MLB

– The Phillies have acquired RHP Roy Oswalt and $11M from the Astros for LHP J.A. Happ, INF Jonathan Villar and OF Anthony Gose. The Astros will pay $11M of the approximately $23M left on Oswalt’s contract through 2011. It turns out that Oswalt did not demand that his 2012 mutual option for $16M be picked up by the Phillies, but he would receive extra compensation if or when the Phillies decline. The 32-year-old righty leaves Houston behind with a 3.24 career ERA and a 143-82 lifetime record, just one win shy of the franchise’s all-time leader Joe Niekro. With Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Oswalt, the Phillies immediately have the best 1-2-3 punch in all of the NL, if not all of baseball. If the Phillies make the playoffs again, they’ll be positively scary.

– Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that the Rangers have acquired 3B Jorge Cantu and $600K from the Marlins for RHP Evan Reed and RHP Omar Poveda. Reed, 24, has posted a 1.76 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 41 innings this season between Double-A and Triple-A. Poveda, 27, is currently on the DL recovering from Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery. Cantu will give the Rangers a solid right-handed bat for the stretch run.

– The Padres have acquired 3B Miguel Tejada from the Orioles for RHP Wynn Pelzer and cash considerations. The 24-year-old is a power pitcher whose fastball sits in the mid-90s. As a starter, he has a 4.20 ERA with 7.9 K/9 and 5.3 BB/9 in AA this year, but could become a future closer. Tejada is owed $2M for the remainder of the season.

– The Blue Jays have traded INF Brett Wallace to the Astros for OF Anthony Gose. Wallace, originally a utility infielder, appears to be stuck at first base for now. Gose, 19, is a potential Gold Glove-winning outfielder with tremendous speed and defensive skills. His career potential has been compared to that of Rays’ OF Carl Crawford. Gose stole 76 bases two seasons ago.

– Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that the Astros are now fielding offers for 1B Lance Berkman. The Astros acquired a replacement for Berkman when they flipped OF Anthony Gose to Toronto on Thursday for 1B Brett Wallace. The 34-year-old Berkman is sure to draw interest from multiple contending teams. He’s batting .245/.372/.436 with 13 homers and 49 RBI in 298 at-bats this year. Berkman has a NTC and can veto any deal. About $5.4M remains on Berkman’s $14.5M salary this season. The Astros hold a $15M option for next year, but they can buy it out for $2M.

– Buster Olney of ESPN.com hears that the White Sox and Yankees are “out of the mix” for Nationals’ 1B Adam Dunn. The Nats’ demands are known to be sky-high and, though interest has been strong, no team yet has been able to find a match. Maybe GM Mike Rizzo is still hoping to sign Dunn to a contract extension, or perhaps he will be satisfied with draft picks if the the big man heads elsewhere this offseason. Dunn is batting .275 this year with a .916 OPS and 23 homers. The Rays are considered the frontrunners, while the Giants remain in the running.

– The Orioles have hired Buck Showalter to be their next manager. He’ll officially take over next Tuesday, when the Orioles kick off a seven-game homestand against the Angels. Showalter has been the favourite all along, so it was really just a matter of when. Showalter, 54, is 882-833 over 11 seasons as a manager in the big leagues. Showalter had been working as a baseball analyst for ESPN.

NHL

– The Thrashers have signed F Andrew Ladd to a 1-year/$2.35M deal. The 24-year-old native of Maple Ridge, B.C. had 17 goals and 21 assists for the Hawks last season, putting up three goals and three assists in the post-season en route to the championship. Ladd had filed for salary arbitration after earning $1.65M last season. Ladd scored 17 goals and 38 points in 82 games in 2009-10.

– The Sens have re-signed F Peter Regan to a 2-year deal. The 24-year-old played his first full NHL season with the Senators in 2009-10, tallying 13 goals and 29 points in 75 games.

NBA

– The Knicks have reportedly extended an offer to G Shannon Brown, who is still considering a return to the Lakers. The Lakers are well over the luxury tax, so moving Vujacic’s $5.4M salary would ease the tax hit associated with keeping Brown.

NFL

– The Steelers have signed OT Flozell Adams on a multi-year deal. Great news for the ground attack. The Steelers had no realistic option to step in for injured RT Willie Colon, so the 35-year-old Adams fills a major vacancy up front.

– The Falcons have signed No. 19 overall pick OLB Sean Weatherspoon to a 5-year/ $17.5M contract with $10.5M in guarantees. Last year’s 19th pick, Jeremy Maclin, signed for 5-years/$15.5M. The Falcons love the athletic Weatherspoon’s potential as a cover linebacker, but he’s expected to be eased in on special teams and nickel packages as a rookie.

– The Dolphins have signed 1st-round pick DL Jared Odrick to a 5-year contract with a maximum value of just over $13M with $7.133M guaranteed. Odrick is the reigning 2009 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

TNA

– Hulk Hogan was apparently the subject of false internet rumors today. TNA Wrestling president Dixie Carter issued the following statement this afternoon regarding “The Hulkster”:

“HULK HOGAN IS ALIVE AND WELL. He did not drown. Not sure how these rumors get started. Awful.”

VoV

Marc Valeri – captaincharisma@hotmail.com
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MLB

– Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle reports that the Twins have joined the chase for Astros’ RHP Roy Oswalt. The Twins are badly in need of another solid starter. Oswalt has a full NTC and multiple reports have stated that the Houston righty is most interested in joining the Cardinals. The non-waiver trade deadline is July 31.

– Bob Dutton of the KC Star reports that the Angels have acquired INF Alberto Callaspo from the Royals for minor league RHP Sean O’Sullivan and LHP Will Smith. O’Sullivan posted a 2.08 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP in 13 innings for the Angels this season. Callaspo, 27, has posted a .275/.308/.410 batting line, eight home runs and 43 RBI in 349 at-bats this season as the Royals’ primary third baseman.

– Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com reports that the Yankees, Phillies and Twins are also interested in D’Backs’ RHP Dan Haren. The Cardinals and Tigers have also been linked to the Arizona righty in the past week. Haren, 29, has fanned a NL-leading 141 batters this season in 141 innings and is under contract through 2012 with a club option for 2013. He’s a great guy to have in any rotation, but the D’Backs are reportedly seeking a high package of prospects.

