6:15pm: The deal is official, as per a press release by the Pirates. The deal is Chavez for Iwamura straight-up. 4:34pm: ESPN's Buster Olney tells us the Rays will receive reliever Jesse Chavez in return. Chavez, 26, posted a 4.01 ERA in 67.3...

12:50pm: According to Paul Sullivan of The Chicago Tribune, a Cubs source "quickly responded to the report by saying the rumor has 'no legs at all,' adding the team has not discussed the possibility of bringing Wells to the North Side.&...

The Astros hired former Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills as their new manager, according to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart.  The Astros fired Cecil Cooper with 13 games remaining in the season, replacing him with Dave Clark. Mills inherits a club w...

Pat Lackey informs us that a Cardinals source confirmed to Fanhouse's Ed Price that Mark McGwire has been hired to replace Hal McRae as the St. Louis hitting coach. McGwire, 46, played in St. Louis for four and a half seasons, hitting 220 ho...

Scott Boras believes Mark Teixeira and Matt Holliday are both "blue-collar superstars," learned Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times. Boras considers both to be "complete players," and finds Holliday unique in the upcoming free agent...