June 2012 - Baseball Wiretap

Phillies Willing To Offer Hamels At Least $120M
Sources have suggested since the spring that Cole Hamels could get upward of $150 million, or more, as a free agent.

Jon Heyman/CBS Sports

Dempster Willing To Re-Sign With Cubs Even If Traded
Ryan Dempster could re-sign with the Cubs this winter as a free agent.

USA Today

Tigers Aren't Making Nick Castellanos Available
Nick Castellanos is Detroit's top prospect at third base.

Bob Nightengale/USA Today (via Twitter)

Braves Looking For 'Top-Of-The-Rotation' Pitcher
Rival teams say that the Braves are looking specifically for a "top-of-the-rotation guy" ahead of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

Jayson Stark/ESPN.com (via Twitter)

Rivera Hopes To Pitch Again In 2012
Mariano Rivera is hopeful, but would not definitely say he will be returning in September for the pennant push.

Matthew Ehalt/ESPN.com

Youkilis Gets Big Welcome In Return To Fenway
Kevin Youkilis went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a run scored on Monday night.

Joe McDonald/ESPN.com

Bautista Suffers Wrist Injury In Loss
Jose Bautista didn't break any bones, but he has a tendon injury.

Associated Press

Votto Will Miss 3-4 Weeks After Knee Surgery
Joey Votto hurt the knee while sliding into third base June 29 in San Francisco, but has continued playing.

Associated Press

Upton Can Block Trade To Four Teams
Justin Upton can block a trade to the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs and Indians.

FOX Sports

Rays May Decide To Trade Shields
It remains to be seen whether or not the Rays will buy or sell close to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

Danny Knobler/CBS Sports

White Sox Latest To Begin Trade Talks For Greinke
The Braves, Angels, Rangers, Orioles and others also are expected to pursue a trade for Zack Greinke.

Jon Heyman/CBS Sports

Yankees Will Monitor Hamels, Pass On Greinke
New York isn't expected to pursue Cole Hamels as strongly as they did Cliff Lee two summers ago.

MLB Trade Rumors

Carl Crawford Hitting Second In Return
Carl Crawford missed the first 89 games of the season with wrist and elbow injuries.

Gordon Edes/ESPN

Cardinals Add Rosenthal To Bullpen
Trevor Rosenthal has been a member of Double-A Springfield's rotation all season.

MLB.com

Brewers Scratch Greinke From Wednesday Start
The right-hander has been the subject of trade speculation.

Associated Press

Guillen Ready For Rough Reception At Wrigley
Ozzie Guillen is prepared for a hostile return to Chicago this week as the Marlins visit the Cubs.

Doug Padilla/ESPN.com

Pine Tar Sparks Incident Between Guillen-Harper
The use of pine tar on Bryce Harper's bat sparked an incident between the Nationals rookie and Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen on Sunday.

MLB.com

Youkilis Won't Respond To Valentine's Latest Comments
This weekend, Bobby Valentine held Kevin Youkilis responsible for the rift between the two.

Associated Press

Yankees May Talk Extension Early With Cano, Granderson
Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson are scheduled to become free agents after the 2013 season.

New York Post

Six Teams Watch Garza Pitch Against Arizona
Matt Garza may have increased his trade value by pitching seven scoreless innings against the Diamondbacks on Sunday.

Bruce Levine/ESPN.com

Mariners Expect Ichiro To Return In 2013
Ichiro, who is having his worst statistical season in the major leagues, is eligible for free agency after this year.

Jon Paul Morosi/FOX Sports

Phillies 'Trying Like Heck' To Sign Hamels
The Phillies want to re-sign Cole Hamels, but if they fail they may turn around and deal him for a host of prospects.

Jim Salisbury/CSN Philly

Hamels' Start Scouted By At Least Seven Teams
There were at least seven teams with scouts in attendance on Sunday when Cole Hamels took the mound for the Phillies against Colorado.

Jim Salisbury/CSN Philly

Hammel Set For Knee Surgery
Jason Hammel will have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and is expected to be out for at least a month.

Associated Press

Pettitte On Target For Sept. 1 Return
Andy Pettitte is on target to return to the Yankees on Sept. 1 after X-rays on his left ankle came back "good."

Mike Mazzeo/ESPN.com

Halladay To Be Activated From DL On Tuesday
Roy Halladay is scheduled to be activated from the disabled list on Tuesday in time to start for the Phillies against the Dodgers.

Associated Press

Sheets Ends Two-Year Absence With Victory
Ben Sheets helped lead the Braves to a 6-1 win over the Mets on Sunday in his first Major League start since 2010.

Associated Press

Red Sox Interested In Betancourt
Rafael Betancourt is enjoying a good season, but because Colorado is struggling he will probably be trade bait.

Nick Cafardo/Boston Globe

Should Cubs Deal Dempster Before Next Start?
Dealing Ryan Dempster now would allow the Cubs to then focus on Matt Garza later this month.

Buster Olney/ESPN.com

Pirates Keeping Tabs On Upton
Pittsburgh is trying to end their streak of losing seasons and make the playoffs.

Jon Paul Morosi/FOX Sports (via Twitter)