– An MRI Thursday on Phillies’ LHP Jamie Moyer’s left arm revealed a sprain of the ulnar collataral ligament and a strain of the pronator tendon. Moyer will be placed on the DL Saturday and could be done for the season, if not forever. The 47-year-old left-hander suffered the injury while pitching against the Cardinals on Tuesday. He had turned in a 9-9 record, a 4.84 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP over 19 starts this season.

– Despite their recent struggles, the Tigers remain “active buyers,” according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com. According to Morosi, the Tigers would like to upgrade their rotation and remain interested in Cubs’ LHP Ted Lilly. They do not have interest in former Tiger, RHP Nate Robertson, who was designated for assignment by the Marlins on Wednesday. The team also doesn’t have interest in Nationals’ C Ivan Rodriguez, but they are considering upgrades behind the plate. Among other tidbits, Morosi mentions that the Tigers did have a scout at D’Backs’ RHP Dan Haren’s start against the Mets on Tuesday night, but adds that “it will be a surprise if something happens there.”

– Buster Olney of ESPN.com hears that Buck Showalter remains the “first choice” to be the next manager of the Orioles, however, the deal is not done. We had a couple national reporters suggesting that Showalter was going to be in uniform after the All-Star break, which obviously didn’t happen. The local beat writers seem to think the Orioles may wait until after the season to name a new manager, and at this point, that would seem to make the most sense.

NBA

– Hornets’ president Hugh Weber, coach Monty Williams and GM Dell Demps are scheduled to meet with G Chris Paul on Monday in an attempt to sell him on the team’s vision. The problem is that New Orleans doesn’t have much flexibility in the short-term, and CP3 wants to be competing for a championship this season. It’s easy to understand Paul’s frustration, as the Hornets only free agent move this offseason was re-signing backup F Aaron Gray.

– Former Knicks G Allan Houston is the front-runner to be the team’s next GM, according to Ric Bucher of ESPN the Magazine. Team president Donnie Walsh would say only, “He is working with me to learn the position of GM, whether with the Knicks or elsewhere…I feel Allan has the tools to be a great GM.” Adding fuel to the fire, both owner James Dolan and coach Mike D’Antoni are said to be comfortable with Houston, who has a sterling reputation around the league.

– Wolves’ GM David Kahn said on Thursday that recent acquisition F Michael Beasley “is a very young, immature kid who smoked too much marijuana [but] has told me that he’s not smoking anymore.” He went on to say “[Beasley] had a very issue-free season in Miami … He’s an incredible talent, and for us to be able to land him for … two second-round picks — that’s the kind of risk that I’ll take any day of the week.”

NHL

– The Thrashers have re-signed G Ondrej Pavelec to a 2-year/$2.3M contract. Pavelec and Chris Mason will be competing for the number one spot in training camp. Pavelec had a 3.29 GAA and .906 SV% in 42 games last season.

– The Katz Group has informed Edmonton’s city council that the team has no intention of playing in a renovated Rexall Place. The Oilers haven’t threatened to move the team, but they are demanding a new arena. Daryl Katz, who is the Katz Group’s chairman and chief executive officer, is pledging $100M towards the construction of a new arena and another $100M to help develop the surrounding area. Katz claims that the Oilers’ have been unable to break even over the past two years without him subsidizing the team. However, he says it’s because the Oilers’ are not in control of their non-hockey-related revenues. That’s limited the team’s ability to make a profit despite sellout crowds. We’ll keep you posted.

NFL

– Vikings’ coach Brad Childress insists he doesn’t know if QB Brett Favre is going to play football this season. “I don’t know if he knows he’s going to play. I’ve said this and I really believe it more right now. It would not surprise me either way.” It’s July, so it must be about time to thicken the plot for increased drama in August. Every sign all year has pointed toward a Favre return, and we’re not about to let the last-minute staged drama sway our opinion that he’s playing in 2010.

– QB Brett Favre told WDAM-TV in Hattiesburg (MS) on Wednesday that he’s gained 14 pounds since January. Favre probably gained a few pounds while rehabbing his surgically repaired ankle, and is now working out routinely at Oak Park High to get into shape, but 14 is probably exaggerated. His mind is clearly set on playing this year.

– The Browns have signed 3rd-round pick QB Colt McCoy to a 4-year contract worth almost $5M. He’ll enter training camp as the third quarterback behind Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace. McCoy is considered a longshot for playing time in 2010.

WWE

– According to the Wrestling Observer, WWE’s marketing deparment was told a few weeks ago that Vince McMahon does not want any usage of things related to the image of Shawn Michaels. Those close to Michaels say he is mentally done with wrestling and, in his mind right now, he will never come back in ANY form. Not sure what happened, but Michaels was quite vocal many weeks back about his displeasure with his former student, Daniel Bryan, being released by the company. In other news, HBK just turned 45.

– In an interview with the San Diego Union-Tribune, former wrestling champion Bill Goldberg said he wants one final wrestling match because he wants his family to see him wrestle live.

“If the money was right, I’d go out there and do it in two seconds. I’d have to be totally prepared for it, because I wouldn’t want to tarnish my image, but I’d like to be in the ring one more time so that my wife and my son can see me wrestle live.”

He also discussed his love/hate relationship with the wrestling industry in the interview.

“I don’t ever want to say that I miss anything about the wrestling business. I miss the ability to put a smile on a kid’s face, more than one at a time. That was a true charge for me.”

– Bret Hart will be married to girlfriend Stephanie Washington this Saturday in Calgary. He was scheduled to go to Hawaii on his honeymoon, so unless plans have changed, he will likely not be on Raw this Monday.

– Today at the Comic Con event in San Diego, Mattel announced that both Ultimate Warrior and “Macho Man” Randy Savage have been signed by the company to be part of their WWE line of action figures. When the announcement was made about Savage being part of the series, it stirred up a huge reaction at the event. This would be the first Macho Man action WWE figure since the early 1990’s when the company was then working with the Hasbro toy company. WWE did produce a “Macho Madness” 3-disc DVD set last year that was mostly well-received by fans, though it lacked a documentary portion. Savage was last seen on WWE television in 1994 as an announcer alongside Vince McMahon on Monday Night Raw. Later that year, he jumped ship to WCW and has had little or no contact with McMahon since that time, and no one seems to have a definitive reason as to why.

