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Daily Clips July 31, 2014

LOCAL

Miley, offense lead D-backs to series victory Lefty tosses 6 2/3 scoreless; Gibson ties Melvin for most club wins By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_07_30_arimlb_cinmlb_1&mode=recap_away&c_id=ari

Gibson ties Melvin for most wins as D-backs' manager By Joe Morgan / MLB.com http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article/ari/kirk-gibson-ties-bob-melvin-for-most-wins-as-d-backs-manager?ymd=20140730&content_id=87106644&vkey=news_ari

Towers waiting to hear back on potential deals D-backs remain interested in starting pitching, catchers, outfielders By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140730&content_id=87014004&notebook_id=87062430&vkey=notebook_ari&c_id=ari

Collmenter, Locke out to rebound in series opener D-backs take on Pirates in four-game set at Chase Field By Daniel Popper / MLB.com http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_07_31_pitmlb_arimlb_1&mode=preview

A definitive ranking of the D-Backs' upcoming promos By Kylie Gad / azcentral http://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/events/2014/07/30/diamondbacks-home-game-promotions-august/13378731/

Diamondbacks's Eric Chavez retires after knee injury doesn't get better By Nick Piecoro / azcentral sports http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2014/07/30/diamondbacks-b-chavez-retires-knee-injury-get-better/13391079/

Diamondbacks waiting as trade deadline looms By Nick Piecoro / azcentral sports http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2014/07/30/diamondbacks-waiting-trade-deadline-looms/13389921/

Gerardo Parra's name popping up in MLB trade rumors By Nick Piecoro / azcentral sports http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2014/07/30/arizona-diamondbacks-gerardo-parra-name-popping-up-in-trade-rumors/13361275/

Diamondbacks close out Reds to win series

By Associated Press / azcentral sports http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2014/07/30/arizona-diamondbacks-cincinnati-reds-game-3/13355555/

Horsin' around with Eric Chavez FOX Sports Arizona http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/video/horsin-around-with-eric-chavez-073014?vid=313701443636

Diamondbacks vs. Pirates on FOX Sports Arizona By Jack Magruder / FOX Sports Arizona http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/photos/diamondbacks-vs-pirates-on-fox-sports-arizona-073014

D-backs' Chavez announces retirement, ending illustrious career By FOX Sports Arizona http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/story/d-backs-chavez-announces-retirement-ending-illustrious-17-year-career-073014

D-backs GM Kevin Towers: If it makes our team better, we'll listen By Vince Marotta / Arizona Sports http://arizonasports.com/42/1754555/Dbacks-GM-Kevin-Towers-If-it-makes-our-team-better-well-listen

Arizona Diamondbacks take series from Cincinnati: By the Numbers Arizona Sports http://arizonasports.com/42/1754624/Arizona-Diamondbacks-take-series-from-Cincinnati-By-the-Numbers

Eric Chavez announces retirement after 17 years in majors Arizona Sports http://arizonasports.com/42/1754658/Eric-Chavez-announces-retirement-after-17-years-in-majors

ESPN baseball insider gives insight to Kevin Towers’ future By Jordan Hamm / Sports360AZ http://www.sports360az.com/2014/07/espn-baseball-insider-gives-insight-kevin-towers-future/

Diamondbacks Organist Is Coming to Winslow Arizona Journal http://www.azjournal.com/2014/07/30/diamondbacks-organist-is-coming-to-winslow/

Diamondbacks' Chavez hangs 'em up By Mark Brown / Examiner http://www.examiner.com/article/diamondbacks-chavez-hangs-em-up

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77 years ago, the Pittsburgh Pirates' 'home' game in Prescott was a real show By Steve Stockmar / The Prescott Daily Courier http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&ArticleID=134425

Chavez retires By Damien Alameda / Tucson News Now http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/26155071/chavez-retires

NATIONAL

Eric Chavez announces retirement By Jerry Crasnick / ESPN http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/11287119/eric-chavez-retires-17-major-league-seasons

Morning Briefing: Deadline day! By Adam Rubin / ESPN http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/92342/morning-briefing-deadline-day

Prospects Report: A long-term view By Michael Hurcomb / CBS Sports http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasybaseball/story/24642042/prospects-report-a-long-term-view

Eric Chavez retires, an elegy for the fragile great By Steven Goldman / SB Nation http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2014/7/30/5927729/eric-chavez-retires-athletics-yankees-diamondbacks-60-day-disabled-list

BAR 7.31.14: Move the trade deadline back By C. Trent Rosecrans / cincinnati.com http://www.cincinnati.com/story/redsblog/2014/07/31/bar073114/13391773/

Arizona Diamondbacks - PlayerWatch By Reuters / Global Post http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/thomson-reuters/140731/arizona-diamondbacks-playerwatch

Diamondbacks infielder Eric Chavez retires By Associated Press / USA Today http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2014/07/30/diamondbacks-infielder-eric-chavez-retires/13378121/

D-backs' bats bail out Miley to beat Reds By Jeff Wallner / The Sports Xchange http://sports.yahoo.com/news/diamondbacks-5-reds-4-200009221--mlb.html

Eric Chavez, a star who stayed barely out of the limelight, retires By Jon Heyman / CBS Sports http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-heyman/24643351/eric-chavez-a-star-who-stayed-barely-out-of-the-limelight-retires

Eric Chavez announces retirement By Aaron Gleeman / NBC Sports http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/07/30/eric-chavez-announces-retirement/

Diamondbacks 5, Reds 4 By Reuters / Global Post http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/thomson-reuters/140730/diamondbacks-5-reds-4

Trade Winds Swirling: Top 10 Most Wanted By Mac Magee / Vavel http://www.vavel.com/en-us/mlb/374784-trade-winds-swirling-top-10-most-wanted.html

MLB veteran Eric Chavez retires By Sports Network / The Province http://www.theprovince.com/sports/veteran+Eric+Chavez+retires/10076509/story.html

Clayton Richard signs with Diamondbacks By Nathan Baird / Indy Star http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/2014/07/30/clayton-richard-signs-diamondbacks/13384495/

Price takes blame for latest Reds loss but team has bigger issues By Kevin Goheen / FOX Sports Ohio http://www.foxsports.com/ohio/story/price-takes-blame-for-latest-reds-loss-but-team-has-bigger-issues-073014

Eric Chavez announces retirement, leaves $1 million on the table By Mike Oz / Big League Stew https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/eric-chavez-announces-retirement--leaves--1-million-on-the-table-201526525.html

Diamondbacks take rubber match from Reds By Sports Network / FOX News http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2014/07/30/diamondbacks-take-rubber-match-from-reds/

Six-time Gold Glove winner Eric Chavez retires By SI Wire / Sports Illustrated http://www.si.com/mlb/2014/07/30/eric-chavez-retires

Former Yankees third baseman Eric Chavez retires By A.J. Perez / NJ.com http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2014/07/former_yankees_third_baseman_eric_chavez_retires.html

Thursday's scouting report: Pirates at Diamondbacks The Tribune-Review http://triblive.com/sports/pirates/6518860-74/diamondbacks-games-stretch - axzz390dPbcLJ

Diamondbacks down Reds in series finale, 5-4 By John Fay / cincinnati.com http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2014/07/30/diamondbacks-down-reds-in-series-finale/13368313/

Richard signs with Diamondbacks By Ross Bolin / WLFI http://wlfi.com/2014/07/30/richard-signs-with-diamondbacks/

Cal notes: Shipley balancing three pitches

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D-backs' No. 2 prospect ironing out his approach with coach Heredia By Alex Espinoza / Special to MiLB.com http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140730&content_id=86946778&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb&sid=milb

RENO ACES

Aces win third straight By Staff / Reno Gazette-Journal http://www.rgj.com/story/sports/2014/07/31/aces-win-third-straight/13395801/

Aces win third straight behind Serrano's start Aces right-hander improves to 3-0 with quality start By Chad Seely / Reno Aces http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140731&content_id=87192974&fext=.jsp&vkey=recap&sid=t2310

MOBILE BAYBEARS

BayBears Announce New General Manager By MiLB.com / Mobile BayBears http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140731&content_id=87216866&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t417&sid=t417

After 16 years with Senior Bowl, Chris Morgan rejoining Mobile BayBears By Tommy Hicks / AL.com http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/07/after_16_years_with_senior_bow.html

