because so few teams are completely out of contention. But on Saturday night the Cardinals — a team that might battle the Mets for a wild card - made a trade with the Indians for Mark DeRosa. DeRosa was batting .270 with 13 home runs and 50 RBI. No Met player has more than nine home runs or 40 RBI. Before last night's game, manager Jerry Manuel smiled and then said, "It was a good move for the Cardinals."

The Mets dropped to 37-37 last night and the .500 mark is a key benchmark, according to Manuel. The manager says real concern will begin if the Mets fall below that level, and it would be time to shake things up.

"There is no doubt that if a caliber of player was added to the team, that it changes the morale of the team," he said. "When we added Gary Sheffield, despite what we already had, to add him boosted the morale of the team. If you added a quality of player to walk through that clubhouse to say 'I'm here to help out,' there's no question it would boost the morale."

"

According to the New York Daily News the performance helped to further solidify Wang's place in the rotation, as it was his third straight start going at least five innings after not doing so previously all season. Phil Hughes has been cooling his heels in the bullpen, and pitched 1¹⁄³ scoreless innings Sunday night. But Wang's continued improvement will keep Hughes in a relief role for the foreseeable future.

"I haven't said to him, 'You need to show me something' for a long time now," Girardi said when asked whether his confidence in Wang is solid.

But Griffey said, "I haven't made any decision" about retiring "and won't until the off-season, until we have time to decide what we want to do."

Griffey mainly has been Seattle's designated hitter, but played left field in the Dodgers series.

Griffey said he also has tried to be a teacher for the Mariners, "a guy the younger kids can talk to" about opposing pitchers, playing defense in different ballparks and overall strategy.

"They ask me questions, and I give them an honest answer," he said.

According to the Globe, the Sox have negotiated contracts during the season with other players, most notably Josh Beckett and David Ortiz. The All-Star break typically provides a good opportunity for such talks, especially because the trading deadline and pennant races become a priority in the second half.

The American League leader in RBIs, Bay seems to be dealing from a position of strength, given the absence of a suitable replacement. The Red Sox are believed to have used Adam Dunn's two-year, $20 million contract with Washington as a starting point with Bay during spring discussions that went nowhere.

Bay, 30, currently is earning a base salary of $7.5 million. He could command double that on the open market in a three- or four-year deal, according to the Globe.

Reluctant to commit a multi-player package to the Colorado Rockies for Holliday last November, the Cardinals are now open to sending a similar package to Oakland for the 2007 National League batting champion. Such a package would probably include right fielder Ryan Ludwick and either reliever Jason Motte, Chris Perez or Kyle McClellan, plus a prospect.

According to the Post-Dispatch, Holliday, 29, is a pending free agent who especially intrigued manager Tony La Russa as protection for his increasingly exposed first baseman, Albert Pujols.

Ludwick, Ankiel and Chris Duncan have groped for consistency much of this season, with Ludwick and Duncan serving as La Russa's most frequent cleanup hitters.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak refused to confirm a deal being in place, citing baseball's prohibition against officially signing players out of the Caribbean until July 2. But sources insist the Cardinals have swayed the 6-foot-1 player with an offer worth about $3.1 million. ESPN Deportes also reported a deal being in place Friday afternoon.

Mozeliak returned last week from a trip to the Dominican to attend a workout the Cardinals hosted for Mateo. Accompanied by Cardinals director of international operations Moises Rodriguez, Mozeliak also met with the power-hitting outfielder's family and discussed financial parameters.

According to the Post-Dispatch, signing Mateo would represent a coup for an organization considered a non-factor within the Dominican Republic as recently as 2004. The Cardinals opened an academy in La Victoria north of Santo Domingo in 2005 and have also raised their visibility in Venezuela. "We've increased our presence there the last few years. I would characterize our ability to see and get involved for top talent as much improved. We can compete," Mozeliak said. "That doesn't mean we're going to sign a specific player, but we're very involved, and that's good."

According to the report, the Nationals are seeking an improvement in their outfield defense, as they have apparently concluded that Adam Dunn and Josh Willingham profile more as designated hitters and Elijah Dukes still makes too many mental errors. Schafer was sent down earlier this season to make room for Nate McLouth, but it isn't clear if the Braves would be willing to move him.