– According to F4WOnline, Kane’s recent WWE World Heavyweight Championship victory was booked, in part, due to the belief that he will be retiring in the near future. With his win at Money in the Bank, Kane also set a record for having the longest period of time between World title reigns (not counting the ECW Title) at 12 years. The previous record was Bob Backlund, who lost the WWE Title in 1983 and won it again in 1994.

– PCW has announced that Austin Creed, known as Consequences Creed in TNA, has signed a developmental contract with WWE. “We at PCW want to congratulate our own AUSTIN CREED on the recent signing of his WWE developmental contract! Congratulations Austin,” the PCW website announced. The 1-time World Tag Team Champion was quietly released from TNA Wrestling in late March. Earlier this month, Creed won ECWA’s annual Super 8 Tournament in Delaware, defeating Tommaso Ciampa.

– Some serious claims are being made towards former WWE performer Dawn Marie Damatta as she is being accused of embezzling her charitable organization, “Wrestlers Rescue.” The organization, which was founded in 2008, creates awareness and helps raise money to support the health care needs of retired professional wrestlers. However, former friends of Damatta say they are unaware of whom the organization has benefited and where the money raised has gone. According to Wrestling Globe Newsletter editor and Sun writer Mike Aldren, Damatta has embezzled money raised by “Wrestlers Rescue” to fly herself to conventions around the United States so she can profit off of autograph signings. When questioned by Aldren, Damatta set her attorney on him, who admitted that “Wrestlers Rescue” is not a registered charity.

TNA

– According to the Wrestling Observer, sources indicate that in a recent meeting with TNA President Dixie Carter, Paul Heyman emphasized he didn’t believe in drastic changes, bur rather the way to go is with new talent as the key stars while using a few veterans to give them credibility, not unlike how he used Terry Funk in the original ECW. Ironically, Heyman did not support the idea of an ECW invasion when it was brought up, yet Carter went ahead and did it anyway, plugging Tommy Dreamer into the role that essentially would have belonged to Heyman (both on-screen and behind the scenes). Heyman is also said to have told Carter to her face that of the older legends they have under contract, she could keep one and get rid of the others, and she didn’t seem to understand why. Carter has been loyal to the stars of the past and has been resistant to giving anyone the authority to hire or fire people. This includes Vince Russo and even Jim Ross, back when they were making a serious play for him. While the Heyman deal is cold, it is nowhere close to being dead. TNA sees Heyman’s asking for points in the company as merely a negotiating tactic and is still hopeful a deal can be reached.

VoV

Marc Valeri – captaincharisma@hotmail.com
VoV – www.voiceofvaleri.com
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NBA

– Greg Miller, CEO of the Jazz, wrote on Twitter that the F Al Jefferson deal that will send two future 1st-round picks and Kosta Koufos to the Timberwolves is now official. “There has been a lot of speculation, but now it’s official. Al Jefferson will play for the Jazz.” The Jazz have had some bad luck over the years, but this was a coup for the organization. Expect Jefferson to start at center, Paul Millsap at power forward and for Mehmet Okur to come off the bench.

– The Bobcats have traded F Tyson Chandler and F Alex Ajinca to the Mavericks for F Erick Dampier, G Matt Carroll and F Eduardo Najera. The deal should be finalized soon, so Michael Jordan won’t have an opportunity to change his mind.

– The Nets have acquired G Anthony Morrow in a sign-and-trade with the Warriors. He signed a 3-year/$12M deal. The Warriors, who were not expected to match the offer, will get the Nets’ 2nd-round draft pick in 2011. The pick is protected if it falls between 31 to 55. Morrow averaged 13.0 points last season, shooting 46 percent from 3-point range.

– The Heat are set to sign F Zydrunas Ilgauskas to a 2-year deal with a player option for the second season. Things just keep getting from bad to worse for Cavs’ fans.

– Word out of Las Vegas is that F Mike Miller’s deal with the Heat is not secure, and that teams are advising him to consider not joining the team. Miller says the deal is not done and it now sounds like there’s a chance he won’t join the Heat. They’re the favoyurites for his services, but it’s not yet a done deal, and Miller could end up elsewhere. If the Heat need to make a stronger offer, they could pull a qualifying offer to F Joel Anthony. Stay tuned.

– The Hornets and GM Jeff Bower have mutually agreed to part ways, according to team president Hugh Weber. “We feel it is in the best interest for us and Jeff to part ways at this time. Our search for a new general manager is already underway.” This is likely directly tied to both the pending sale of the team, as well as Chris Paul’s unhappiness.

MLB

– Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports that while Buck Showalter is the leading candidate to be the Orioles’ next manager, he will not take over the club this weekend. This contradicts a report by Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse, who suggested that Showalter could be in uniform with the club by as soon as Saturday or Sunday. It’s worth nothing that while national scribes like Price and Ken Rosenthal have reported that a decision could be imminent, the local beat writers have not only said that interim Juan Samuel will open the second half with the club, but that Orioles’ president Andy MacPhail could take his time before making a decision. Connolly adds that while MacPhail and Showalter have talked several times, an official offer hasn’t been made.

NHL

– D Darryl Sydor has announced his retirement after 18 NHL seasons. Sydor was the seventh overall pick in the 1990 Entry Draft by the Kings. He played in 1,291 regular season games, scoring 98 goals and garnering 507 points. He won two Stanley Cups, one with the Stars in 1999 and with the  Lightning in 2004. Congrats go out to Darryl on a solid NHL career.

– The Flyers have signed F Daniel Carcillo to a 1-year deal. The 25-year-old winger had 22 points and 207 penalty minutes in 76 regular-season games for the Eastern Conference champion Flyers last season. In the playoffs, the 6’0″, 205-pound Carcillo had two goals and two assists as the Flyers advanced to the Stanley Cup finals.

– The Habs have re-signed F Maxim Lapierre to a 1-year/$900K deal. He had seven goals and 14 points in 76 games last season.

– The Blue Jackets have signed F Jared Boll to a 2-year/$1.45M contract. Boll was set to go to arbitration on July 20 but signed the deal instead.

– The Senators have signed F Roman Wick to a 1-year/2-way contract. No financial terms were announced. The Senators selected Wick in the 2004 Entry Draft, 156th overall, but after spending two seasons in the WHL, Wick returned to Switzerland where he has played the last four seasons with Kloten. Wick had 15 goals and 31 points in 2009-10 and led all Swiss players in scoring at the Olympics with two goals and five points in five games. Wick could surprise this season and crack the Sens lineup.

