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TORONTO -- There are still two weeks to go until thenon-waiver Trade Deadline, but as of right now, it appearsthe Blue Jays will take on the role of casual observer asopposed to active participant.General manager Alex Anthopoulos remained relativelyinactive at the Deadline in 2010, and it's very likely thatwill be the case again this year.Anthopoulos has been engaging in more serious tradenegotiations in recent weeks, but he still doesn't expect tomake any major moves."Every GM is in trade mode, if you want to call it that,"Anthopoulos said late last week. "That's not always thecase at certain times of the year. I find that excitingbecause you know there are opportunities to make trades. "At this point, though, [it's the] middle of July and I don't thinkwe're close to doing anything. If I had to handicap itright now, I'd say I don't expect us to do anything, butthat could change quickly and I hope I'm wrong."The Blue Jays do have some attractive trading chips if theyfeel inclined to make a move. This is precisely the time ofyear when a lot of contending teams look to improve theirbullpens. Toronto has veteran relievers Frank Francisco, Jon Rauch,Jason Frasor, Octavio Dotel and Shawn Camp, who are set tohit free agency at the end of the year and could be madeavailable.If the season were to end today, though, the five would allbe ranked as Type B free agents and would each net the Blue Jaysa compensation pick in next year's First-Year Player Draftif they signed with other teams. That provides Anthopoulos with the luxury of being able tostand pat if he doesn't receive an offer to his liking.Anthopoulos likely will continue working the phones to seewhich teams need help in the bullpen but will need valueclose to, or equal to, a top Draft pick in return.The most likely Mets Johan Santana Jersey player to be dealt is Dotel, who is making$2.75 million with a $750,000 buyout looming at the end ofthe year. Toronto would need to offer salary arbitration to him inorder to receive the Draft pick compensation, but at age 37, it's almost guaranteed Dotel would accept that offerinstead of opting for free agency.Anthopoulos wouldn't comment on any specifics leading up tothe Deadline, Twins Michael Cuddyer Jersey but did admit he's trying to be as proactiveas possible when it comes to improving his roster.Potential Trade Deadline ChipsThough the Blue Jays don't currently plan to be major players at the Trade Deadline, GM Alex Anthopoulos said that "could change fast." Here are assets Toronto has Alfonso Soriano Jersey that could draw interest from other clubs.RHP Frank Francisco (1-4, 5.40 ERA) -- The numbers haven't been pretty this year, but Francisco still has the type of arm that would intrigue a lot of teams across the Majors. He likely will qualify as a Type B free agent, so Toronto would need to receive value close, or equal, to that of a sandwich pick in the First-Year Player Draft. Francisco makes $4 million this season. RHP Jon Rauch (3-3, 4.23 ERA) -- The Blue Jays have a team option on Rauch for $3.75 million. If he isn't dealt before the Deadline, a likely scenario is for Toronto to buy out that year for $250,000 to become eligible for a compensation pick if he signs with another team. RHP Octavio Dotel (2-1, 3.46) -- Dotel is the most likely candidate to be dealt before the deadline. The 37-year-old is making $2.75 million this year and would almost assuredly accept arbitration if it were offered during the offseason. That means Anthopoulos would have to deal him or risk losing Dotel Cubs Alfonso Soriano Jersey at the end of the year for nothing. RHP Jason Frasor (2-1, 3.0 -- The longest-tenured player on the Blue Jays appeared set to leave via free agency in 2010 before accepting arbitration. His Type A status scared off teams who weren't prepared to part with a top pick to sign him. Frasor likely will qualify as a Type B Authentic Alfonso Soriano Jersey this year, which should generate more interest in his services, Starlin Castro Jersey but the Blue Jays could still deal him before then. RHP Shawn Camp (1-1, 4.31 ERA) --  Camp is set to hit free agency for the first time in his career and is expected to qualify as a Type B free agent. He could become a welcome addition to a club in need of a veteran right-handed reliever but teams would have to match compensation-round value in order to entice Toronto to deal him. Call to arms -- Carlos Villanueva (5-2, 3.31) or Jo-Jo Reyes (5-7, 4.94) likely could be available for teams looking for help at the back end of their starting rotations. But contenders likely would want to acquire pitchers with more proven track records. Help off the bench -- Corey Patterson could be