It seems like the Nats are looking for a young, cost-controlled and speedy outfielder as well as a defensively adept one.

"We didn't sign him to trade him,'' Red Sox manager Terry Francona said yesterday of Penny, who will take the mound this afternoon when the Red Sox and Braves conclude a three-game series at Turner Field. "We signed him to win. He's worked hard. I only think it's going to continue to get better.''

The Boston Globe wrote: Penny has been far more valuable to the Red Sox than people might think. And though the Red Sox almost certainly will have needs when the July 31 trading deadline approaches, Penny has more value to them in a Boston uniform than he does in anyone else's.

According to the Globe, since his sloppy first start, Penny has made 12 starts and posted a 4.12 ERA, a number that ranked 27th among qualifying American League pitchers during that span, entering yesterday. On average, that means there have been fewer than two pitchers per team who have pitched more effectively than Penny, a group that excludes every Red Sox starter except Beckett (3.48 ERA).

Ramiro Pena replaced Jeter again Saturday night when the Bombers beat the Mets, 5-0, at Citi Field. Melky Cabrera was in left field for Damon. The batting order had Brett Gardner and Nick Swisher in the first two slots.

"Jeet's still sick," Joe Girardi said beforehand. "I know he really wants to play (Saturday night) and he's not happy about being out of the lineup. It was recommended, when I talked to the (doctor), that we give him another day. He was really, really sick (Friday) night."

More casualties could be coming. Mark Teixeira and Phil Hughes both confessed to feeling less than 100%.

Girardi estimated that nine players, coaches and support staff have been hit so far.

The Globe reported that Lowell is likely to have an injection of Synvisc, a lubricant that is supposed to ease pain. Lowell might get the injection Monday in Boston. It would result in him being out about 24 hours post-injection.

As for Lowell sitting all three games in Atlanta, manager Terry Francona said, "I really don't know, we'll see.''

"We had talked about [the injection] briefly before, doing it on the offday,'' Lowell said. "But I think it was just so tight that it might be better to bump that up and see what happens.''

Lowell was waiting on word from Dr. Thomas Gill for a definitive course of action. The Sox have used Synvisc before, notably for the knees of Keith Foulke and David Wells, according to the Globe.

According to the Times, Arrendondo's injury appears similar to one suffered by Ervin Santana, who missed the first six weeks of the season because of a sprained elbow ligament. Arredondo will be treated with anti-inflammatory medication and is expected to be sidelined for at least a month.

"We know how much we were anticipating what he can bring to the bullpen, and we were hoping he could be a force for us in the second half," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "But it doesn't look like that's going to be the case."

Acording to the Chicago Tribune, Piniella ordered Bradley to take off his uniform. Bradley subsequently left the ballpark.

The Tribune reported that Piniella promised to detail his reasoning more Saturday, saying in the immediate aftermath only that he "had had enough" of the petulance. It was unclear if he was referring strictly to Bradley or the entirety of Team Dysfunction, according to the Tribune.

Bradley's dugout meltdown paled next to Carlos Zambrano firing the game ball to the warning track after a (correct) call at home plate May 27 and wouldn't seem worse than Ted Lilly jumping a railing to confront an umpire or Ryan Dempster beating up a cooler, according to the Tribune.

The Tribune reported that Bradley is upset about his poor production (.237, 5 homers, 16 RBIs), which has contributed to the 35-35 start. That's why he was steamed when Jose Contreras got him out for the third time. The Cubs aren't going to release him. They can't trade him. They have to fix him.

Maine felt what he called "achiness" during a 40-pitch bullpen session on Wednesday. Playing catch Thursday, he couldn't make it through 10 throws without pain and he was sent to team medical director Dr. David Altchek. Maine received a cortisone injection, his second for this condition, the Daily News reported.

The righthander said he was told the pain is resulting from a pinched nerve and subsequent inflammation. He doesn't believe this is related to the Sept. 30 shoulder surgery he had to remove a lesion from the back of his shoulder socket.

When asked for a realistic estimate of when he could pitch again for the Mets, he replied, "Probably after the All-Star break, I hope.''