NFL

– NFL spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed that Chargers’ unsigned RFA WR Vincent Jackson will not be required to sign his tender before serving his three-game suspension. V-Jax is a special case because he hasn’t signed. Players under contract and holding out must serve their suspensions once they return to the team. Jackson will miss Weeks 1-3 regardless, which makes it more likely that he will opt against signing his tender until at least Week 4. NFL Network’s Jason LaCanfora points out that Chargers can place Jackson on the roster exempt list, without pay, until the third game after he reports. Jackson would then have to report by Week 7 to avoid losing a year of accrued service time.

– The Saginaw News reports the Steelers are expected to sign OLB LaMarr Woodley to a long-term contract once a new CBA is in place. Woodley is playing the role of the good soldier, so there’s no danger of a holdout or distraction. It’s believed that he and his agent have faith in the Steelers’ willingness to reward their own players, and a new deal is expected once the “30%” rule is out of the picture. Considering his age and production, Woodley should be a nucleus player on the Steelers’ defense.

WWE

– According to the PWInsider, WWE officials are said to be “very high” on Divas Champion Alicia Fox. Her sister, Christina Crawford, is currently training in developmental. She made her FCW debut at last Thursday’s live event in Tampa, competing in a Divas Bikini Contest.

TNA

– “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles has been named Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s “PWI 500? winner for 2010. He is the first TNA wrestler to top the annual chart, which is now in its 20th year. To view the magazine’s cover, click here. The issues hits newsstands Aug. 3.

– As seen at Victory Road, Madison Rayne lost the Women’s Knockout Championship to Angelina Love via disqualification due to outside interference from a person incognito in a motorcycle helmet. The mystery person was Lisa Marie Varon (a/k/a Tara), who recently agreed to return to TNA Wrestling. On Twitter, she has been kayfabing her return to the organization by writing various messages indicating she’s at home. In fact, she wrote late last night that she slept all day, thus explaining why she was unable to tweet much. Further indicating that Varon has in fact rejoined TNA Wrestling, she opened a Facebook Fan Page last week in which lists herself as a TNA Knockout — and former WWE Diva.

VoV

Marc Valeri – captaincharisma@hotmail.com
VoV – www.voiceofvaleri.com
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NBA

– The Knicks have signed F Amare Stoudemire to a 5-year/$100M deal. The deal can’t be signed until Thursday, after the salary cap for next season has been set. Stoudemire made an unofficial announcement at MSG, and the marquee showed him wearing a #1 jersey. This deal was essentially done days ago, and it’s the reason Knicks officials made one more pitch to LeBron’s representatives on Saturday. It remains to be seen whether the last-ditch effort made a difference.

– F Chris Bosh is expected to wait for F LeBron James’ decision before finalizing his next move. When Bosh does announce his decision, it will likely involve a sign-and-trade so that he can make the maximum amount of money. The Raptors are willing to facilitate such a deal as long as they’re getting back worthwhile assets.

– Nuggets’ F Carmelo Anthony is expected to acccept team’s 3-year/$65M contract extension, but he is still waiting to hear about the team’s attempts to improve the frontcourt. He’s also getting married this Saturday and “doesn’t have a timetable” to sign the deal, but until then, there’s always time for him to change his mind. Denver has trouble matching up with big frontcourts (think L.A.) even fully healthy, and neither F Nene nor F Kenyon Martin is a picture of health. There aren’t many available big men this summer, but the Nuggets’ brass better scheme a way to acquire one soon if they don’t want to risk losing Carmelo as a FA next summer. In other news, Melo will not play in the World Championships this summer.

Anthony will not be traded next season regardless of whether he accepts Denver’s contract extension, according to a “high-ranking Nuggets official.” “There is no way we are trading Carmelo Anthony. We’re 100% certain of that.” Melo is said to be “very serious” about accepting the offer, not least of all because he could lose millions under a new CBA.

– Multiple sources confirmed that the Warriors are looking into acquiring free agent F David Lee, a move that could require them to give up G Monta Ellis. Not sure why Golden State wants a high-priced big man when they already have F Anthony Randolph, F Brandan Wright and F Ekpe Udoh. Lee would have to agree to their terms and be part of a sign-and-trade, while the Knicks still haven’t ruled out pairing F Amare Stoudemire and Lee (a frontcourt that wouldn’t stop anyone defensively).

– ESPN reports that F Shaquille O’Neal, 38, has been contacted by the Hawks, Mavericks and Celtics. None of the conversations have gone too far and “no financial terms have been broached,” the site reports. Those three teams are all over the salary cap already so the most he can be offered, according to ESPN, is a mid-level exception at $5.8M annually.

Shaq currently has a 2-year deal on the table from the Hawks, starting at the mid-level exception of $5.8M, and would fulfill Shaq’s desire to play two more years on a championship contender. His presence would be huge for the Hawks, who have struggled against Dwight Howard in the playoffs, and could set off a chain reaction — Al Horford could move to PF and Josh Smith could be on the trading block.

The Hawks have been exploring the possibility of trading F Josh Smith as part of their summertime makeover, according to sources around the league. It’s not clear what the Hawks want in return, but they could try to package G Mike Bibby or G Marvin Williams with Smoove to bring back a top-notch PG.

– Yahoo! reports that Suns’ G Steve Nash will not ask for a trade out of Phoenix. A source tells Spears, “(Nash) likes the team chemistry in Phoenix and he is a confident guy no matter who he plays with. He’s looking forward to the challenge.” The Suns are still trying to tradeG  Leandro Barboso in order to save some money. Barboso makes $7.1M this coming season and then has a player option for $7.6M for the following year. The team has also replaced Amare with newly-acquired F Hakim Warrick.

– The Magic have signed G Chris Duhon to a 4-year/$15M contract on Tuesday. Duhon had three or four great months with the Knicks a couple years ago, but broke down after they ran him into the ground. He’s clearly not cut out to be a full-time starting point guard, but has proven to be a solid backup.