available for teams looking to acquire a veteran fourth outfielder who can provide speed off the bench. A less likely candidate would be backup catcher Jose Authentic Starlin Castro Jersey Molina, who has earned praise for his ability to work with Toronto's young pitching staff. "There's a lot more dialogue," Anthopoulos said. "There'sthe window, it's the time of the year, there's a lot morediscussions amongst GMs. I was just in my office before Cubs Starlin Castro Jersey Icame down [to the field], scanning my board with all of theteams and making sure I had spoken with every GM and if Ineeded to Authentic Michael Cuddyer Jersey make any follow-up phone calls. "GMs are much more engaged and there's much more talkbecause one way or the other players will get moved, andthere's a lot of teams that are motivated to either buy orsell."Toronto doesn't have any other obvious trade candidatesbesides its five relievers. The club has a core of youngplayers locked up long-term, and Johan Santana Jersey unless teams start callingabout the likes of veteran bench players such as CoreyPatterson or Jose Molina, it's doubtful there will be muchin the works.But it's also impossible to completely count outAnthopoulos. Last year, the third-year GM surprised manyaround the league by pulling the trigger on a deal toacquire Michael Cuddyer Jersey shortstop Yunel Escobar from the Braves.Escobar fit the mold of an up-and-coming player who wasstill under contract for multiple years. Anthopoulous willcontinue to scour rosters in an attempt to find similarplayers who have fallen out of favor with their currentteams but still possess a lot of upside. Anthopoulos admitted as much, and he also wouldn't completelyclose the door on acquiring players who are set to becomefree agents at the end of the year."If we can improve the club, we'll always look to do that,"Anthopoulos said. "It always comes down to the assessment,or the value, and what you're giving up. "Even if you get someone here for two months, maybe you getto know them for a little bit. Maybe they get to know thecity, their teammates and maybe even if it's a prospectivefree agent, you get a chance to sign them back because youdo have that window of exclusive negotiating rights." Toronto might not make any major additions prior to July 31,but either way there will be some new faces in the lineupin the coming weeks. The Blue Jays continue to put anemphasis on their youth movement and another wave of talentis on its way.Before the end of the year, Minor League right-handers ZachStewart and Kyle Drabek could make their return, while topprospect Brett Lawrie should be ready at the beginning ofAugust.Lawrie was on the verge of making his Major League debut inearly June before he was sidelined with a fractured lefthand. The 21-year-old just wrapped up three rehab gameswith Class A Dunedin and will move up to Triple-A thisweek with an eye on getting ready for a callup to the bigleagues. The British Columbia native was hitting .354with 15 home runs and 49 RBIs in 52 games for Las Vegasprior to the injury. He is expected to start at third base,which would allow slugger Jose Bautista to move back to hispreferred position in right field.Blue Jays manager John Farrell is focused on the imminentarrival of Lawrie and the continued development of hisyoung core. The Trade Deadline talk will be left up toAnthopoulos."We fully anticipate Brett getting here," Farrell said whenasked what he was looking forward to in the second half."We want to see how guys continue throughout the course ofthe season and maintain durability, maintain strength. "It's the first-year guys and those in their second year intheir current role as you see their advances beingcompleted and their continued performance remaining at ahigh level."Anthopoulos hasn't taken his eye off this year's squad, butthe 34-year-old GM is attempting to build the Blue Jays into acontender that can sustain its success over the long haul.In order to do that, the club is attempting to acquire asmany assets as possible.That could open the door for an unexpected move or twobefore the end of the month. Anthopoulos said it doesn'teven matter what position it is. If the price is right, thenhe would pull the trigger on just about anything.It's not going to be easy, though."It's hard to make trades," Anthopoulos said. "It's hard toline up with a team, it's rare that you line up with ateam. "There might be an opportunity where the player might notbe a great fit but there's value for what we have to giveup, so you make room. At the same time, you're trying tobuild a team, a contending Authentic Johan Santana Jersey team, but you also need assetsto do that and sometimes you need to try to collect as manyas you can."