It was the first time the Red Sox's left-handed slugger has batted fourth since May 13, 2005, according to MLB.com. The move to fourth was simply a product of manager Terry Francona giving first baseman Kevin Youkilis the night off. Jason Bay, who has been Boston's main cleanup hitter of late, occupied the three-hole in place of Youkilis.

With the Red Sox playing under National League rules for six straight games this week, Francona has had to rotate Youkilis, Ortiz and Mike Lowell into two spots in the order. Ortiz got Tuesday off, followed by Lowell Wednesday and Youkilis for the finale of the three-game set against the Nationals.

However, Francona's ease in putting Ortiz in the cleanup spot — even if it was just for a night — demonstrates how dramatically the slugger has emerged from his epic slump over the first two months of the season, according to MLB.com.

"It's great," said Francona. "I'm thrilled. The other thing is he's willing. How many guys have you seen who have done what David has who will just hit where you ask him to. I appreciate that. It makes it easier on us."

According to the Daily News, Nady made throws in the first and third inning, but he lifted himself before the team took the field in the fifth. General manager Brian Cashman spoke with Scranton manager Dave Miley to get the details, but Cashman hadn't spoken with Nady as the Yankees prepared to leave Atlanta.

"It's the thing you're trying to avoid," Cashman said. "It could be the worst-case scenario, but I haven't talked to X yet. We'll wait and see tomorrow, but obviously it's not a good sign."

Nady, who likely will go for tests on his elbow Friday, pulled himself from the Yankees' game on April 14 at Tropicana Field in a similar situation, having experienced pain in his elbow after making a throw. It was initially believed he would need Tommy John surgery — which he also had in 2001 — to repair the ligament, but the Yankees decided to try a rehab process instead.

Last Sunday, a day after Bruney called K-Rod's animated celebrations "a tired act" and "embarrassing," Rodriguez confronted Bruney during batting practice and had to be restrained by a teammate as the two clashed in the outfield during batting practice.

Later on, Bruney sent a clubhouse attendant over to the Mets' locker room to apologize on his behalf for publicly ripping Rodriguez, according to the Daily News.

"He apologized to me and I accepted his apology. We moved on after that," K-Rod said after picking up his 20th save in the Mets' 3-2 win over the Cardinals yesterday afternoon. "He sent a message with a clubbie. The clubbie told me, and I told him, 'You know, you don't need to make a bigger deal out of it than what it was. Move on and forget it.'"

The secondhand apology was good enough for Rodriguez, who claims to harbor no ill will or hard feelings, the Daily News reported.

In his first at-bat, Lowrie was hit in the back of the knee with a pitch. He remained in the game for another at-bat, singling and scoring a run. But Lowrie's knee stiffened and he left the game.

"I'm hopeful that he'll bounce back and be in there Thursday,'' Francona said. "But I don't know if that's going to happen. He was pretty stiff.''

According to the Times, the New York Yankees third baseman showed real signs of life in the Yankees' 8-4 win Wednesday, hitting the ball hard on a flyout and groundout, smashing a go-ahead two-run single in the sixth inning and drawing two walks. He was 1 for 25 before the hit.

"Listen, I've known this year was going to be a process," said Rodriguez, who had hip surgery in March. "The good news is, the best I've felt is the last two days, and I told Skip I felt like this is my opening day. Hopefully I can get it going. I thought any guy throwing in the mid-90s is going to be aggressive with his fastball, and he was," Rodriguez said. "It was big for me and big for the team."

Now the question is whether Manager Joe Girardi will sit Rodriguez as part of the Yankees' plan to schedule days off, or let him try to build off a good game. Girardi said he would decide on Thursday. The problem, he admitted, is that resting Rodriguez for a Mets game this weekend is not ideal, according to the Times.

This is not the old, or the new, or the done,'' Smoltz said. "This is just a new chapter.

"It will be a success. I came back with this mind-set that it's not about stories or saying I can do it again. It's about pitching and getting hitters out. The end result is going to be that, and in three, four, or five starts from now, I think you'll see why I feel the way I do.''