– Free agent G Raymond Felton is expected to meet with the Knicks and Heat this week, according to Fanhouse.com. Felton headlines a weak crop of free agent PGs, and has also drawn interest from the Pacers, Nets, Mavericks and Grizzlies. He’s not a pure passer and he shoots a low percentage, which made him something of a question mark with Charlotte, and explains why they’re not even trying to re-sign him.

– Yahoo! reports that the Nets “could get a frontloaded offer sheet” that the Bobcats wouldn’t match. The Nets will wait to see where LeBron, Wade and Bosh end up before going after the fallback plan. Thomas averaged 10.1 points and 6.1 rebounds for the Bobcats after getting traded at the deadline by the Bulls.

– Joe Dumars says he is not a candidate for a job with the Nets. Responding to reports that he could be a replacement for Rod Thorn, the Detroit president insisted Monday he doesn’t have “any interest in a basketball operations position with the Nets.” Dumars adds his priority is putting together a team to get the Pistons back on track next season. Thorn is leaving next week after 10 years as Nets president. GMs Jeff Bower of New Orleans and Sam Presti of Oklahoma City, and Nets vice president Bobby Marks are among the leading candidates to replace Thorn.

NHL

– According to a report, F Ilya Kovalchuk may be on the verge of re-signing with the Devils. The NY Post is saying that the UFA sniper is going to sign a 7-year/$60M contract with the Devils as soon as Tuesday. Kovalchuk’s agent, Jay Grossman, also announced on his Twitter account Monday that his client is “looking to make decision on his future today.”

– Retired hockey enforcer Bob Probert, as adept with his fists as with a stick in a 16-season career with the Red Wings and Blackhawks, died Monday after suffering chest pains while boating with his family. He was 45. “Bob lost the fight of his life this afternoon,” said Probert’s father-in-law, Dan Parkinson, a police officer who performed CPR before Probert was rushed to Ontario’s Windsor Regional Medical Center. Probert was on a boat in Lake St. Clair with his wife, children and in-laws when he “developed severe chest pains” Monday, family friend Rich Rogow told a Monday evening news conference at the medical center.

– The Blues have re-signed UFA D Carlo Colaiacovo to a 2-year/$4.25M contract. Colaiacovo collected seven goals, 32 points and a plus-8 rating in 67 games with the Blues last season. He wanted to stay in St. Louis despite receiving a few offers from other NHL teams.

– F Mike Modano is scheduled to be in Detroit on Tuesday to meet with the Red Wings’ brass. Modano is still contemplating retirement, but the Wings have displayed considerable interest in bringing him into their organization. “It’s a big decision, and I know it would be for them too, so we’ll talk about it and see if this works for both sides. I’m excited. I’m looking forward to hearing what they think.” Stay tuned.

– The Lightning have signed D Brett Clark to a 2-year/$6M deal worth $3M annually. Clark appeared in 63 games with the Avalanche in 2009-10, while posting 20 points and a plus-6 rating.

– F Nikolai Zherdev is reportedly interested in returning to the NHL. The Leafs were rumoured to have an interest in the enigmatic Russian winger, but they have denied that claim. The Sabres are another possible destination for Zherdev. He is looking for a multi-year deal worth a reported $4M per season. Zherdev posted 13 goals and 26 assists in 52 games with Atlant Mytischi in the KHL last season. Stay tuned.

– The Oilers have signed the #1 overall pick in the 2010 Draft, F Taylor Hall, to a three-year, entry-level deal. The deal is expected to be similar to the one that the New York Islanders gave to 2009 top pick F John Tavares. The deal is projected to have a base salary of $900K and bonuses could knock up his earnings to $3.75M per season.

– Jacques Demers is in hospital after undergoing surgery. A report says the former hockey coach has been bed-ridden for about a week with a stomach ailment. Demers’ office told Corus News that he is in an Ottawa hospital, where he is in stable condition and where he will be recovering for an unspecified period of time.

MLB

– Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com reports that the Phillies sent a scout to Mariners’ LHP Cliff Lee’s last start. Lee impressed, too, striking out 11 Tigers and allowing only one run in eight innings on Sunday afternoon. Fellow FOXSports.com writer Ken Rosenthal reported this weekend that the Phillies have legitimate interest in re-acquiring the left-handed Lee, and Morosi’s report only backs that up. Lee has a gorgeous 89/6 K/BB ratio, 2.34 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 13 starts this season.

A source tells Jeff Fletcher of AOL Fanhouse that the Twins have offered prospect OF Aaron Hicks and prospect C Wilson Ramos to the M’s for Lee. That’s a pretty serious bid. In fact, it might be too much of a price to pay. Hicks, 20, was selected No. 14 overall in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft. He has a 792 OPS over parts of three seasons in the minor leagues. Ramos is perhaps the most expendable trade chip for the club thanks to the presence of C Joe Mauer. The 22-year-old catcher is batting just .208 with Triple-A Rochester this season, but has a .281 batting average over five seasons in the minors with decent pop and a fine reputation behind the plate. Sending Ramos makes good sense, especially if the M’s value a catcher as much as we hear they do. Adding Hicks to sweeten the pot would probably get the deal done, but it’s an awful lot for a rental.

According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Reds have spoken to the M’s about acquiring Lee. Meanwhile, SI reports that the Twins are having “interesting” talks that “have possibilities” with the Mariners about Lee. “Close to 15 teams” have asked about Lee, including the Rays, Phillies, Yankees, and Mets. The Enquirer reports that Cincinnati would probably need to give up Cuban prospect 1B Yonder Alonso and others in a package to get Lee. FOXSports reports that the Yankees, Twins, Mets, and Texas Rangers are the most actively involved in conversations with the folks in Seattle about Lee.

– FOXSports is reporting that the Phillies are considering trading OF Jayson Werth if it can’t perform well in these two series (Braves, Reds). If the Phils show that they can bring it, FOXSports sources say the team has already looked into getting O’s 1B Ty Wigginton or 3B Miguel Tejada. The site also reports that the team will pursue two big-name pitchers: M’s LHP Cliff Lee and D’Backs RHP Dan Haren.

– Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that the Tigers have shown interest in D’Backs’ SS Stephen Drew. The question is will they fork over the prospects that it is going to take to land him. Drew is 27, under control through 2012 and boasts a strong bat at a position where such a thing is rare, and the Tigers are looking to upgrade.

– MLB.com reports that Orioles’ RHP Kevin Millwood is officially off the trade block. Millwood now has a 2-8 record and a 5.77 ERA. He’s earning $12M this season, the last of a 5-year/$60M deal.

