Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer believes the Indians' preference to be to acquire an infielder, if they are to explore the trade market.  If so, they might pass on discussing potentially available outfielders such as Ken Griffey Jr .,...

Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post reports that the Rockies have signed lefty Glendon Rusch to a minor league deal.  Rusch missed all of the 2007 season due to a blood clot in his lung.  He struggled with his control in 19.2 innings with the...

Tom Haudricourt has the details on Ryan Braun 's new extension.  It's a tricky one, because it's not yet known whether Braun will be arbitration-eligible after the 2009 season.  It won't be known for sure until November of '09.  If he...

Hanley Ramirez' s six-year, $70MM deal will be officially announced Saturday.  MLB.com's Joe Frisaro has the details of the contract. Basically the deal pays $23.5MM for Ramirez's three arbitration years and $46.5MM for his first three years...

Angels owner Arte Moreno said today that the team is flexible and is willing to negotiate a contract extension with closer Francisco Rodriguez during the season.  K-Rod and his agent were strongly leaning toward putting talks off until after...

Baseball America attempted to project the entire first round of the June amateur draft.  Their top ten: 1. Rays - Tim Beckham , SS. 2. Pirates - Pedro Alvarez , 3B. 3. Royals - Buster Posey , C.  4. Orioles - Brian Matusz , LHP. 5....

According to ESPN's Buster Olney , at least seven clubs have monitored Freddy Garcia 's progress: the Mets, Red Sox, Braves, Yankees, White Sox, Rangers, and Mariners.  It wouldn't be surprising if even more clubs show up to watch Garcia throw...

Let's take a look at what is being said about some recent rumors, trades and signings in the Blogosphere... Right Field Bleachers sees the signing of Ryan Braun and Corey Hart to long-term deals as a "must" for the Brewers. Brewers Nation sees...

Time to round 'em up... Rob Neyer guesses B.J. Upton is the next to get a long-term deal from the Rays.  Back on April 24th, Jayson Stark wrote that the Upton family "has its own ideas about the market value of both brothers." ...

Phillies GM Pat Gillick isn't talking about a contract extension with ace pitcher Cole Hamels at present.  It seems that he first wants to see more healthy work from Hamels; Gillick expects to talk to him "at some point."  Things...

Call it informed speculation, but Jeff Blair wonders if the Jays will make a run at Padres shortstop Khalil Greene .  Blair points out that J.P. Ricciardi just missed drafting Greene in 2002. Greene, 28, is off to a slow start this year...

MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo reports that Fresno State righthander Tanner Scheppers will be sidelined with a stress fracture in his shoulder.  Mayo suggests that the serious injury is likely to drop Scheppers out of the top ten picks.  The risk...

Drayton McLane, the chairman and chief executive of the Astros, spoke with Roger Clemens recently and said that Clemens has not ruled out a possible return to playing baseball. "We have a personal services contract with him and it's not...

In Ken Rosenthal's latest column , he sees Matt Holliday as a prime candidate to be traded this summer. Rosenthal notes that the Rockies are already 10 games back and have very little chance of signing Holliday to an extension. Holliday is signed...

A few more notes for your ogling... This morning we told you that Glendon Rusch declined his assignment to AAA and chose to become a free agent. Troy E. Renck says that the Rockies are already expressing interest in the lefty. Brewers owner...