"Jose Reyes made the first stop today on a likely brief detour from the disabled list to Citi Field, playing in a rehab game with the Brooklyn Cyclones. The Mets shortstop was looking to prove that his left hamstring Authentic Ike Davis Jersey was healthy enough for him to return to Queens. After playing six innings against the Lowell Spinners, he did nothing to raise any doubt."I expect to play tomorrow," Reyes said afterward.And just in case it was unclear, one questioner asked if he meant the Mets."Of course," he answered with a chuckle.On a sunny day with a noon first pitch, the shortstop was infrequently required to physically exert himself.He had Ike Davis Jersey just one ball hit towards him in the field, a routine grounder Josh Hamilton Jersey that he scooped up for an out.Reyes did get to open up his gait Justin Morneau Jersey in the Authentic Josh Hamilton Jersey bottom of the six inning, though. He Cubs Matt Garza Jersey sent a well-hit ball off pitcher Luis Diaz bouncing against the left-centerfield wall for a double. He effortlessly Matt Garza Jersey made his way to second base, coming in standing up, not choosing to press Authentic Matt Garza Jersey for another Mets Ike Davis Jersey base.Reyes would end up scoring after a ground Rangers Josh Hamilton Jersey ball moved him over to third base, and a shallow fly ball dropped in to bring him home."I didn't think the ball was going to go that far," he said. "I'll save the triple for tomorrow."That was his only hit of the day, as he Twins Justin Morneau Jersey went 1-for-3 at the plate. Reyes flied out to centerfield leading off the game for the Cyclones in his first at-bat Authentic Justin Morneau Jersey and grounded out to second in the third inning."

 PHOENIX Cubs Kosuke Fukudome Jersey -- You couldn't ignore Daniel Hudson on Sunday.If he wasn't on the mound, pitching the second complete game of his career, he was at the plate, recording the second multi-hit game of his career. And if he wasn't at the plate, then he was crossing it, after hitting Twins Joe Mauer Jersey his first home run."It definitely is [memorable]," Hudson said. "My first home run, you get a complete game against the Dodgers, we're big rivals and everything like that. It feels great."No, you couldn't ignore Hudson's performance -- nine innings pitched, one run allowed on five hits, a home run and three RBIs -- in the D-backs' 4-1 victory over the Dodgers at Chase Field.But his teammates tried."I said to the guys to kind of Kosuke Fukudome Jersey sit down and let it be a little bit," catcher Miguel Montero said.Hudson received the Joe Mauer Jersey silent treatment, which eventually gave way to a celebration, inside the dugout after hitting what proved to be a game-winning home run off Ted Lilly."I knew they were going to do something like that," Hudson said. "I just said, 'Thanks guys, appreciate it. Thanks for the support.' They came around and gave me high-fives after that."The solo shot was the first of his career, a breaking ball-turned-laser beam that just found its way over the fence in left field."I just hit it hard," Hudson said. "It was top-spinning, so Authentic Kosuke Fukudome Jersey I didn't know if it was going to clear the fence, and I think I heard somebody reached out over the fence and brought it back for me."And as he continued to stifle the Dodgers from the hill, Hudson wasn't done at the plate, driving in two more runs with two outs the very next inning after manager Kirk Gibson Authentic David Wright Jersey elected to stick with the hot-hitting pitcher instead of opting for a pinch-hitter."It's Daniel Hudson," Gibson said matter-of-factly. "He's very competitive, hitting over .300, and he wanted to finish the game. He did well."Hudson once again jumped on a breaking ball, sending it into left field past the outstretched glove of Juan Uribe, to score Chris Young and Ryan Roberts and give himself more than enough offense to work with for his career-high 10th victory of the season.He also earned himself a place in franchise history, as it was the second time a pitcher has gone nine innings and driven in three runs in the same game. Brandon Authentic Joe Mauer Jersey Webb did it on May 20, 2006, against the Braves."It's Rangers Lan Kinsler Jersey a good round number to get to," Hudson said of his 10th