– FOXSports reports that Buck Showalter is the leading candidate to take over the O’s managerial position. Former Indians manager Eric Wedge got a second interview with Baltimore on Friday, but the 54-year-old Showalter is thought to be the man for the job, the site reports. Bobby Valentine’s name was also in the hat early on but then he withdrew it when it seemed like he had the chance to go work with the Marlins.

– Tigers’ RHP Joel Zumaya (broken right elbow) is scheduled to undergo season-ending surgery to repair the fracture in his throwing elbow next Monday. The Tigers were hoping that Zumaya would be able to avoid going under the knife, but it’s no surprise given the gruesomeness of his injury. He was diagnosed with a non-displaced fracture at the tip of his elbow in late June and will have a screw inserted next week to stabilize the bone.

– Cardinals’ 3B David Freese (ankle) is aiming to return for the first game after the All-Star break. Freese hit the DL in late June with a sprained right ankle and should be great given another 10 days of rest. The rookie third baseman was batting .296/.361/.404 with four home runs and 36 RBI before the injury.

– Orioles’ LHP Mike Gonzalez (shoulder) is not expected to return until after the All-Star break. Gonzalez is scheduled to make three minor league rehab appearances this week, which will take him right up to the major league Midsummer Classic. He’s shown an improvement on the velocity of his fastball in recent outings and should resume his role as Baltimore’s closer within a week of activation.

– The Red Sox have placed RHP Clay Buchholz (hamstring) on the 15-day DL. He will miss the All-Star Game and will be replaced by Yankees’ LHP Andy Pettitte

– Brewers’ manager Ken Macha said Monday that RHP Yovani Gallardo (oblique) will not pitch in the All-Star Game. Gallardo was lifted from his start against the Cardinals on Sunday with a right oblique strain and the Brewers aren’t going to risk him in the Midsummer Classic. “Throwing in the All-Star Game? No. I’m saying that, best case scenario, he’s probably going to be doing no baseball activities for at least 10 days.” Sounds like he is headed for the DL.

– The A’s have placed OF Conor Jackson (strained right hamstring) on the 15-day DL retroactive to July 1.

– The Mets have placed INF Fernando Tatis (right shoulder AC joint sprain) on the 15-day DL. Tatis is to undergo further testing at New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery on Tuesday.

NFL

– The Boston Globe is giving Patriots’ WR Wes Welker (ACL, shoulder surgeries) “a good chance” to be ready for Week 1. The Globe’s Albert Breer admits there’s still “a long way to go,” and that Welker is likely — at the very least — to open training camp on active/PUP. Should Welker come off the list before Week 1, he’ll be eligible to play in the season’s first seven games.

– NFL Network’s Mike Lombardi reports that the friction between RB Chris Johnson and the Titans is beginning to “thaw,” and predicts that Johnson will report to training camp in a timely manner. “I hear calmness on both sides,” says Lombardi, adding that “everything is moving in (the) direction” of the sides reaching some form of redone contract before August. This seems to mesh with Johnson’s recent patronage of the Titans’ practice facility.

– Free agent QB JaMarcus Russell was arrested Monday afternoon for possession of a controlled substance, said to be codeine syrup or “Sizzurp.” The arrest took place after an undercover investigation of Russell’s home. Booked at 4:22PM Monday, the former No. 1 overall pick was released “minutes later” after posting $2,500 bail. Already drawing scant interest on the free agent market, Russell won’t latch on with an NFL team anytime soon after this news. He is scheduled to appear in court next on July 20.

– The Chargers are not actively shopping WR Vincent Jackson nor are they interested in dealing him, a source tells ESPN’s Adam Schefter. It’s possible the Chargers are just trying to play hardball in the media here, but GM A.J. Smith isn’t one to mess around and Schefter isn’t a guy that gets played. Despite both a three-game suspension and a nasty holdout looming, the Chargers appear prepared to go down with the ship here. The pressure is now squarely on Jackson to blink first in this poker game.

WWE

– As announced on Raw, the Hart Dynasty will defend their Unified Tag Team titles against Jimmy and Jay Uso.

– Regarding the anonymous Raw GM, it’s not Steve Austin.

VoV

Marc Valeri – captaincharisma@hotmail.com
VoV – www.voiceofvaleri.com
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NBA

– G Dwayne Wade, F Chris Bosh, and F LeBron James may have met this weekend in south Florida to cook up a plan for the three of them to joining up on the Heat, but Wade is also hedging his bets and visiting other teams, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel. A “source close to Wade” tells the paper that he s says that he thinks the Heat really could snag the talented triumvirate, but he’s also going to visit with the Knicks, Bulls, and Mavericks in case that plan doesn’t work out. The Mavs would have to bring in Wade via a sign-and-trade deal with the Heat while the others have room to add Wade and another big-money free agent. Another scenario that ESPN reports came up at the meeting was James and Bosh joining the Bulls. In this case, the site reports that Jazz’ F Carlos Boozer would then join Wade in Miami.

The free-agent summit was initially laughed off as a joke, but it appears that it’s real. It’s also becoming increasingly possible that these three megastars will play together in Miami next season. However, it’s important to note that because of the Miami’s salary cap situation, all three can’t get max contracts with the Heat right now. To that end, the South Florida Sun Sentinel is reporting that the three have discussed splitting up the $38M that the Heat have available right now.

– Raptors’ GM Bryan Colangelo said Monday “it’s likely” that free agent F Chris Bosh will leave the Raptors. Colangelo told radio station Fan590 in Toronto that the Raptors still hope to keep the All-Star forward, but if Bosh does want to leave, he will try to work a sign-and-trade arrangement that could help both sides.

“As we look at Chris as a potential free agent, our own free agent, wanting to re-sign him, I still have that intention and desire,” Colangelo said. “But it’s becoming more and more clear that that’s not going to happen. Now we need to decide what the best way is to come out of this.”

A sign-and-trade would allow Bosh to get an extra year on his contract while enabling the Raptors to receive something in return for losing him. If Bosh simply signs with another team, it could cost him about $30M. Colangelo confirmed that Bosh did not exercise his option for next season, making him a free agent. Colangelo said he has been in contact with Bosh’s agent, Henry Thomas, but not as much lately with Bosh, who has been traveling.