The repaired Smoltz will throw a fastball between 89 and 92 mph. According to the Globe, Smoltz will throw five, maybe six pitches, and he promised to change his arm angle if he needs to. Smoltz can choose from two fastballs, a splitter, a curveball, a slider, and a changeup that he said is, at this point, a "feel pitch.''

"My guess is they'll probably activate me [Wednesday] but I don't really know for sure," he said. "I'm sure they'll want to make sure I have plenty of rest before I'm activated, instead of going back-to-back days out of the chute. Even though I feel like I can."

There had been some talk of still one more rehab assignment, but Lidge doesn't think it's necessary. He said he felt no pain in the knee that sent him to the disabled list in the first place, according to the Daily News.

"That's up to them, but I feel pretty darn good right now," he said. "I'm not sure I'd necessarily feel better if I had another outing. I don't think there's a whole lot more I have to do.

"We know we messed up, we basically got Hurdle fired, and we have to turn this thing around," shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. "Otherwise players will start losing their jobs."

Since May 29, when Tracy took over, the Rockies are 19-6, and have won 17 of 19 games. As of Tuesday, they led the National League in runs scored and rank second in home runs and total bases. But Tracy said he doesn't see the recent success as merely a "run."

"I think it's become an expectation," he said. "It's not a run. It's just who we think we are. The identity that they had gained for themselves back in 2007, they had surrendered it," Tracy said. "In order to regain that identity for ourselves, our style of play, the way we go about our business day to day had to change."

Second baseman Clint Barmes says Tracy handles certain situations different than Hurdle did, such as keeping a consistent lineup.

"It's nice to show up and kind of know what the game plan is going to be for the most part," Barmes said.

"Part of being in the Hall of Fame, they use the word integrity in describing a Hall of Famer, in the logo of the Hall of Fame, and I think there are going to be quite a few players who are not going to get in," Sandberg said Tuesday.

Sandberg and Sosa were teammates during the 1990s, but Sosa didn't appear to bulk up significantly until 1998, one year after Sandberg retired.

Sandberg said he was "blinded" by Sosa's doping and thought he simply was working harder in the off-season, according to the Tribune.

On Monday, Carlos Beltran went on the disabled list, forcing David Wright to bat third and someone else to bat fourth. Tatis has inherited the spot so far, but in the two games without Beltran, Tatis has been more double-play king than cleanup threat.Tatis went 1-for-5 Monday, grounding into two double plays. In Tuesday night's 3-0 loss, he went 0-for-3, grounding into another double play.

In Tatis' last 27 games, he's batting .171 (12-for-70), the New York Post reported.

"It's just one of those times . . . everything just goes wrong right now," Tatis said. "Sooner or later, everything is going to get better."

For the season, Tatis is batting .248 with two homers and 13 RBIs in 129 at-bats. For a guy who was a great find last season — .297, 11 homers, 47 RBIs in 273 at-bats — this is a bad decline, according to the Post.

However, if he does feel discomfort like he did when he left after on two innings against the Florida Marlins Sunday, the team isn't quite sure what to do, the Daily News reported.

"I think there will be a lot of people breathing a sigh of relief," Joe Girardi said of the side session, which will be only 20-25 pitches instead of his typical 45. "The organization, fans, players, coaches; we need this guy, there's no doubt about it."

The Daily News reported Sabathia received treatment Tuesday.

"I feel pretty good," Sabathia said. "We'll see how it feels tomorrow (Wednesday). I'm still ready to pitch on Friday."

According to the New York Daily News, general manager Brian Cashman won't be comfortable until after Sabathia throws. The big left-hander left last Sunday's start in the second inning bicep tendinitis. The GM said Monday that reports on his expensive left arm were good. The plan is for Sabathia to play catch Tuesday and throw his side session Wednesday, which will be the true test to determine if he'll be ready to go.

"He feels fine today, but he's not doing anything, either," Cashman said. "There's really nothing to report. Until he does his bullpen, it's premature to have an idea if we're dealing with someone missing a start or not."

Santana sat out the first six weeks of the season because of an elbow ligament sprain and was scratched from last Tuesday's start in San Francisco because of tightness on the outside of his forearm, just below the elbow.