VISALIA RAWHIDE

SOUTH BEND SILVER HAWKS

Hot Rods Accelerate Past Hawks 10-1 South Bend Silver Hawks http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140730&content_id=87165426&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t550&sid=t550

HILLSBORO HOPS

Scorin' For Doran Twelve hits, five for extra bases as Hops defeat Spokane 9-1 By Matt Richert / Hillsboro Hops http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140731&content_id=87204624&fext=.jsp&vkey=recap&sid=t419

Hillsboro Hops bounce back from Tuesday's trouncing with 9-1 win over Spokane By Pete Christopher / Oregonian http://www.oregonlive.com/hillsboro-hops/index.ssf/2014/07/hillsboro_hops_bounce_back_fro.html#incart_river

MISSOULA OSPREY

Lots of new faces dot Missoula Osprey roster KPAX http://www.kpax.com/news/lots-of-new-faces-dot-missoula-osprey-roster/

Missoula Withstands Late Great Falls Rally O's Hit Five Homers And Williams Is The New Owner Of Hit Streak Record Missoula Osprey

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140731&content_id=87192042&fext=.jsp&vkey=recap&sid=t518

NATIONAL

MLB NEWS July 31, 2014 • MLB.com http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news_index.jsp ASSOCIATED PRESS July 31, 2014 • Sports.yahoo.com http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/morenews MLB TRANSACTIONS July 31, 2014 • MLB.com http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions

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LOCAL

Miley, offense lead D-backs to series victory Lefty tosses 6 2/3 scoreless; Gibson ties Melvin for most club wins By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_07_30_arimlb_cinmlb_1&mode=recap_away&c_id=ari CINCINNATI -- Things got a little dicey for the D-backs in the ninth inning Wednesday afternoon, but they were all smiles following a 5-4 win over the Reds at Great American Ball Park. With the win, the D-backs won two of three games in the series and head home to open a 10-game homestand Thursday against the Pirates. The victory moved manager Kirk Gibson into a tie with Bob Melvin for the most wins in club history with 337. Arizona led, 5-1, heading into the ninth when Gibson elected to go with left-hander Eury De la Rosa to start the inning. De la Rosa gave up a single and a walk while retiring just one batter before Gibson turned to closer Addison Reed. After Reed got Todd Frazier to fly out, Devin Mesoraco made things interesting with a three-run homer to left to pull the Reds to within a run. Reed, though, settled down and struck out Ryan Ludwick to end the game and record his 26th save. "It's not really the way we drew it up, but nevertheless we had enough runs," Gibson said. "He had a lead and you're going to throw strikes. You weren't going to walk that guy. You're going to go after him. Mesoraco had a pretty good series against us. He wasn't the tying run. [Reed] got the tying run out." That they did thanks to a two-run homer by Paul Goldschmidt in the sixth, a sac fly by Mark Trumbo in the eighth and a two-run blast by Didi Gregorius in the ninth. "They were able to create that separation," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "We talk about separation all the time, and what they did is they created the separation and got the two-run homer and then the add-on run in the eighth and the two runs in the ninth. And that's just not a good place to start turning your offense on when you're down four in the ninth." The D-backs' offense struggled to put anything together against Reds starter Alfredo Simon, who held Arizona to just two hits through the first five innings. Finally Goldschmidt was able to break through with the two-run homer in the sixth. "It was a fastball," Goldschmidt said. "He'd been doing a good job keeping it down and fortunately that one stayed up and I was able to hit it hard and get it out of there." That Goldschmidt's homer gave the D-backs a lead was in part because of the way starter Wade Miley was pitching.

Miley (7-7) tossed 6 2/3 solid innings to win for the fourth time in his last five starts. He had been looking to bounce back after allowing six runs over five innings in his last start against the Phillies. It wasn't exactly a thing of beauty, though, as Miley walked four and allowed seven hits. "It was a battle," Miley said. "I was able to get through it. It got better as the game went on, but early on I was just kind of fighting, just didn't feel very good. They were hitting it at some people so we were able to get some outs and get out of there." Miley was supported by outstanding defense from Gregorius at short and Gerardo Parra in right field. Trumbo also came up big in left field, throwing out Chris Heisey trying to stretch a single into a double. Gregorius, who was traded by the Reds to Arizona in a three-team deal before last season, was 6-for-14 in the series, but said there was no added motivation in playing against the team that dealt him. "For me, I just go out there and play the game," Gregorius said. "You're still competing. The main thing for me is trying to compete and have fun before or after the game. We're out here to play baseball. It doesn't matter who we play against. We always give 100 percent."

Gibson ties Melvin for most wins as D-backs' manager By Joe Morgan / MLB.com http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article/ari/kirk-gibson-ties-bob-melvin-for-most-wins-as-d-backs-manager?ymd=20140730&content_id=87106644&vkey=news_ari Arizona manager Kirk Gibson earned his 337th victory Wednesday afternoon, tying him with Bob Melvin for the most in franchise history. Gibson guided the D-backs to a 5-4 win over the Reds at the Great American Ball Park. Both skippers accomplished the feat in 677 games. Gibson has 54 games remaining this season to not only put some distance between Melvin and himself in the club's record books, but to right the ship in Phoenix. Gibson had a winning percentage of at least .500 in each of first three full seasons, winning National League Manager of the Year honors in 2011. Melvin finished with a winning record twice in five seasons at the helm in Arizona. Melvin managed the D-backs from 2005-09, compiling a 337-340 record in parts of five seasons. He was named NL Manager of the Year in 2007 and has led the A's to two consecutive Ameican League West titles, taking home the AL Manager of the Year Award in 2012.

Towers waiting to hear back on potential deals D-backs remain interested in starting pitching, catchers, outfielders By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com

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http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140730&content_id=87014004&notebook_id=87062430&vkey=notebook_ari&c_id=ari CINCINNATI -- With the clock ticking towards Thursday's 1 p.m. MT non-waiver Trade Deadline, D-backs general manager Kevin Towers is waiting to hear back from some teams on potential deals. "It's kind of in the other ballclub's court right now," Towers said just before the start of the D-backs' game with the Reds on Wednesday afternoon. "I think we all know there's a couple of potential deals out there that we've told clubs that to move this particular player, this is what we'd do. If they meet that, we do something. If not, we don't." Arizona's brass took a copy of the team's 40-man roster and put stars next to the names of players it feels are building blocks going forward and therefore not people they would want to give up. They also ranked the prospects in the Minor League system to see where areas of depth might be. "Starting pitching is probably No. 1 not only for our big league club, but for our system," Towers said of his team's needs. "And probably catching and then probably the outfield. So our focus in any trade discussion is probably in those three areas." The D-backs do have lots of depth in the infield, with Martin Prado and Aaron Hill among the veterans who have seen their names pop up in trade rumors. "In the right deal, maybe," Towers said of dealing from his depth. "But I think when you look at our middle infielders, I really don't want to part with any of them, especially our young guys." Towers said the trade market has been quieter than what he expected given the parity in baseball, but that of course could change in the hours ahead. "We don't like to be in this position," Towers said. "The last three years we've been in buy mode and this year they're asking us about our big league players, not our prospects. It's not a position we want to be in, but this is an opportunity to hopefully make us better in the future if we end up doing something." Chavez retires after 17 seasons CINCINNATI -- D-backs infielder Eric Chavez has decided to retire after 17 big league seasons. Chavez, who has been on the disabled list since June 8 with an injured left knee, hit .246 for Arizona this year. The 36-year-old spent the first 13 years of his career in Oakland, where he won six American League Gold Gloves at third base for the A's. Chavez spent the 2011 and '12 seasons with the Yankees before signing with the D-backs as a free agent. In his first season in Arizona, Chavez hit .281 and was a big contributor despite missing time with various injuries.

The D-backs re-signed him and he injured his left knee during Spring Training, but he tried to play through it early in the season before finally going on the DL. "I'm just so close to the end, you know, where I've got to worry about feeling good for the rest of my life," Chavez said in late June when asked if he was thinking about retirement. Chavez was a career .268 hitter over 1,615 games. "I took advantage of [being around him], in how I approach my game and defensively," third baseman Martin Prado said. "He taught me how to handle rough times and good times, trying to be the same player every day. He's a guy that always had knowledge to let you understand the game and respect the game. He did it. It's a shame that injuries kept him from doing more, but what he did was unbelievable. It was an honor for me to play with him." Parra tuning out trade rumors CINCINNATI -- D-backs outfielder Gerardo Parra has seen the rumors that he could be dealt before Thursday's 1 p.m. MT Trade Deadline, but he is trying to keep his focus on the field. "I try not to think anything about it because I'm happy being here," Parra said. "I'm happy being with the Diamondbacks. But that's baseball. Today you play and tomorrow you could play for another team. But I don't want to think about it and put pressure on myself. I'm going to play hard today and play to win." Parra's offensive production has dipped this year and advanced defensive metrics suggest that his defense has not been at the Gold Glove level it has been at, but he has picked up the pace recently at the plate. "I feel good now," he said. "I feel good in the second half. I want to try to finish strong." Parra is making $4.85 million this year and will get an increase this offseason in his final year of arbitration.