“We will get to a point where there’s a conclusion to this one way or the other,” Colangelo said.

The Knicks have enough money to afford two maximum salary players, the Bulls are close, and the Heat can add one while keeping Wade. With so many teams in such good position heading into free agency, Colangelo knew it would be tough to keep Bosh, who he said loves the city of Toronto.

“It’s the perfect storm for Chris Bosh to leave and unfortunately we’re possibly going to be on the short end of that, but we will evolve. We will have to evolve and move forward.”

– The Nets have a better shot at landing F LeBron James than the Knicks, a source tells the NY Post. The Knicks are losing momentum at an alarming rate in the LeBron sweepstakes. James cancelled his recruiting tour, instead choosing to meet with teams in the Akron area. That means the Knicks won’t be able to roll out their red carpet of celebrities to lure James. The bottom line is that the Bulls, Heat and Nets all offer better basketball situations for LeBron. He’ll meet with the Nets, Knicks and Heat (in that order) beginning Thursday morning.

– F Dirk Nowitzki is expected to opt out of his $21.5M contract and become a free agent, a source tells beat writer Eddie Sefko. The Mavs were hoping to get Dirk to sign an extension before July 1, but it’s not going to happen. The nine-time All-Star is going to hit free agency for the first time in his career, putting some fear in the hearts of Mavs fans and owner Mark Cuban. Still, it’s hard to see Cuban letting the face of his franchise leave. Look for Dirk to sign a four-year max deal with Dallas after seeing what’s out there.

– A Turkish sports site, sporx.com, reports that Raptors’ F Hedo Turkoglu is backing off on any trade desire he may have previously expressed. GM Bryan Colangelo told a Toronto radio station that if F Chris Bosh leaves for free agency on Thursday, which he expects him to do, he might not be so keen on trading away Turkoglu. Turkoglu would like to stay if “the system run in Toronto changes,” TSN reports. Without Bosh in town, the system would have to change. Stay tuned.

– Lakers’ G Kobe Bryant (right middle finger) might never play again without support for his troublesome right (shooting) middle finger. Kobe’s knee issues are small potatoes compared to this finger problem. The middle knuckle is “so debilitated by arthritis after the past season of misuse and overuse that there may be no real way to fix it,” per beat writer Kevin Ding. It’s a problem that can’t be cured by surgery. Although Bryant was able to fight through it and shoot around his career averages this season, we’re worried about all the wear-and-tear. He missed nine games this season and is a candidate to miss many more next season.

– Florida State C Solomon Alabi reportedly slipped to No. 50 overall in the draft because of a positive test for Hepatitis B. It’s unclear how the condition will affect Alabi’s basketball career, but it’s obvious that teams were concerned. Guys that go 7’1 with upside don’t last until the end of the second round for no reason. It’s a situation to monitor.

– The Suns are giving one last shot to try and re-sign F Amare Stoudemire. Team owner Robert Sarver and coach Alvin Gentry are meeting with Stoudemire today in Los Angeles to try and convince him to not opt out of his current deal, take their contract-extension offer, and stay in Arizona. Stoudemire could make $17.6M next season with the team but he also could opt out and give free agency a try. Sources told Yahoo! that Stoudemire wouldn’t mind staying with the Suns, but the sudden disappearance from the team payroll of two of its execs, Steve Kerr and David Griffin, make him a little unsure about where the Suns are going from here. Sarver is interested in Knicks’ F David Lee if Stoudemire decides to leave.

– Lakers’ assistant Brian Shaw met in Cleveland with owner Dan Gilbert and front-office members on Tuesday about the Cavaliers’ coaching vacancy. It is not yet known if the club has offered its coaching position to Shaw, who is also expected to be in town on Tuesday. The 43-year-old Shaw has spent five seasons on Phil Jackson’s staff in Los Angeles. A 14-year NBA veteran, he has no head coaching experience but is considered a strong candidate to replace Jackson if the 11-time champion retires. Jackson, who has health concerns, is expected to announce his plans later this week.

– Yahoo! reports that Byron Scott wants the Cavs’ coaching job, regardless of what Phil Jackson does. Scott has not been offered anything from the Cavs and has already gone through two interviews with the team as well as numerous phone discussions. Scott told Yahoo! that his understanding is that the team wants to make a decision before the free-agency window gets thrown open Thursday. The Cavs met with Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw yesterday to talk about the job.

– The Nets have waived backup G Keyon Dooling. The Nets announced the much-anticipated move on Monday, a day before they would have been responsible for his $3.3M contract.

NHL

– The Flyers are working hard to try and sign G Evgeni Nabokov before he becomes an unrestricted free agent on Thursday, but a “source close to the situation” tells the Philadelphia Inquirer that he’s “not optimistic” a deal between the two sides will get done before Thursday.

– Sources confirm that the Kings are ready to make a “substantial offer” to F Ilya Kovalchuk. The Kings tried to acquire his rights over the draft however New Jersey remains in the bidding war for the sniper.

– The Coyotes have re-signed Wojtek Wolski to a 2-year contract. He had six goals and 12 assists in the final 18 regular-season NHL games with the Coyotes and had four goals in seven playoff games to lead Phoenix.

– The Avalanche have traded a 4th-round pick in the 2012 to the Coyotes for F Daniel Winnik. Winnik recorded just four goals and 19 points in 74 games last season with the Coyotes. Avalanche GM Greg Sherman likes Winnik’s size and his ability to kill penalties.

WWE

– According to the PWInsider, two of WWE’s up and coming young stars are on the sidelines due to problems with their work visas. Wade Barrett, leader of RAW’s Nexus stable, has been pulled from WWE television and live events because his United States work visa expired. Barrett missed Monday’s Raw and the weekend’s live events. SmackDown star Drew McIntyre has the same problem as Barrett. There was a recent angle shot on SmackDown where Drew was being “deported” – which isn’t that far from reality. While its unknown as to whether McIntyre remains in the US, it’s possible that he can stay while his green card application is being reviewed, since he’s married to WWE Diva Tiffany, a US citizen. There’s no timetable yet on when Barrett or McIntyre can return.

