It seems that D'Backs outfielder Eric Byrnes is out for the season.  The team could certainly continue to get by with Conor Jackson in left field and Chad Tracy at first.  Or, they could just pick up a lefty-masher on the cheap to complement Tracy. GM Josh Byrnes admits he's looking at outside options, and seems to crave more than a platoon bat to give the offense a jolt.  When asked...

5:36pm: The AP story is out.  The Cubs get Harden and Chad Gaudin for Gallagher, Murton, Patterson, and catching prospect Josh Donaldson.  Jim Hendry did his best to counter the Brewers' acquisition of CC Sabathia, and Gaudin is more than a throw-in.  The A's get three MLB-ready players plus a solid offense-oriented catching prospect. Gallagher would have to be considered the centerp...

MLB.com's Mark Bowman writes about the Braves' trade deadline situation at the Trade Talk blog.  The Braves are in that gray area between sellers and buyers at six games out. Bowman says Braves GM Frank Wren isn't finding a reasonable deal for a power-hitting outfielder, but he's also disappointed by the Mark Teixeira market.  Bowman believes the picture will be clearer and the offers bet...

Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News talked to Giants GM Brian Sabean about his deadline plans.  By the way, you can download Sabean's trade history here. Sabean may make an acquisition to aid the '08 club, which is only five games out.  However, he won't acquire players who will become free agents after the season.  He compared his situation to '05, when the Giants added Ran...

According to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune, the Cubs signed their first round pick Andrew Cashner today for $1.53MM.  Cashner was the first reliever off the board at #19. Additionally, the A's inked first rounder Jemile Weeks, a college second baseman.  He gets a $1.91MM bonus. This site has done a nice job compiling a list of which draft picks have signed and for how much.  B...