Collmenter, Locke out to rebound in series opener D-backs take on Pirates in four-game set at Chase Field By Daniel Popper / MLB.com http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_07_31_pitmlb_arimlb_1&mode=preview Josh Collmenter had perhaps the roughest start of his career his last time out against the Phillies on Saturday. The right-hander surrendered six earned runs on 11 hits before D-backs manager Kirk Gibson pulled the right-hander with two outs in the third inning. "He didn't have it," Gibson said after the game. "I stayed with him as long as I could." The lackluster performance was relatively unexpected, as Collmenter allowed only one earned run over seven innings in each of his previous two starts, the latter of which resulted in his eighth win. On Thursday, Collmenter, who sports a 4.03 ERA, will have an opportunity to return to form when he opposes

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Pirates left-hander Jeff Locke in the opener of a four-game series at Chase Field. Locke is coming off an equally subpar showing Saturday against the Rockies at Coors Field. The southpaw allowed six earned runs on 10 hits, including three home runs, over 6 2/3 innings in an 8-1 loss. It was first time since Locke's first start of the season May 5 that he surrendered more than three earned runs, and he'd strung together eight consecutive quality starts before his rough outing at Colorado. Locke said there were some mental obstacles to overcome when pitching against the same team in two straight starts. He limited the Rockies to three earned runs over six innings in Pittsburgh on July 20. "I think it gets in my head a tad bit when you play a team you don't see a lot during the season, but somehow you face them twice in a row," said Locke, who is 2-2 with a 3.54 ERA. D-backs: Towers cooking up potential deals With Thursday's non-waiver Trade Deadline swiftly approaching, general manager Kevin Towers said he is waiting on word from several teams about potential moves. "It's kind of in the other ballclub's court right now," Towers said before the D-backs' 5-4 win over the Reds on Wednesday afternoon. "I think we all know there's a couple of potential deals out there that we've told clubs that to move this particular player, this is what we'd do. If they meet that, we do something. If not, we don't." Towers said he doesn't like to be in a seller's position considering the D-backs have been in "buy mode" for each of the past three seasons. But if provided with an intriguing offer, Towers said he would be open to dealing from his depth in the infield, which includes veterans Martin Prado and Aaron Hill. "In the right deal, maybe," said Towers, who noted his team's biggest needs as starting pitching, catching and outfielders. "But I think when you look at our middle infielders, I really don't want to part with any of them, especially our young guys." Worth noting • Pirates first baseman Ike Davis is 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a homer against Collmenter in his career.

A definitive ranking of the D-Backs' upcoming promos By Kylie Gad / azcentral http://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/events/2014/07/30/diamondbacks-home-game-promotions-august/13378731/ If you're going to head out to the ballpark to watch the Arizona Diamondbacks play during their 10-game Chase Field homestand July 31-Aug. 10, here are the best games to enjoy off-field entertainment or pick up some swag. 1. 5:10 p.m. Aug. 2 – Pittsburgh Pirates

Zombie bobblehead in a Diamondbacks sweater. Seriously. The first 20,000 fans can take this cuddly character home. You know you want it. 2. 6:40 p.m. Aug. 8 – Colorado Rockies It's '80s Night at Chase, which means live music from Rock Lobster before the game, break dancers in the rotunda and an '80s-themed postgame fireworks display. More importantly, you can buy a ticket package that includes a pair of D-Backs Zubaz. D-BACKS ZUBAZ. 3. 6:40 p.m. Aug. 1 – Pittsburgh Pirates Post-game fireworks will feature a classic-TV theme, plus happy hour specials and music from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the Coors Light Strike Zone. 4. 6:40 p.m. Aug. 6 – Kansas City Royals "American Idol" finalist and Scottsdale resident Scott MacIntyre will sing the national anthem. MacIntyre went far in the TV singing show despite being almost completely blind. 5. 1:10 p.m. Aug. 3 – Pittsburgh Pirates Kids 15 and younger can run the bases after the game. Line up near section 110 immediately after the game. 6. 1:10 p.m. Aug. 10 – Colorado Rockies Military members and first responders get 50 percent off tickets to all Sunday home games. 7. 6:40 p.m. Aug. 5 – Kansas City Royals Papa John's mascot Mr. Slice is throwing out the first pitch. So there's that. 8. 5:10 p.m. Aug. 9 – Colorado Rockies The Sounds of the Southwest Choir will perform the national anthem. 9. 6:40 p.m. Aug. 7 – Kansas City Royals No giveaways scheduled, but a bunch of Little League teams are going to be recognized. Good for the kids. 10. 6:40 p.m. July 31 – Pittsburgh Pirates No freebies or fun this night either. Except the baseball, of course.

Diamondbacks's Eric Chavez retires after knee injury doesn't get better By Nick Piecoro / azcentral sports http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2014/07/30/diamondbacks-b-chavez-retires-knee-injury-get-better/13391079/

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CINCINNATI – His knee injury refusing to improve, veteran third baseman Eric Chavez has decided to retire. The Diamondbacks made the announcement after Wednesday afternoon's game against the Cincinnati Reds. Chavez, who did not accompany the team on the road trip, is expected to speak to reporters at Chase Field prior to tonight's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. For years, Chavez was one of the better third basemen in baseball, hitting .273 and averaging 28 homers a year from 2000 to 2006, a stretch in which he won six Gold Glove awards. But his career was derailed by injuries. Over a four-year span, Chavez needed two back surgeries and three shoulder surgeries. From 2007 to 2010, he played in just 154 games. He had found new life in recent seasons in a bench role, contributing offensively while not putting too great a toll on his body. He batted .281 with nine homers in 228 at-bats for the Diamondbacks last season. He was hitting .246 with a .795 OPS in 69 at-bats this year. Parra rumors Right fielder Gerardo Parra is having a disappointing season, and if recent trends hold that must mean the Diamondbacks are considering trading him. Parra's name popped up in trade rumors Tuesday, with rival executives saying the Diamondbacks are shopping the veteran outfielder. In years past, when Parra was desperate for everyday at-bats with the Diamondbacks, he might have been open to a deal. But he told reporters Wednesday he would prefer not to be traded. "I try not to think anything about it because I'm happy being here," he said. "I'm happy being with the Diamondbacks. But that's baseball." Parra has a .256 average, a .301 on-base and a .360 slugging percentage. All are career lows. Scouts say his speed is down from previous years. A two-time Gold Glove winner, Parra's defensive numbers are down, as well. Parra's down year isn't the only thing potentially driving down his trade value. He'll be arbitration-eligible next season for the third time, which could drive his salary above $6 million. Given his production is down across the board, Parra might be non-tendered.

Diamondbacks waiting as trade deadline looms By Nick Piecoro / azcentral sports http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2014/07/30/diamondbacks-waiting-trade-deadline-looms/13389921/ CINCINNATI – After Paul Goldschmidt and Didi Gregorius led the way to a series-clinching 5-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday afternoon, the Diamondbacks' road trip had just one last stop.