win. "Obviously, Ian [Kennedy] got his last night, and I was happy for him. We just try to match each other and push each other to win."The 24-year-old also became the youngest pitcher in franchise history to toss two complete games in a season, the most since Dan Haren threw three in 2009."I take pride in going out there, keeping my Lan Kinsler Jersey pitch count low and working deep into games," Hudson said. "I think that's something I work hard in between starts on -- to have enough stamina to throw a lot of pitches."Hudson methodically worked through the Dodgers' lineup, Authentic Lan Kinsler Jersey allowing one run on five hits -- the run scored on a wild pitch -- while striking out three and walking none.He didn't surrender a hit through the first three innings, threw 113 pitches, didn't allow more than two baserunners in any inning and saved his most efficient frame for last, retiring the David Wright Jersey Dodgers on nine pitches in the ninth."He's very good Mets David Wright Jersey at closing out things," Gibson said. "He showed a lot of character and he was impressive today. Well rested and sharp."I was kind of watching him through the first innings and noticed he was getting through them very efficiently, and thought this might be a day that he might be able to go all the way, and he did."Gibson stuck with Hudson in the seventh after Los Angeles intentionally walked two batters and manager Don Mattingly replaced Lilly with right-hander Blake Hawksworth."I liked the matchup, honestly," Gibson said. "I know Hawksworth's good, and I know righties are better against him."Lilly was tagged with his 10th loss after pitching 6 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on four hits. Both intentional walks were his, and he struck out nine.Roberts opened the scoring in the second inning with a solo home run to left, his 12th of the year."I just caught a changeup," Roberts said. "I put a good swing on it, and it went out."With the series victory, the D-backs keep pace with the Giants in the National League West and sit three and a half games out heading into a four-game set with the Brewers on Monday."We want to win every series," Gibson said, "but we certainly feel better now that we won the series."We need for us to keep where we're at. It's the only way to get to the Giants."

 

ST. PETERSBURG -- Minds and bodies were getting tired as the stalemate between the Red Sox and Rays went all night Sunday and into the early hours of Monday morning.It was the type of occasion that called for Dustin Pedroia Michael Young Jersey -- who will never be accused of lacking energy -- to be a hero.And that's exactly what the little second baseman was for the Red Sox, raking a two-out, RBI single into right, bringing home the only run of an epic, 1-0 16-inning victory against the Rays.By the time the madness had ended, Pedroia had even earned a new nickname within the confines of his clubhouse that seemed as if it was about to go viral."The Muddy Chicken is definitely the player of the game," Red Sox ace Josh Beckett said of Pedroia. "He got it done when we absolutely needed it."The Muddy Chicken?"I don't even know what you're talking about, man. It sounds awesome, though, doesn't it?" said Pedroia.New monikers aside, Pedroia was just happy to give his team a big hit when they needed it most."I just wanted to go home," Pedroia said after a game that ended at 1:54 a.m. ET. "I think everyone did. We Denard Span Jersey were trying our best pretty much the whole night to score some runs. But they threw the ball outstanding all night. Twins Denard Span Jersey We did, too. It was a great game -- we're just happy we won."At last, the first substantial rally of the night by either side was Authentic Carlos Zambrano Jersey set up by a leadoff walk to Josh Reddick, a sacrifice bunt by Jason Varitek and then a chopper for an infield hit by Marco Scutaro.With Reddick on third and just one out, righty Adam Russell, the ninth pitcher of the night for the Rays, got a temporary reprieve when he got Jacoby Ellsbury on a shallow flyout to left.But up stepped Pedroia, who banged Russell's 0-1 offering into right, allowing Reddick to trot home."It was a fastball away," Russell said. "It was where I wanted it. He made a good hit on it, put some good wood on it. Fell in there."Without