– Following Monday’s RAW, the following matches are confirmed for WWE’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view on July 18th:

Steel Cage Match for the WWE Championship
Sheamus (c) vs. John Cena

World Heavyweight Championship Match
Rey Mysterio (c) Jack Swagger

Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Randy Orton vs. Edge vs. Ted DiBiase vs. Chris Jericho vs. Evan Bourne vs. The Miz vs. R-Truth vs. John Morrison
Winner receives a title shot against the WWE Champion.

Money in the Bank Ladder Match
8 SmackDown Superstars (TBA)
Winner receives a title shot against the World Heavyweight Champion.

– WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his blog, which you can read in its entirety at JRsBarBQ.com. Here are some highlights of what JR said about:

Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin This Weekend: “This one could very end when the first guy lands his best right hand but I’m sticking solidly with Brock to leave the Octagon as the undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World. I’ve said all along that this will be Lesnar’s toughest fight especially with so many unanswered questions about Brock’s long inactivity and what affects suffering from diverticulitis may have had on the athletic beast of a man.”

“I know that Shane Carwin is a fabulous athlete and his record speaks for itself. However, I do know Brock Lesnar on a personal level and I also know that his intensity and focus are amazing traits and that he is at his best when he is either doubted or forced into a corner. Many MMA insiders feel that Brock’s layoff due to illness will be his downfall in Saturday night’s main event on pay per view. I happen not to share in that opinion and am counting the down the hours as this is one airplane trip with which I’m anxiously looking forward.”

Bryan Danielson: When I said Daniel Bryan had become relevant in the 13 or so weeks that he had been on WWE TV I meant that in a positive light and stand by the statement as many outside the WWE world had no familiarity with the talented grappler before he appeared on NXT no matter his exposure on Ring of Honor which does not have a large TV audience.

JBL’s To Wrestle Again? “Emailer…No…I do not expect JBL to EVER wrestle again. Last time John and I talked he was playing golf in St. Andrews, Scotland which is a helluva lot better gig than traveling up and down the road with ‘the boys.’ Sorry…but that’s a fact.”

The New WWE All Stars Video Game: ” I started the THQ voice overs today for the WWE All Stars video game which will be released in early 2011. I’m really enjoying the process and will hit it hard two more days this week to get us rolling and will be staying busy with this project throughout July. The King and I will be the announcers on the game with the Fink handling the ring announcing.”

NFL

– Sources tell ESPN NY that the Jets have inquired about free agent QB JaMarcus Russell. ESPN’s Rich Cimini characterizes the Jets’ interest as “monitoring,” and the team more likely to opt for free agent QB Mark Brunell behind QB Mark Sanchez. Russell is currently in Arizona attempting to get in shape. Cimini does call Arizona and Minnesota more likely landing spots for the No. 1 overall pick.

– Commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged that Titans’ QB Vince Young is unlikely to face an NFL suspension as a result of the altercation at a Dallas strip club earlier this month. Not only is it Young’s first offense, but Young was also issued a mere citation instead of a misdemeanor. The Titans’ starter will meet with Goodell sometime in the next few weeks to talk about the incident. The commish will almost certainly just hand down a warning.

MLB

– Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that the White Sox are “targeting” Nationals’ 1B Adam Dunn. The White Sox are typically aggressive when they want a player, and they want Dunn badly. The soon-to-be free agent is batting .276/.366/.559 this year with 17 home runs through 314 plate appearances and could take over DH duties in Chicago. If the Nationals are having little luck in negotiations toward an extension, they might as well get something for him.

– Tigers’ RHP Joel Zumaya (shoulder) left Monday’s game against the Twins in the bottom of the eighth inning with an apparent serious arm injury. It looks like he may have just blown out his arm. Zumaya was trembling in pain on the ground and was visibly wincing as he was escorted off the field. Stay tuned for an official update from the team, but it’s hard not to think the worst.

– After being re-evaluated Monday, it was determined that 2B Dustin Pedroia (fractured left foot) will not need surgery or a pin placed in his fractured left foot. And with that, it is expected that Pedroia will miss 4-to-6 weeks. There’s no question that his loss is huge, no matter the timeframe, but it could have been much worse.

– MLB.com is reporting that 38-year-old, former Jays’ C Sal Fasano, who manages the Jays’ Single-A squad, is an “early candidate” to take over the managerial spot with the big club when Cito Gaston retires at season’s end.

– The Baltimore Sun reports that Buck Showalter is interested in taking over the vacant managerial job for the O’s. Showalter said he’s “honoured” to be considered for the job. “Managing baseball is not a right; it’s something that you earn. I’m not going to get into personal issues; we’ll see where it takes us. It’s an honor — a lot of people work hard to get this opportunity.” In the meantime, Juan Samuel continues to be the interim manager of the O’s.

– Contrary to rumours, the Astros are not shopping for a shortstop. GM Ed Wade said, “Right now we’re not actively looking for a shortstop. That said, if something came along we thought would make sense, we’d pursue it.”

– The Cardinals are expected to place 3B David Freese (ankle) on the 15-day DL. Freese has been bothered by a sore ankle for a few weeks now and only rest is going to cure it. He will head to the disabled list with a .296/.361/.404 batting line, four home runs and 36 RBI.

– The Cubs have placed RHP Carlos Zambrano on the restricted list. Zambrano was suspended indefinitely by the Cubs on Friday for throwing a temper tantrum in the U.S. Cellular Field dugout and is not expected to rejoin the team until after the All-Star break. When he does return, the righty will pitch out of the bullpen.

– The Braves have placed OF Jason Heyward (bone bruise in left thumb) on the 15-day DL retroactive to June 27. Heyward will wear a cast for a week beginning Tuesday, which will hopefully accelerate the healing process. It’s too bad that he will miss a chance to play in the All-Star Game.

– The Nationals have placed RHP Tyler Walker (right shoulder inflammation) on the 15-day DL retroactive to June 20.

– The Red Sox have placed C Victor Martinez (fractured left thumb) on the 15-day DL retroactive to June 28. The power-hitting catcher is expected to return as soon as his two weeks are up. Martinez suffered the fracture at the tip of his left thumb when a foul tip ricocheted off the top of his glove on Sunday afternoon in San Francisco. V-Mart was batting .289/.344/.480.

– The Mariners have placed DH Mike Sweeney (back spasms) on the 15-day DL retroactive to June 26.

VoV

Marc Valeri – captaincharisma@hotmail.com
VoV – www.voiceofvaleri.com
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