The team bus pulled out of Great American Ball Park and swung by the Westin, where Diamondbacks executives were holed up for the past three days in advance of Thursday's trade deadline. They departed town without having completed any deals, but General Manager Kevin Towers made it sound as if the club was waiting along with everyone else to see if something happens. "It's kind of in the other ballclubs' court right now," Towers said. "I think we all know there's a couple of potential deals out there that we've told clubs that to move this particular player this is what we'd do. If they meet that, we do something. If not, we don't." Already this month, the Diamondbacks have unloaded two pitchers, reliever Joe Thatcher and starter Brandon McCarthy, and they have a slew of veterans who are believed to be available to contending teams, from infielders Aaron Hill and Martin Prado to outfielder Gerardo Parra to relievers Oliver Perez and Addison Reed. In each of his previous three deadlines with the Diamondbacks, Towers has been on the other end of discussions, trying to pry big-league pieces away from also-ran teams in hopes of making a playoff push. This year, he's a clear seller. "It's not a position we want to be in," Towers said, "but this is an opportunity to hopefully make us better in the future if we end up doing something." That could happen in either of two ways: They acquire players equipped to help in future seasons or they save money that can be spent more wisely elsewhere. If they get players back, it's likely it will be in the form of a starting pitcher, catcher or outfielder, the organization's main areas of need, according to Towers. He was hesitant to talk too specifically about his trade options, but he did note the organization's depth on the infield and in the bullpen, areas other teams have inquired about in recent days. All those players could make it easier to part with some of their major-league trade chips. "We value Martin a great deal and like Hilly," Towers said. "It's probably a situation right now where I think (if) we get healthy we're still a good ballclub. So it's going to have to end up being the right deal that makes sense for us. If not, we don't do anything and keep even our veteran players, our middle infield depth, we're fine." Of course, standing pat wouldn't help the Diamondbacks shore up areas of weakness, particularly the rotation. That the club is in need of starting pitching help is another indication of how quickly things can change in baseball. Prior to the 2012 season, Towers said the club's starting rotation depth was such that the team "should be competitive every year for the next five to seven years." But that surplus has been depleted following injuries to Daniel Hudson and Patrick Corbin; the trades of Ian Kennedy, Tyler Skaggs and Trevor Bauer; and poor performance from Trevor Cahill, among others. Up Next

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D-Backs vs. Pirates When: Thursday, 6:40 p.m. Where: Chase Field (roof hotline: 602-462-6262). TV/Radio: FSAZ/KTAR-AM 620, KMVP-FM 98.7, KSUN-AM 1400. Pitching matchup: Diamondbacks RHP Josh Collmenter (8-5, 4.03) vs. Pirates LHP Jeff Locke (2-2, 3.54). Notable: Collmenter is coming off a rough start on Saturday in Philadelphia, where he gave up six runs on 11 hits in 2 2/3 innings. … He had given up one run in seven innings in each of his previous two starts. … Collmenter hasn't faced the Pirates since making a relief appearance against them in August of last season. … Locke pitched well against the Diamondbacks on July 1, giving up just two runs in eight innings at PNC Park. … He was roughed up by the Rockies at Coors Field on Saturday, when he gave up six runs in 6 2/3 innings. Upcoming pitchers: Friday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Vidal Nuño (0-2, 3.47) vs. Pirates RHP Edinson Volquez (8-7, 3.87). Saturday: At Chase Field, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Chase Anderson (6-4, 3.34) vs. Pirates RHP Vance Worley (4-1, 2.54). Sunday: At Chase Field, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Trevor Cahill (1-8, 5.59) vs. Pirates LHP Francisco Liriano (3-7, 3.97).

Gerardo Parra's name popping up in MLB trade rumors By Nick Piecoro / azcentral sports http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2014/07/30/arizona-diamondbacks-gerardo-parra-name-popping-up-in-trade-rumors/13361275/ CINCINNATI – Right fielder Gerardo Parra is having a disappointing season, and if the recent trend holds, that can only mean one thing: The Diamondbacks are considering trading him. Parra's name popped up in trade rumors on Tuesday, with rival executives saying the Diamondbacks are shopping the veteran outfielder. In years past, when Parra was desperate for everyday at-bats with the Diamondbacks, he might have been open to a deal. But he told reporters Wednesday he would prefer not to be traded. "I try not to think anything about it because I'm happy being here," he said. "I'm happy being with the Diamondbacks. But that's baseball. Today you play here and tomorrow you could play for another team. But I don't want to think about it and put pressure on myself. I'm going to play hard today and play to win." Parra has a .256 average, a .301 on-base and a .360 slugging percentage. All are career lows. Scouts say his speed is down

from previous years. A two-time Gold Glove winner, Parra's defensive numbers are down, as well. In 2011, his Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR) – a stat that, in part, measures a fielder's ability to turn balls hit to his "zone" into outs -- as a left fielder was a plus-10.6. In 2013, he had a plus-26.6 in right field. This year, he's been a minus-1.1. Still, Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said he views Parra as someone who "has a huge impact defensively." Gibson acknowledged Parra might not be having his best defensive season, but he sees opposing teams challenging his throwing arm less often, and that alone has value. "They don't really mess with him," Gibson said. "He's still very good defensively. Is it his best year? Maybe not. He's still pretty damn good out there." Parra's down year isn't the only thing potentially driving down his trade value. He'll be arbitration-eligible next season for the third and final time, which could drive his salary north of $6 million. Given his production is down across the board, Parra might be a candidate to be nontendered.

Diamondbacks close out Reds to win series By Associated Press / azcentral sports http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2014/07/30/arizona-diamondbacks-cincinnati-reds-game-3/13355555/ CINCINNATI (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run homer that kept Alfredo Simon winless since the All-Star game, and the Diamondbacks held on to beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-4 on Wednesday, taking a series between two teams struggling to score runs. Goldschmidt's 19th homer off Simon (12-6) gave the Diamondbacks two of three in the series. Simon has gone 0-3 since his first All-Star selection. Didi Gregorius added a two-run homer in the ninth. The Reds fell to 2-10 since the All-Star break. Devin Mesoraco's three-run homer in the ninth off Addison Reed ended a streak of 11 straight games with three runs or fewer, Cincinnati's longest such stretch of futility since 1967. Left-hander Wade Miley (7-7) gave up seven hits and four walks in 6 2-3 innings, improving to 4-1 in his past five starts. Ryan Ludwick had RBI double in the eighth off Brad Ziegler. Reed came on with two aboard and got the last two outs and gave up Mesoraco's homer before getting his 26th save in 31 chances. Neither team did much on offense throughout the series, which opened with Arizona's 2-1 win in 15 innings on Monday. The Reds won the second game 3-0, leaving Arizona with a stretch of only one run in 20 innings. Both teams wasted chances for early rallies throughout the series. The Reds did it again on Wednesday, when Chris Heisey was thrown out at second while trying to stretch a hit with none out in the third. Ramon Santiago was caught trying to steal third later in the inning.

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Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt, left, is congratulated by David Peralta after Goldschmidt hit a two-run home run off Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Alfredo Simon in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, July 30, 2014, in Cincinnati. Arizona won 5-4. Up Next D-Backs vs. Pirates When: Thursday, 6:40 p.m. Where: Chase Field (roof hotline: 602-462-6262). TV/Radio: FSAZ/KTAR-AM 620, KMVP-FM 98.7, KSUN-AM 1400. Pitching matchup: Diamondbacks RHP Josh Collmenter (8-5, 4.03) vs. Pirates LHP Jeff Locke (2-2, 3.54). Notable: Collmenter is coming off a rough start on Saturday in Philadelphia, where he gave up six runs on 11 hits in 2 2/3 innings. … He had given up one run in seven innings in each of his previous two starts. … Collmenter hasn't faced the Pirates since making a relief appearance against them in August of last season. … Locke pitched well against the Diamondbacks on July 1, giving up just two runs in eight innings at PNC Park. … He was roughed up by the Rockies at Coors Field on Saturday, when he gave up six runs in 6 2/3 innings. Upcoming pitchers: Friday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Vidal Nuño (0-2, 3.47) vs. Pirates RHP Edinson Volquez (8-7, 3.87). Saturday: At Chase Field, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Chase Anderson (6-4, 3.34) vs. Pirates RHP Vance Worley (4-1, 2.54). Sunday: At Chase Field, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Trevor Cahill (1-8, 5.59) vs. Pirates LHP Francisco Liriano (3-7, 3.97).

Horsin' around with Eric Chavez FOX Sports Arizona http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/video/horsin-around-with-eric-chavez-073014?vid=313701443636 (VIDEO EMBEDDED)

Diamondbacks vs. Pirates on FOX Sports Arizona By Jack Magruder / FOX Sports Arizona http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/photos/diamondbacks-vs-pirates-on-fox-sports-arizona-073014 (SLIDESHOW EMBEDDED)

D-backs' Chavez announces retirement, ending illustrious career By FOX Sports Arizona http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/story/d-backs-chavez-announces-retirement-ending-illustrious-17-year-career-073014 Veteran infielder Eric Chavez announced his retirement Wednesday, ending a 17-year career.

