NBA
– Rockets’ F Yao Ming (foot) said Monday he may quit basketball after next season if his foot injury doesn’t heal. Yao made the comments to the Chinese state media, so we don’t have many details or context yet, but he sounded pessimistic about his future and frustrated with the lack of progress in his recovery. Stay tuned.
– According to ESPN, Hornets’ G Chris Paul did not request a trade in his Monday meeting with the Hornets’ brass, according to new GM Dell Demps. Trading Paul would be a crazy move for the Hornets. They’d never get anything close to equal value and making trade demands would only make things worse. Paul has two years left on his deal before he can opt out and it’s very possible he’s still looking for a trade. Stay tuned.
– The Bulls are now “unlikely” to sign free agent G Tracy McGrady, a source tells ESPN.com. McGrady’s workout went fine physically, but the Bulls reportedly are not convinced that the former superstar is willing to accept a secondary role. In the Bulls’ crowded and talented rotation, McGrady couldn’t be guaranteed much more than 10-15 minutes a night.
NHL
– F Alexander Frolov could sign with the Rangers as soon as Tuesday. His agent said, “Alexander Frolov will soon put his signature on a contract with the New York Rangers. He made a decision that he will play one more year in the NHL. And then it will be clearer where he will continue his career.” Frolov has surpassed the 30-goal milestone twice in the last four seasons, but he’s coming off a disappointing 19-goal and 51-point campaign. Look for him to bounce back if he signs with the Rangers, especially if he ends up playing with F Marian Gaborik.
– The Islanders have signed F Matt Moulson to a 1-year/$2.45M deal. Moulson had an arbitration hearing scheduled for Monday morning, but the two sides managed to come to a last minute compromise. Moulson was a surprise last season, scoring 30 goals and 48 points in 82 contests.
MLB
– The Phillies have been trying to get Astros’ RHP Roy Oswalt, along with the Cardinals, Yankees and others, but the Philadelphia Daily News is reporting that the Phils are going to have to start looking somewhere else for pitching help. FOXSports reported yesterday that Oswalt, who has a no-trade clause, doesn’t want to play in Philadelphia, meanwhile, MLB.com had Oswalt tell them that “location doesn’t matter” yesterday. According to the Houston Chronicle, Oswalt won’t be waiving that no-trade clause unless the team that is getting him agrees to pick up his 2012 $16M option.
“The money part I can work out with anybody, that’s no big deal,” Oswalt told the paper. “We can work on doing different things as far as restructuring; whatever they want to do. I’m going to find a way to get it done if it works for both of us. I’m not going to go somewhere that’s going to be bad for me.”
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch says that the Cardinals aren’t feeling good about its chances to snag Oswalt. GM John Mozeliak tells the paper: “I can’t say I’m encouraged” about making a major pitching move.
As for the Phillies, other starting pitchers on the team’s radar, according to the Daily News, include the Pirates’ LHP Paul Maholm, Brewers’ RHP Dave Bush, and Orioles’ RHP Jeremy Guthrie.
– Tracy Ringolsby of FOXSports.com reports that the Rockies “continue to talk” with the Marlins about 3B Jorge Cantu. Like the Rangers, who also have interest in Cantu, the Rockies are looking for a right-handed RBI producer. Cantu has hit .260/.308/.410 this season with 10 home runs and 54 RBI in 366 at-bats. Moving him would allow the Marlins to free up playing time for recently-recalled prospect Logan Morrison.
– The Marlins have placed OF Chris Coghlan (torn left meniscus) on the 15-day DL retroactive to July 26. Coghlan suffered the injury while hitting Wes Helms’ with a pie to celebrate his walkoff home run on Sunday. He’ll visit a few doctors before deciding whether to have surgery, but either way, he’s likely to miss at least six weeks. Coghlan has a .268/.335/.383 batting line.
– WEEI reports that the Red Sox are looking to add another catcher prior to Saturday’s non-waiver trade deadline. One name mentioned is Mets’ C Rod Barajas. The Sox were offering RHP Ramon Ramirez, but that now appears to be off the table since Barajas went on the DL. Ramirez, who has a 4.69 ERA, is making $1.55M this year and will have salary increases for the next two seasons.
– The D’Backs are reportedly looking at offers for C Chris Snyder, RHP Chad Qualls, 1B Adam LaRoche and RHP Edwin Jackson. The Nats have interest in snagging Jackson, according to MLB.com, but the team has not been involved in talks with the Diamondbacks that would include a third team on such a deal. The White Soz had been rumored to be involved in such a deal.
– The Yankees have reportedly placed RHP Chan Ho Park on the trade block. Park has a 5.57 ERA, allowing seven homers in the 32.1 innings this season, but only allowed five in the 83.1 innings he threw for the Phils last year when he had a 4.43 ERA. The 37-year-old will be a free agent at year’s end after earning $1.2M this year.
NFL
– The Patriots have placed WR Wes Welker (knee, shoulder) on the active/PUP list to open camp. 98.5 the Sports Hub’s report that Welker would be medically cleared by now has been proven wrong. Still, Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston describes the move as “procedural,” and Welker is eligible to come off active/PUP at any time. His progress remains worth monitoring daily. He’ll be a candidate for reserve/PUP to begin the year if he can’t practice in camp.
– ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Jets are the latest team to touch base with Drew Rosenhaus regarding WR Terrell Owens. The Jets are replacing the Rams in Rosenhaus’ latest attempt to get more money out of the Bengals. Schefter calls a Jets-T.O. marriage “a long shot,” citing one person who called the likelihood “20%.” The Jets also made overtures about QB JaMarcus Russell, but never signed him. Schefter confirms that the Bengals remain the favourites to sign Owens.
– In an interview for USA Today, QB Brett Favre told the newspaper that he might play football until age 50. “Hell, you gotta quit sometime. Then again, maybe I will be doing this when I’m 50 years old, who knows?” Favre admitted that he felt “done” after last year’s NFC title game loss to New Orleans, but “the itch” has clearly returned.
– Doctors have informed Giants DE Osi Umenyiora (hip) that the lingering pain will not subside without surgery. Noted hip specialist Dr. Marc Philippon, who performed Alex Rodriguez and Kurt Warner’s operations, gave the prognosis. Umenyiora has opted to pass on surgery, and the Giants’ medical staff intends to help him “manage” the pain.
WWE
– It was announced during tonight’s Raw that the 7-on-7 Tag Team Match between Team Cena and Team Nexus at SummerSlam has been changed to an Elimination Tag Team Match. In an Elimination Tag Team Match, the contest must continue until all members of one team are taken out of the match, either by pinfall or submission. No new matches were announced for SummerSlam during Raw. The updated line-up after tonight’s show is as follows:
7-on-7 Elimination Tag Team Match
John Cena, Bret Hart, Edge, Chris Jericho, R-Truth, The Great Khali and John Morrison vs. Wade Barrett, Skip Sheffield, Michael Tarver, Heath Slater, Justin Gabriel, Darren Young and David OtungaWWE Championship Match
Sheamus (c) vs. Randy OrtonWorld Heavyweight Championship Match
Kane (c) vs. Rey Mysterio
VoV
Marc Valeri – captaincharisma@hotmail.com
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