According to a source, trade talks that would bring Jermaine Dye to Boston are dead.

Unless something changes in the next few hours, the Yankees won’t be getting Eric Gagne.

The Cubs are planning on starting Felix Pie in center in '08, and seem comfortable with Jacque Jones there for the time being.

The Cubs' interest in Orioles outfielder Jay Payton has cooled due to the revival of center fielder Jacque Jones since the All-Star break.

Rehabbing Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood took another important step Sunday toward a return from the disabled list, possibly as soon as the upcoming weekend home series against the Mets.

The hottest rumors have Jermaine Dye headed to either the Cubs, the New York Mets or the Boston Red Sox, the latter possibly as part of a three-team deal.

One indicator that a Mark Teixeira trade to Atlanta is near and that Texas will get Jarrod Saltalamacchia is that the Rangers are talking to teams about their starting catcher, Gerald Laird.

Kerry Wood threw a scoreless fifth inning, issuing one walk, in his first rehab appearance for Class A Peoria on Tuesday night.

General manager Jim Hendry said he'd have no problem making a deal with the White Sox before Tuesday's non-waiver trading deadline if a trade made sense.

Seven pitches, seven strikes.

The Cubs, Dodgers and Brewers have expressed interest in Octavio Dotel, and lefty Jimmy Gobble is drawing interest from several places.

The Yankees, along with the Braves, Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Cubs, have expressed interest in Kansas City right-hander Zack Greinke, a pitcher who could also serve as a starter if they were to need one in a pinch.

The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced they have acquired infielder Cesar Izturis and cash considerations from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for a player to be named.

Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee dropped his appeal of a five-game suspension Wednesday and began serving it immediately with the game against the San Francisco Giants.

There are broadcast reports the Cubs are interested in Kansas City right-hander Zack Greinke, who is 4-5 with a 4.

While Barry Zito, the San Francisco left-handed pitcher who signed a seven-year, $126 million deal during the offseason, participated in a pregame practice late Monday afternoon at Wrigley Field, a guy who could command an even bigger deal was sitting at his locker in the Cubs clubhouse.

Count Carlos Zambrano as someone who would welcome Mark Cuban as the new owner of the Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs have acquired catcher Jason Kendall from the A's for Rob Bowen and a minor leaguer, FOXSports.

The disclosure in the Tribune on Friday that Mark Cuban has submitted a formal application to Major League Baseball expressing interest in buying the Cubs got the players' attention in the home clubhouse at Wrigley Field.

Controversial Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said Thursday that he has submitted his application to purchase the Cubs.

On the day the other guys in town got a deal done with their ace pitcher, Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano made another pitch for what now looks even more like it could become the biggest payday for a pitcher in baseball history.

The Cubs have struggled against lefties and will be looking to fix that problem by acquiring a right-handed bat before the trade deadline.

The outfield alignment is back in flux with center fielder Felix Pie in a prolonged slump and benched, and manager Lou Piniella suggested Jacque Jones may get another chance to regain a starting job -- which probably would mean a trip to the minors for Pie for regular at-bats.