Chavez, 36, was on the disabled list with a knee injury that troubled him during his two seasons with the Diamondbacks and is forfeiting more than $1 million in salary by retiring now rather than the end of the season. Chavez spent the first 13 seasons with the Oakland Athletics, for whom he won six Gold Glove Awards at third base. After Oakland, he played two seasons with the New York Yankees before signing with the Arizona, where he makes his home, prior to the 2013 season. He retires with 260 career home runs, a .268 lifetime batting average, 902 RBI and A .475 slugging percentage. He enjoyed much of his success early in his career -- six 25-plus home run seasons prior to the age of 28 -- before a series of injuries began taking a toll. Chavez announced his retirement in an interview with Jon Heyman of CBS Sports and said he wouldn't have felt right being paid for the remainder of his contract while sitting out the rest of the season on the disabled list. (TWEET EMBEDDED)

D-backs GM Kevin Towers: If it makes our team better, we'll listen By Vince Marotta / Arizona Sports http://arizonasports.com/42/1754555/Dbacks-GM-Kevin-Towers-If-it-makes-our-team-better-well-listen Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers is spending a lot of time on the phone these days. With the trade deadline looming Thursday afternoon (1 p.m. Arizona time), Towers is holding conversations with many other GMs around baseball about trades to make the D-backs a better baseball team in the future. There has been speculation on many players on Arizona's roster, including some who were picked up in big trades engineered by Towers himself in the not-so-distant past. Players like Martin Prado and Didi Gregorius, who were both acquired prior to the 2013 season, fit that description. Would the fact that Towers made deals for those players prevent him from trading them again? "I think it's about making your team better," Towers told Doug and Wolf Wednesday morning on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. "Our depth in our system is in our bullpen, middle infielder and third base. Two of our better prospects are Jake Lamb and Brandon Drury, both third basemen. I think if you're just looking at it from a perception standpoint and thinking 'I can't move this guy, he was a key piece in a deal' -- if you think it's going to make your ball club better, you have to look at it." Reading into Towers' comments, you'd think that would mean that Prado is on his way out of town. Not necessarily. "We like Martin Prado a great deal and it would have to be a deal that we would feel very good about to move him," he said. "We have to look at what we have in the system and what's coming up behind him and how close they are.

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"If you're able to acquire a starting pitcher or an every day player, and you have a lot of trust in guys like Lamb and Drury, you look at it. I don't really look at in a way that because (Prado was acquired) in a major trade, I think you have to separate those types of things. We like Martin a lot, but if a deal presents itself that makes us better in the near future and the future, I think you look at it. If not, you hold on to him." So, how close are Lamb and Drury to being big league-ready? Lamb, 23, is playing very well at Double-A Mobile, hitting .315 with 14 home runs and a Southern League-leading 79 RBI in 102 games. The former sixth-round pick out of the University of Washington was recently named the 98th-best prospect in baseball by MLB.com Drury, who was one of five players acquired by the D-backs in the trade that sent Justin Upton to Atlanta in January of 2013, is in his fifth pro season, but is still just 21 years old. He's hitting .299 with 19 homers and is second in the California League with 80 RBI for Class A Visalia.

Arizona Diamondbacks take series from Cincinnati: By the Numbers Arizona Sports http://arizonasports.com/42/1754624/Arizona-Diamondbacks-take-series-from-Cincinnati-By-the-Numbers The Arizona Diamondbacks won their second series of July and sent the scuffling Cincinnati Reds back to below .500. The Diamondbacks held on to a 5-4 win with all four of the Reds' runs coming int he final two frames. Here's a look at Wednesday's early game, by the numbers: 0 Earned runs allowed by D-backs pitcher Wade Miley. It's his second scoreless outing in his last four starts after giving up at least one earned run in each of his first 19 starts. Miley had an ERA of 2.45 in six July starts. 2 Didi Gregorius homered on Wednesday and drove in two runs. He was the only player to have a hit in all three games of the series -- he actually had multi-hit games in all three. Gregorius has hit .310 in his past 18 games with eight RBI. 4 The Diamondbacks were without a hit in five at-bats with a runners in scoring position. For the series, they were 4-for-17. 6 Closer Addison Reed made the game interesting when he allowed a three-run homer to Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco, but he ended up converting his sixth straight save opportunity. Reed also had six consecutive scoreless outings before Wednesday. 11 The game featured 11 walks -- six from the D-backs and five from the Reds. Reds pitcher Carlos Contreras allowed two walks

in one-third of an inning and threw strikes on just seven of his 21 pitches. 20 Outfielder David Peralta had another multi-hit game, his 20th in just 47 games in MLB. 337 Manager Kirk Gibson tied Bob Melvin for the most wins in franchise history with 337.

Eric Chavez announces retirement after 17 years in majors Arizona Sports http://arizonasports.com/42/1754658/Eric-Chavez-announces-retirement-after-17-years-in-majors Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eric Chavez announced his retirement after 17 seasons Wednesday afternoon. The infielder played in 44 games this season, his last being on June 8. He went on the disabled list with a knee injury and hoped rest would heal it and allow him to return. Chavez, 36, was a six-time Gold Glove winner at third base and won the 2002 Silver Slugger award. He had a career .970 fielding position, good enough for third all-time behind only Mike Lowell and Brooks Robinson. In 13 years with the Oakland A's and two years each with the New York Yankees and Diamondbacks, Chavez had 260 home runs, 902 RBI and hit .246. Chavez played on seven postseason teams, advancing to the ALCS in 2006 and 2012.

ESPN baseball insider gives insight to Kevin Towers’ future By Jordan Hamm / Sports360AZ http://www.sports360az.com/2014/07/espn-baseball-insider-gives-insight-kevin-towers-future/ When Tony La Russa took control of the Arizona Diamondbacks, many thought general manager Kevin Towers and manager Kirk Gibson were all but out the door. That may not necessarily be the case. ESPN baseball insider Pedro Gomez hinted that Kevin Towers may be here to stay for the Diamondbacks when he joined the Brad Cesmat Show in his weekly segment. Cesmat asked if Kevin Towers was using the upcoming trade deadline as a way to try out for his next job. Gomez’s response was a bit surprising. “Let’s not think that Kevin Towers is gone,” Gomez said. “There is a very good possibility that Towers will still be the G.M. here next season.” Tony La Russa was brought in to evaluate the Diamondbacks organization from top to bottom. He essentially has final say in all baseball decisions, including who stays and who goes. While La Russa has not given any indication on the futures of Kirk

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Gibson and Kevin Towers, the perception was La Russa’s presence seemed to make both of their seats a little bit hotter. Gomez stressed there was still plenty up in the air, but the odds were not completely against Towers. “Tony La Russa is here and he is the new boss and he may want change. A lot of times they do want change,” Gomez said, “But in terms of a high level general manager, there’s still a pretty good chance (Towers) will be here, I think”. When asked about the details of Gomez’s insight, he simply stated: “You just hear people talk”. He then explained how Towers’ resume and tenure with the San Diego Padres and Diamondbacks could provide stability for the club over the coming years. “Maybe the D-backs are tired of every four or five years hitting the reset button in terms of their front office. Towers had a very good run for about 15 years with San Diego. That’s a long run, and the Padres were a very competitive team for that time,” Gomez said. “So (the Diamondbacks) may be in business of saying, ‘You know what? We can’t just keep hitting reset all the time. Let’s maybe look for a little bit of stability here and see what happens’”. As the trade deadline approaches, many Diamondbacks players are waiting to see how their future with the club pans out. The team’s general manager may be feeling that very same uncertainty, but according to Gomez, he may be here for longer than the public anticipated. “I’m not saying it definitively. I don’t make that call. It wouldn’t surprise people within the game if Towers were still here”.

Diamondbacks Organist Is Coming to Winslow Arizona Journal http://www.azjournal.com/2014/07/30/diamondbacks-organist-is-coming-to-winslow/ The Winslow Friends of the Library will host the appearance of Arizona Diamondbacks organist Bobby Freeman on Monday, Aug. 4, at the Route 66 Plaza in downtown Winslow. Freeman will begin his program at 6:15 p.m. with songs and fun and games for kids of all ages. Freeman is the official organist of the Diamondbacks and plays at all of their home games. He is probably best known for playing God Bless America and Take Me Out to the Ballgame during the seventh inning stretch. The Friends of the Library cordially invite all to attend the event and suggest that those who can bring their own lawn chair to insure comfortable seating during the performance.