After throwing in the bullpen Sunday, the inflammation drifted to Santana's triceps area, a potentially disturbing development for a right-hander who is 1-3 with a 7.47 earned-run average in six starts this season and hasn't come close to regaining his All-Star form of 2008, when he was 16-7 with a 3.49 ERA, the Times reported.

Posada doesn't dismiss those people. He uses their words as motivation, according to the New York Daily News.

"It kind of fuels me, to tell you the truth," Posada said. "I want to prove them wrong."

Posada has never been considered a top defensive catcher, but his bat gives the Yankees a weapon that few other teams have — one that would disappear with Francisco Cervelli or Jose Molina behind the plate, according to the Daily News report.

"When we take the field, our best team is the one with a healthy Jorge Posada catching," GM Brian Cashman said. "Cervelli is an exceptional defender, as is Molina, so they get a lot of bouquets for their defense. But Cervelli is still developing and there's a reason Molina is a backup and Jorge is a starter."

Smith noted he will begin a rigorous training program that will have him top shape when camp finally arrives.

"I feel I have the mentality that I'm the lead dog and I'm going to set the tempo. It's a mentality I like to take on and you can do it if you have the killer instinct. When you lead by example, there are always some guys who notice you and want to go in the same direction, which is great as long as it's a positive direction.''

That means the team could be scrambling to find a starter before Saturday, the original date set to replace Parra, so they can bump Bush to Saturday, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Because of the two recent off days, the Brewers have been operating with a four-man rotation and were still able to get everybody their regular rest. That was scheduled to change next weekend when the Brewers played their fifth consecutive game after the day off Monday.

But with Bush ailing and not able to recover to full strength in four days, Macha wants to push him out of his scheduled start Thursday against the Minnesota Twins. That means the team will have to find Parra's replacement as soon as possible to start Thursday.

Seth McClung is one option to make the start. The right-hander made 12 starts last season and went 4-4 with a 4.24 earned run average.

When asked if he was considering a change, Larry Dolan said, "I'll talk to you later." When asked if that meant a change was being considered, Dolan said, "I just don't want to lie to you."

Sunday evening, Paul Dolan responded in a text message, "I spoke with my father. He refutes that the conversation with you was in any way a statement on Eric's performance."

It's believed no immediate change is planned, but the team's performance will be evaluated in the near future, according to the Plain Dealer.

GM Mark Shapiro said Saturday night that he does not believe Wedge should be fired.

"I don't feel one person, coach or manager is responsible for the problems we're having," he said. "It's the magnitude of the injuries we've suffered combined with a bullpen that has performed at a very poor level. Part of the bullpen's performance is tied to the inconsistency of our starting rotation and not having three-fifth of the rotation we opened the season with."

Shapiro added, "If anyone is to blame, it's me."

The Phils ended a 1-8 homestand with a 2-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles and Rollins ended it by by going 0-for-4 and the boos got louder with each Rollins at bat according to the Daily News.

Manuel has already tried resting Rollins, already tried briefly dropping him in the order. In two games earlier this month Rollins batted sixth . . . and went 5-for-8. Since returning to the top of the order, he's 7-for-47 (.149). The Phillies are 3-8 in those games.

It was suggested Rollins be dropped lower in the order again.

"Knowing Jimmy like I do, I'm telling you right now. I don't think it matters where he hits. I think I could hit him ninth and if he's going to get some hits, I think he's going to get them," manager Charlie Manuel said. "If we move Jimmy down . . . for a while, then who are we going to play there? And I think I know who you're going to say. At the same time, what kind of on-base percentage does that guy carry?"

The reference was to Shane Victorino, whose OBP is .365 compared to .261 for Rollins.

The Times reported the Los Angeles Dodger have not discussed Martinez since spring trainging.

The New York Daily News reported the Mets didn't send a representative to watch Pedro Martinez's audition for teams in Santo Domingo on Friday, further demonstrating a lack of interest in the former ace. Martinez, who arrived an hour late for the workout, failed to impress scouts. One observer described Martinez as "rusty" but not "shot" and suggested he would have to go to Triple-A somewhere. The Yankees, Angels, Brewers and Rangers dispatched scouts to watch Martinez, who registered 87 mph with his fastball and didn't display sharp breaking pitches.