question, Pedroia was the man the Red Sox wanted at the plate at that critical moment."Because by that time, it's not just physical but it's mentally draining," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "That's probably the Authentic Carlos Beltran Jersey one guy you know that's going to figure out a way."Reddick was one of many players who helped the game go that long, making a spectacular leaping catch against the wall to end the bottom of the 10th.And back when it was an electric starting pitching duel between Beckett and Jeff Niemann, Pedroia made a couple of tremendous diving stops to rob the Rays of hits.There were several frustrating squanders for the Red Sox, before Pedroia made the marathon contest a worthwhile endeavor."It was a nice win -- it was a long one. Nobody holds us down for 16 innings," quipped Francona.Alfredo Aceves fired three scoreless innings to earn the win for Boston, again serving as an invaluable weapon."It's not easy for pitchers, but the game today was a long game," Aceves said. "Sixteen innings. Everybody was enjoying it and having fun out there. There wasn't much we could do. Just play."Jonathan Papelbon came on for the save, sending the Red Sox off to Baltimore on a winning note. Adrian Gonzalez ended it on a diving stop of a Reid Brignac grounder.It seemed to end just in time."I was beat up," Pedroia said. "I'm sure everyone else was, too. It's a great win for us. We had one earlier in the year when we lost one like this. It takes a lot out of you. It gives us a boost, so now we head to Baltimore. We'll get there probably round 7:30 [a.m.] or something and play soon."One man who won't play is the captain. Varitek, who is 39, caught all 16 innings."I'm just not going to sit down," Varitek said. "I'm scared to sit down. It was tough, but it's a nice one to win. You lose that one, and it probably hurts a little more."It was the longest game the Red Sox had been scoreless in since a 17-inning tie against the St. Louis Browns on July 14, 1916.It was also the longest game by time in Rays history."It was actually two games," said Beckett. "It felt like two games for everybody that was on the bench. We had rally caps going and everything. It Carlos Beltran Jersey was pretty good for us to be out there for that. This was a pretty wild one. It was fun to be a part of though."If ever the Red Sox Mets Carlos Beltran Jersey were going to break the scoreless tie, the top of the 11th seemed like the time. The Rays all but tried to gift-wrap a run to Boston, as they walked Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz Carlos Zambrano Jersey and pinch-hitter Darnell McDonald to load the bases with nobody out. But Jake McGee struck out Reddick, and Juan Cruz came in and struck out Varitek and induced Scutaro into a foul popup to the catcher.Both starting pitchers were nothing short of magnificent. Beckett went eight innings, allowing just one hit and no walks while striking out six for Boston. Tampa Bay's Niemann allowed two hits over eight innings, Rangers Michael Young Jersey walking two and registering 10 strikeouts.The Rays made a bid to start a rally in the bottom of the 10th when Justin Ruggiano skied one to deep left that looked like it might even have enough legs to be a walk-off homer. But Reddick made a tremendous leaping catch against the wall for the third out, saving what would have been an extra-base hit. B.J. Upton had climbed out of the Rays dugout to start a walk-off celebration. Instead, Upton had to grab his glove and go back to center field for the top of the 11th."I saw it off the Authentic Denard Span Jersey bat real well and got a good jump and figured I had it all the way with [Ellsbury] being where he was," Reddick said. "Luckily Authentic Michael Young Jersey we communicated well. The good thing with me is I've been able to scale the wall pretty good. I played basketball in my day. I have a little bit of ups."It didn't seem that Reddick's catch -- or anything else -- could deflate the Rays. By the end of the night, Pedroia -- who had three of Boston's five hits -- had one too many chances."Just put Cubs Carlos Zambrano Jersey it down in the newspaper, I wouldn't trade Pedey for nobody in this league right now," said Ortiz.