Diamondbacks' Chavez hangs 'em up By Mark Brown / Examiner http://www.examiner.com/article/diamondbacks-chavez-hangs-em-up

The mind wanted to continue but the body, more likely the left knee, simply said, “no can do.” In the end, Diamondbacks’ infielder Eric Chavez gave in to a chronic knee injury, which hampered his performance on the field but not his spirits in the clubhouse. On Wednesday, Chavez said “good-bye” to his playing days in a baseball uniform and the Diamondbacks scheduled a news conference at 4 p.m. Pacific time Thursday afternoon to make the formal announcement. In his brief stay with Arizona, Chavez was the consummate role player. With his desire was to give Chavez more playing time, manager Kirk Gibson was clearly cognizant of his protracted injury. Placed on the disabled list with a sprained knee on June 8, Chavez began a rehabilitation period but by the recent All-Star break, the Diamondbacks recognized the severity of his knee. At that point, the medical staff shut down any progress to help Chavez return to the playing field this season. While his uniform number 12 hung neatly in his locker, Chavez was no longer a regular in the clubhouse, and his son Diego, so prevalently in having catches with players and roaming the clubhouse with his glove and bat in hand, disappeared as well. For parts of two seasons with the Diamondbacks, Chavez was never 100 percent healthy. Last season, he went on the disabled with a minor right oblique tear from May 31 to June 28 and landed back on the DL from Aug. 10 to Aug. 26 with a strained left knee. Still, he knocked in 44 runs on just 64 hits. His .281 batting average for 2013 closely monitored his career average of .268 for 17 major league seasons. A first round selection (10th overall) of Oakland in 1996, Chavez played 13 years with the A’s, two with the New York Yankees and his final two with the Diamondbacks. One of the best fielders all-time at third base, Chavez won six Gold Gloves and his fielding percentage is third best in that position in the history of the game. In all, teams in which Chavez played qualified for post-season play seven times and he left the game with 316 career doubles, 24 triples, 266 home runs and 902 RBIs. Though injury-plagued a year ago, and he appeared in 80 of the Diamondbacks’ 162 games, Gibson wanted Chavez back for 2014. In fact, the D-backs gave him more money. For 2013, he signed a one-year deal at $3 million, and for this year, the Diamondbacks and Chavez settled on another one-year contract worth $3.5 million. With his retirement on Thursday, Chavez leaves $1 million behind and could have collected the entire $3.5 mil amount had he remained on the disabled list. Yet, his conscience was too strong. Because he was unable to perform, Chavez told Jon Heyman of CBS Sports that he could not take the money and not play. Still,

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figures estimate Chavez made $83 million throughout is career and may have a future in the game. Chavez is expected to elaborate on his future plans during the Thursday news conference. MAKE WAY FOR THE GANG FROM THE STEEL CITY The Diamondbacks return to Chase Field from their recent 3-3 road trip and begin a 10-game home stand. First in are the Pittsburgh Pirates. On Thursday night at 6:40 p.m., right-hander Josh Collmenter (8-5, 4.03 ERA) faces lefty Jeff Locke (2-2, 3.54). On Friday night at 6:40 p.m., lefty Vidal Nuno (0-2, 3.47) opposes right-hander Edinson Volquez (8-7, 3.87). On Saturday night at 5:10, it’s right-hander Chase Anderson (6-4. 3.34) taking on righty Vance Worley (4-1, 2.54). This is also Zombie bobble-head give-away night. For Sunday afternoon at 1:10 p.m. right-hander Trevor Cahill (1-8, 5.59) takes on lefty Francisco Liriano (3-7, 3.97). Some numbers to consider. On Thursday, Collmenter has not faced enough Pittsburgh hitters to record any numbers. Martin Prado is 2-for-8 (.250) against Locke, Aaron Hill is 1-6 and Paul Goldschmidt is 4-for-6. On Friday, Goldschmidt is 7-14 (.500, one home run) against Volquez while Hill is 1-14, Miguel Montero is 4-21 and Gerardo Parra is 3-for-18 (.167). On Saturday, Goldschmidt is 2-for-7 against Worley, Prado is 2-for-8 and Montero is 1-for-6. For Sunday, Travis Snider is 2-for-10 against Cahill. Against Liriano, Mark Trumbo is 3-for-14 (.214) and one home run. After the Pirates, the home stand continues with three against the Kansas City Royals and three more against the Colorado Rockies.

77 years ago, the Pittsburgh Pirates' 'home' game in Prescott was a real show By Steve Stockmar / The Prescott Daily Courier http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&ArticleID=134425 The Pittsburgh Pirates visit Arizona Thursday to open a four-game series against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Good crowds are expected, especially with the competitive Pirates locked in a battle for first place in the NL Central. But it's nothing quite like the old days when the Pirates came to Arizona. When they came through Prescott to play an intrasquad exhibition game during a spring jaunt out west in 1937, Prescott could party.

The Bucs, with two World Series championships and four pennants to their credit then, left the West Coast to head to Prescott by train on Monday, April 5, 1937, to get in some practice time two weeks before the start of the regular season. Days earlier, Prescott Mayor William H. Timerhoff issued a proclamation to declare a public holiday between 2 and 5 p.m. on April 6 in which he did "earnestly urge" businesses to close so that employees could attend the game at the Prescott fairgrounds. "Whereas, for the first time in the history of Prescott, through the untiring efforts of the Northern Arizona State Fair Association, the Yavapai County chamber of commerce, and the Prescott Baseball League," the proclamation read, "the Pittsburgh National League baseball team will appear in an exhibition baseball game at the fairgrounds." Some 23 businesses in town plus all city offices agreed to close up shop for the three hours that the Pirates invaded Prescott. "They found a royal and vociferous welcome at Prescott yesterday where a picturesque squad of more than 3,000 filled the stands of the county fairgrounds," sports writer Chester L. Smith, traveling with the Pirates, wrote in The Pittsburgh Press on April 7. And remember, Prescott had a population then of around 5,500. The Pirates had played in a California swing that took them to San Diego, El Centro and San Bernardino in the days leading up to Prescott. Major League teams were inclined to travel west to soak up warmer climates than in their home cities during this period, with the Detroit Tigers being the first team to officially train in Arizona back in 1929. The Pirates traveled with their hitting instructor, Honus Wagner, who a year earlier was inducted as one of the first five members into the Baseball Hall of Fame. A couple of players and coaches still remained from the Pirates' last World Series title in 1925, including the team's player/manager Pie Traynor, a future Hall of Famer himself, who played third base when not coaching. The split-squad exhibition in Prescott saw Wagner's team top the lineup headed by coach Jewel Ens 12-2, with pitcher Cy Blanton going the distance in the winning effort. And after playing through some rain during their California games, weather had an impact at Prescott's mile-high elevation as well. "They also met up with a raw desert wind that made it inadvisable to do more than go through perfunctory paces," wrote Smith, who later became one of the few sports journalists ever to serve as both president of the Baseball Writers Association of America (1950) and of the Football Writers Association of America (1956). In a nod to the Prescott residents, the Pirates even allowed local players to suit up in the exhibition. "These two teams played five innings and then a Pirate team with a battery of Prescott players and a Prescott team with a battery of Pirate players played the last four innings," wrote an account in the Prescott Evening Courier.

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The big bat of the day belonged to Pittsburgh outfielder Fred Schulte, who went 4-for-4 with a home run and a triple. The Pirates continued east after their Prescott stop with an exhibition in Albuquerque. They eventually made their way to Wrigley Field for Opening Day against the Cubs on April 20, and opened the season with four straight wins and nine victories in their first 11 games. Paul Waner, a future Hall of Famer whose preseason contract holdout kept him from playing in Prescott, tied for the fourth highest batting average in all of baseball (.354) by the season's end.