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the slugging first baseman of the St. Louis Cardinals did just that, prediciting his grand slam homer.

After opening the third inning with a fly out, Pujols returned to the Cardinals clubhouse to review video. There he predicted to assistant hitting coach Mike Aldrete that his next at-bat would ricochet off the yet-to-open Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame behind the visitors bullpen in left field. "He didn't say he might hit the Hall of Fame. He said he would hit the Hall of Fame," Aldrete recalled.

Pujols returned in the fourth inning against Royals starting pitcher Gil Meche with the bases loaded and one out in a 4-4 game. Pujols and Meche reached a full count. By then Meche had shown Pujols every pitch in his repertoire except a change-up. When Meche finally threw the pitch, Pujols swatted it some 423 feet off a Hall of Fame window, according to the Post-Dispatch.

Yes, according to the New York Daily News.

Perez, who is in the first season of a three-year, $36 million deal, hasn't pitched for the Mets since lasting only 2¹⁄³ innings in Philadelphia on May 2 and landing on the DL with right knee inflammation and a 9.97 ERA. While Perez would be an expensive lefty specialist, his use in the bullpen would give the Mets a second option to join Pedro Feliciano, according to the Daily News.

In other pitching news for the Mets, With Fernando Nieve (2-0, 1.84 ERA) having performed solidly in two starts since Maine landed on the DL with a right shoulder issue, Manuel appears inclined to stick with Nieve and have Maine take Tim Redding's rotation spot as soon as Saturday against the Yankees.

The Daily News reported that Girardi filed an official protest with umpires after the Marlins botched a double-switch in the eighth inning. After Alejandro De Aza pinch-hit in the pitcher's spot in the seventh, the Marlins intended to leave him in the game in left field, inserting reliever Leo Nunez in the No. 1 slot.

But when the eighth started, starter Chris Coghlan — who had been officially removed from the game - ran out to left field. Girardi recognized the mistake, and once Nunez delivered his first pitch, the manager emerged from the dugout to protest.

According to the Daily News, if it is upheld, it's possible that the game could be restarted from the point of the protest — the top of the eighth with Florida leading, 6-3.

The plan Rodriguez said was devised by Dr. Marc Philippon, the Colorado surgeon who operated on his hip in March.

"That sounds like a good plan," A-Rod said Sunday. "From what I understand, that comes from Vail (Colo.) and Dr. Philippon. We'll follow his instructions and regroup in a month. The idea is that I'll get stronger each month."

Sabathia, who had worked at least seven innings in each of his last eight starts, faced just eight Florida Marlins batters, allowing three hits and a walk as he struggled to keep the ball down in the strike zone, according to the Times. Alfredo Aceves relieved him.

It was 95 degrees at game time, and Sabathia had said he enjoyed pitching in the heat. But this was his shortest start since June 26, 2004, when he left after an inning with a sore shoulder, the Times reported.

The Post nicknamed Rodriguez: "MIA-Rod.''

The Post also noted that keeping Rodriguez on the bench is expensive, $203,704.40 a game. Rodriguez was rested Friday and Saturday after his batting average slipped to .212.

The third baseman was seen leaving an exclusive party with the actress at around 2:30 a.m.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Holliday has interest in the Los Angeles Angels. The question: Do the Angels have interest in Holliday?

The Times reported that if Jason Bay stays with the Boston Red Sox, Holliday would be the best outfielder available in free agency, the one acquisition that would allow the Angels to bid farewell to Vladimir Guerrero without too much of a fuss.

"I obviously enjoy Southern California," Holliday said. "They're a winning franchise. It's a great place to live. Every guy would be interested in playing for an organization like that."

Beyond that, who knows? Holliday is represented by Scott Boras, whose habit of long-playing negotiations clashes with the quick-strike style of Angels owner Arte Moreno. The Mark Teixeira sweepstakes, conducted by Boras, left Moreno with a bitter aftertaste.

According to the Boston Globe, Washington could be a possibility, but don't count out the Mets. If Jerry Manuel fails to guide the Mets into the playoffs and ownership holds him responsible, even with the bevy of injuries, Valentine could have an in.