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Not many people can hit a baseball farther than Jim Thome. In the sixth inning on Sunday, he reminded everyone of that fact by crushing home run No. 596 into the second deck in right field, a blast that was measured at 490 feet. Thome's seventh home run of the season propelled the Twins  to a 4-3 win over the Royals in the series finale.Thome's three-run shot topped his previous Target Field record Jose Reyes Jersey blast of 480 feet, which hit off the flag pole beyond right field last September."He clocked it, I heard," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, who has been battling an illness and was forced to watch the game from the clubhouse.It was not Thome's longest career home run -- he once hit a 511-foot blast with the Indians that remains the longest in the history of Progressive Field. That home run, on July 3, 1999, also came against the Royals.Of course, 490 feet is still a pretty impressive blast."Ridiculous. I stood up immediately," Twins starter Brian Duensing said. "I knew it was gone when he hit it; I didn't know it was Mets Jose Reyes Jersey going to go Cubs Carlos Pena Jersey that far."That's why it's so fun watching him hit, because you never know when it's going to happen. When he gets them, they're usually big situations or very large home runs. Today was both."Thome crushed a 3-2 slider from Royals starter Felipe Paulino about halfway up in the second deck. It was the 596th home run of Thome's career putting him just four shy of becoming the eighth player in Major League history to hit 600 or more career homers.The lefty slugger Cubs Ryne Sandberg Jersey hit it while still recovering from a sprained left big toe, and at age 40, health issues are the only thing keeping Thome from hitting mammoth home runs on a daily basis."I'm not going to win any races," Thome Authentic Nelson Cruz Jersey joked about the status of his toe. "I never did anyway. It's coming along good."Joe Nathan came on in the ninth for his second straight save in the series, the first time since Oct. 2-3, 2009, that Nathan recorded saves in consecutive games.Nathan has made nine consecutive scoreless appearances, allowing just three hits with seven strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings of work. He sits three saves shy of tying Rick Aguilera on the Twins' all-time list.Thome's blast Ryne Sandberg Jersey gave the Twins just enough offense to support Duensing, who picked up his seventh win of the season. The left-hander went 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with two Nelson Cruz Jersey strikeouts.Duensing settled in nicely after opening with three long innings, retiring 10 straight Royals hitters from the third to the second out in the sixth. "We just said, 'Let's keep going at 'em,'" Duensing said. "I was a little shaky early, and I think part of that was Carlos Pena Jersey the All-Star break. I threw bullpens when I got back, but Authentic Carlos Pena Jersey being off the mound in Rangers Nelson Cruz Jersey a game situation that long ... it took me a little while to get it going."After Thome handed Duensing a 4-1 lead, he surrendered a two-run blast to Jeff Francoeur in the seventh. Francoeur's home run was his 13th of the Authentic Jose Reyes Jersey season, a 418-foot blast to left. Duensing was taken out after facing one more batter, and the Twins' bullpen retired the Royals in order over the final 2 2/3 innings.Both teams scored in the first inning in similar fashion before going scoreless until the sixth. Melky Cabrera and Alexi Casilla each doubled with one out, and Alex Gordon and Joe Mauer each drove them in with singles.With their second straight win and the fourth in five games, the Twins moved to within five games of first place in the American League Central for the first time since April 23. The Twins also are five games under .500 for the first time since they were 9-14 on April 28.As the first-place Indians head into town on Monday for a four-game series, the Twins have a big opportunity to gain even more ground this week."Maybe this momentum will carry us over into the next two series," Authentic Ryne Sandberg Jersey Thome said. "You don't win every ballgame, but the thing this time of year is you want to win series. And that's what we're trying to do."

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