Chavez retires By Damien Alameda / Tucson News Now http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/26155071/chavez-retires PHOENIX – Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) infielder Eric Chavez announced his retirement following a distinguished 17-year Major League career. Chavez will be available to media at a news conference tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. at Chase Field in the Interview Room. Chavez, 36, was a 6-time American League Rawlings Gold Glove Award ® winner at third base from 2001-06 as well as the 2002 American League Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award ® at third base. In 2002, he was named to The Sporting News AL All-Star Team and finished 14th in AL MVP voting, the first of 4 Top-30 AL MVP finishes. His career .970 fielding percentage at third base is tied for third best all-time (min. 800 games) with Ken Reitz behind Mike Lowell (.974) and Brooks Robinson (.971), while his 6 Gold Gloves at third base are tied for fourth with Buddy Bell and Robin Ventura behind Brooks Robinson (16), Mike Schmidt (10) and Scott Rolen (7). Among active third basemen entering today’s games (stats only at third), he ranked fourth in games (1,403), hits (1,367), doubles (290), triples (23), home runs (244) and walks (586), fifth in RBI (833), tied for sixth in slugging percentage (.482), seventh in OPS (.828), ninth in on-base percentage (.346) and 10th in average (.271). His teams won 6 Division Titles (4 AL West championships with the Oakland Athletics [2000, ’02, ’03 and ’06] and 2 AL East championships with the New York Yankees [2011, ‘12]), were a Wild-Card qualifier once (A’s in 2001) and advanced to the ALCS in 2006 and 2012. He played in 34 games over 9 series in his 7 trips to the Postseason. The left-handed hitting infielder spent 13 seasons with the Athletics from 1998-2010, 2 seasons with the Yankees from 2011-12 and 2 seasons with the D-backs from 2013-14. In 1,615 career regular-season games, he hit .268 (1,477-for-5,518) with 816 runs scored, 318 doubles, 24 triples, 260 home runs and 902 RBI. He owns a career .818 OPS with .342 on-base and .475 slugging percentages. Defensively, he appeared in 1,402 games at third base, 21 at first base, 5 at shortstop and 2 in left field.

Chavez spent 2 seasons in the Minors in 1997-98 and in 1998 was named the Baseball America and Topps’ Minor League Player of the Year after hitting a combined .327 (173-for-529) with 45 doubles, 33 home runs and 126 RBI in 135 games with Double-A Huntsville and Triple-A Edmonton. He was the Athletics’ first-round selection and 10th overall pick in the 1996 First-Year Player Draft out of Mount Carmel High School (San Diego, Calif.), where he was a 2-time Baseball America High School All-American. - continued - ERIC CHAVEZ ? INFIELDER ? OAKLAND A’S 1998-2010 ? NEW YORK YANKEES 2011-12 ? ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS 2013-14 CAREER HIGHLIGHTS 6-time AL Gold Glove Award® winner (2001-06)…tied for the fourth-most all-time among third basemen. Played first 13 seasons with Oakland (1998-2010), the longest continuous tenure as an Athletic, and second-most overall behind Rickey Henderson (14). Won the 2002 AL Silver Slugger Award at third base. From 2000-06, ranked eighth in the AL with 199 home runs and tied for eighth with 660 RBI 1998 Baseball America and Topps Minor League Player of the Year. 34 games of Postseason experience. 2014 900th career RBI on May 18 vs. Dodgers. 2013 .993 fielding percentage Led third basemen (min. 50 games) with (1 error). 1,500th career game played on April 17 @ Yankees. 250th career home run on April 22 @ Giants. Fifth career walk-off hit (single) on Aug. 31 vs. Giants. 2012 Hit back-to-back homers with Mark Teixeira on Aug. 9 @ Tigers, the first Yankees teammates to do so in the eighth inning or later on the road to tie the game and then take the lead since Aug. 24, 1955 @ Tigers (Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle). 2011 Did not commit an error in combined 99 total chances in 42 games at third base (33 starts) and 3 at first (2 starts).

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2010 Made his 11th Opening Day start, tying Jimmy Dykes for second most in Athletics franchise history. 2007 Ninth straight Opening Day start tied an Oakland record. 2006 Seventh straight season with at least 20 doubles and 20 homers. Won sixth consecutive AL Gold Glove® Award at third base…led Majors and set an Oakland record by a third baseman with a .987 fielding percentage (5 errors in 391 total chances)…the .987 mark was the fourth-highest by a third baseman in AL history. Set a then-Oakland record with 65 consecutive errorless games by a third baseman from May 1-Aug. 4. 200th career home run on May 2 @ Angels. 2005 Won fifth straight AL Gold Glove Award at third base. Became second player in Athletics franchise history with 6 straight seasons with at least 25 home runs, joining Jimmie Foxx (1929-35). Named AL Player of the Week for May 30- June 5. 1,000th career hit in his 1,000th game on Aug. 31 @ Angels. 2004 Won fourth straight AL Gold Glove Award at third base. Led the AL in walks and tied for fifth in on-base percentage. 2003 Won third straight AL Gold Glove Award at third base. Led all AL third basemen in RBI and tied for first in home runs. Reached 100 RBI for the third consecutive season, 1 of 9 players in A’s history to accomplish that feat. 2002 Named to The Sporting News AL All-Star Team and received the AL Silver Slugger Award at third base after hitting .275 (161-for-585) with 31 doubles, a career-high 34 home runs and 109 RBI in 153 games with the A’s. Won second straight AL Gold Glove Award at third base. Tied for seventh in the AL in home runs and ranked ninth in RBI.

Hit his 100th home run on Aug. 20 @ Indians. Earned AL Player of the Week honors for Aug. 19-25, hitting .367 with 4 home runs and 13 RBI. Played in the MLB All-Star Series in Japan following the season and batted .294 with 1 homer and 3 RBI. POSTSEASON: Hit .381 (8-for-21) in the ALDS vs. Twins…hit safely in all 5 games…clubbed his first postseason home run in Game 2, a 3-run shot off Joe Mays. 2001 Won his first AL Gold Glove Award at third base after leading the league with a .972 fielding percentage. Led all AL third basemen in RBI and ranked second in home runs…set an A’s franchise record in doubles, home runs and RBI by a third baseman. Reached base safely in his final 31 regular season games. Named the AL Player of the Month for Sept. after hitting .370 with 8 home runs and 26 RBI. 2000 Compiled a career-high 15-game hitting streak from May 27-June 18 (.386, 22-for-57). Hit for the cycle on June 21 vs. Orioles, the first in the Oakland Coliseum’s history and eighth-youngest player in Major League history to do so (22 years, 197 days). POSTSEASON: Hit .333 (7-for-21) with 4 RBI in the ALDS vs. Yankees…went 3-for-4 with a RBI in his postseason debut in Game 1. 1999 Made first Opening Day start at third base at 21 years, 119 days, the A’s youngest OD starter since Rickey Henderson in 1980. Hit first home run on May 15 vs. Twins (off LaTroy Hawkins). Started season as Baseball America’s No. 3 Prospect overall. 1998 Major League debut on Sept. 8 vs. Orioles (0-for-1). First hit on Sept. 9 vs. Orioles (single off Juan Guzman).

NATIONAL.

Eric Chavez announces retirement By Jerry Crasnick / ESPN http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/11287119/eric-chavez-retires-17-major-league-seasons Eric Chavez, a six-time Gold Glove Award winner over 17 major league seasons with the Oakland Athletics, New York

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Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks, announced his retirement Wednesday at age 36. Chavez, a first-round draft pick by Oakland in 1996, is a career .268 hitter with 260 home runs and 902 RBIs. He averaged 28 home runs a season with the A's during a seven-year span from 2000-2006 and won the American League Silver Slugger Award at third base in 2002. In 34 postseason games with Oakland and New York, Chavez batted .192 with a .555 OPS. Chavez's career .970 fielding percentage ties him for third best all-time with Ken Reitz among players with a minimum of 800 games played. Only Mike Lowell (.974) and Brooks Robinson (.971) are better. Chavez's six Gold Gloves tie him with Buddy Bell and Robin Ventura for fourth most ever by a third baseman, behind Robinson (16), Mike Schmidt (10) and Scott Rolen (7). Knee problems have sidelined Chavez for much of this season in Arizona. He's batting .246 with three homers in 69 at-bats with the Diamondbacks.

Morning Briefing: Deadline day! By Adam Rubin / ESPN http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/92342/morning-briefing-deadline-day FIRST PITCH: It’s a day of rest for the Mets, aside from early wakeup calls for those participating in third-base coach Tim Teufel’s charity golf tournament in Greenwich, Conn. So the focus turns to GM Sandy Alderson. The non-waiver trade deadline is 4 p.m. Thursday. Mets insiders have suggested the very likely scenario is the team stands pat, but stay tuned. The Mets return to Citi Field on Friday to open a four-game series against the San Francisco Giants. Jonathon Niese (5-6, 3.23 ERA) opposes right-hander Ryan Vogelsong (5-8, 4.45) in the opener. Thursday’s news reports: • Zack Wheeler limited Philadelphia to two runs in 6 2/3 innings and Daniel Murphy launched a tiebreaking three-run homer en route to an 11-2 victory against the reeling Phillies on Wednesday at Citi Field. Lucas Duda produced three RBIs and has now driven in a run in a career-best six straight games. Murphy’s opposite-field shot against Kyle Kendrick in the fifth made it 5-1. “I hit the ball that way,” Murphy quipped about the frequency he goes to left field. “It just doesn’t ever go that far.” On Duda, David Wright said: “It’s just amazing the transformation in such a short time period where he’s become one of the more dangerous hitters in the National League. It’s been fun to watch, because every time he picks up the bat you think he’s going to hit the ball hard. And most of the time he does.”

Terry Collins complimented Wheeler, who has a 1.63 ERA over his past six starts. “You saw a guy battle really without his best command,” the manager said. Even Jeurys Familia had an RBI single. Read game recaps in the Post, Daily News, Newsday, Times, Journal, Star-Ledger, Record and at MLB.com. • Matt Harvey told ESPNNewYork.com he expects to get on a mound next week for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery on Oct. 22, 2013. Harvey told Mike Puma in the Post he still would like to make a cameo in the majors before the season ends, even though it is clear that’s highly unlikely. “Even if it was one inning out of the bullpen, I would be happy,” Harvey said. The expectation is Harvey will pitch in the fall instructional league in Port St. Lucie, Fla., which spans late September and early October. He told Puma a brief appearance in the Arizona Fall League is likely, too. Marc Carig in Newsday reports the initial Harvey mound session actually could occur as soon as Friday. • Columnist Kevin Kernan in the Post advocates the Mets acquiring outfielder Matt Kemp from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Writes Kernan: Matt Kemp would be moved by the Dodgers if the price were right, and, yes, the price is always an issue with the Mets. Kemp is owed $107 million over the next five years. Kemp would be a great fit for the Yankees, too, if they wanted to go there. • Jon Heyman at CBSSports.com notes any Mets pursuit of Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez would have to wait until the winter. Heyman portrays CarGo as more realistic for the Mets. Writes Heyman: Ultimately, the Mets don't see themselves as likely to land Tulowitzki -- "he wants to be a Yankee" one Mets person said, stating what has becoming obvious -- so Gonzalez will presumably be the main focus of talks once they hook up. • A Mets insider told ESPNNewYork.com there was one scenario, although it seemed unlikely to materialize, in which the Mets could acquire an “intriguing” outfielder before 4 p.m. It’s not clear who that is, though. Nick Piecoro in The Arizona Republic reports there’s buzz the Diamondbacks’ Gerardo Parra is available. Parra, earning $4.85 million this season, has one more year of arbitration eligibility before becoming a free agent following the 2015 season. • Mets chief operating Jeff Wilpon served on a three-member arbitration panel trying to determine how much the Washington Nationals should be paid for their TV rights by the regional sports network MASN. The principal owner of that network is the Baltimore Orioles. As a concession for entering O’s territory when the Nats relocated from Montreal for the 2005 season, the Nats agreed to

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discounted rights fees through 2011. Since then, however, there has been a squabble about how much the Nats should receive from MASN. Despite a reported favorable ruling for the Nats by the arbitration panel that included Wilpon, the issue apparently still could be headed to court, irking commissioner Bud Selig. Read the full story in The Hollywood Reporter. • Michael Fulmer tossed six scoreless innings and St. Lucie beat Dunedin, 4-3. Wuilmer Becerra had a two-run triple as Kingsport beat Danville, 8-3. 2014 first-round pick Michael Conforto went 3-for-3 with two RBIs in Brooklyn’s 9-4 win against Auburn. Read the full minor-league recap here. • Read more on Wheeler in the Post and Newsday. • Read more on Duda in the Record and Daily News. • Read more on Familia in the Star-Ledger. • The Giants recently signed Dan Uggla after he was released by the Atlanta Braves. There are conflicting reports about Uggla’s status, but it appears he will not be a Giant when the club arrives at Citi Field on Friday. Uggla is 0-for-11 with a walk and has committed three errors since joining San Francisco. Writes Henry Schulman in the San Francisco Chronicle: Dan Uggla is still a Giant, but probably won’t be when the team gets to New York. I got indications earlier today that Uggla was going to be cut loose. MLB.com reported that he and (incorrectly, [Tyler] Colvin) were released, but Giants officials say there was no roster move with Uggla. In any event, it seems Uggla’s tenure with the Giants might conclude with three errors, no hits and a few more days of service time applied to his big-league pension. One spot likely will go to Brandon Belt, who is expected to be activated in New York. Another could foretell a trade, but none was imminent when I left the ballpark around 6 p.m. • Read a review of Sharknado 2 in Rolling Stone. One line from Wednesday's premiere pleased Mets fans: "You don't mess with a Mets fan on the 7 train." (See clip on Vine here.) • From the bloggers …NY Mets Life gives Alderson some pointers on what the Mets should do at the deadline. BIRTHDAYS: Billy Wynne, who made his major league debut with the Mets in 1967 and was traded the following offseason in a deal that returned Tommie Agee, was born on this date in 1943. TWEET OF THE DAY: (TWEET EMBEDDED)

Prospects Report: A long-term view By Michael Hurcomb / CBS Sports http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasybaseball/story/24642042/prospects-report-a-long-term-view

You might not believe it, but there was a time when Dodgers outfield prospect Joc Pederson was a relatively unknown player. I know it's difficult to imagine given the player he has blossomed into, but Pederson wasn't a high draft pick coming out of high school (11th round in 2010) and didn't become a top-100 prospect until 2013. Though, the Dodgers paid Pederson like a top prospect, handing him the second-highest signing bonus ($600,000) in the team's 2010 draft class to keep him from going to USC. I had to go back into the archives to see what was being said about Pederson at the beginning of his career to determine just how far he's really come over the last few years. I dug up a scouting report from Baseball America from 2011. They had Pederson ranked as the Dodgers' 25th-best prospect. Here is a snippet from BA's analysis: "Joc, who was also a wide receiver in high school, doesn't have any dominant tools, but he has the potential to be average across the board and certainly would have gone higher in the draft if not for his price tag. He has a physical, athletic build and the potential to add strength as he matures. … He has a quick bat and average raw power." The scouting report on Pederson has certainly changed over the last few years. He's now not only one of the top prospects in baseball, but coming into the season Baseball America had labeled Pederson as "a multi-dimensional player whose tools are average to plus across the board, with comparisons ranging from Curtis Granderson to Jim Edmonds." With Pederson on the doorstep to the majors, his rise from obscurity got me thinking about players right now with relatively low ownership in CBSSports.com leagues that are showing long-term upside. These are players whose ownership are not higher than 3 percent, but names owners in long-term keeper formats might want to put on your radar. Luis Severino, SP, Yankees Affiliate: Double-A Trenton 2014 stats (Class A, Double-A): 5-3, 2.50 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 111 strikeouts, 23 walks and two home runs allowed in 20 starts (97 1/3 innings) Severino is one of the fastest rising prospects in baseball. MLB.com now has him ranked as the Yankees' top prospect and Baseball America slotted him 34th when they released their Midseason Top 50 list. The 20-year-old right-hander has been pretty dominant in his pro career. He has a 2.23 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 205 2/3 innings. He is also striking out 9.1 batters and walking just 2.2 per nine innings, and has allowed just five home runs in his career. While his fastball can reach the high 90s, it usually sits in the mid-90s. His slider and changeup are also developing into potential plus pitches. Severino earned an in-season promotion last year and has already earned two in-season promotions this year. He's making a beeline for the Bronx, and hopefully he won't fizzle out like Dellin Betances and Manny Banuelos did once they reached Triple-A. In Betances' defense, he's carved out a niche as an All-Star reliever, but he was once projected to have ace potential, which seems to be the path Severino is headed. Jake Lamb, 3B, Diamondbacks Affiliate: Double-A Mobile

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2014 stats: .315/.393/.552/.945, five triples, 14 home runs, 35 doubles, 79 RBI, 59 runs, 47 walks and 98 strikeouts in 101 games I made brief mention of Lamb last week when I was talking about fellow Diamondbacks third-base prospect Brandon Drury. The two are basically neck-and-neck when you look at any prospect rankings for the Arizona organization, but you won't hear the Diamondbacks complaining about being flush with talent at the position. Lamb has done nothing but crush the baseball since turning pro. He has a career .316/.400/.547/.947 slash line in 237 games. Although he was a sixth-round pick in 2012, the Diamondbacks knew Lamb needed work with his swing since he was a slash hitter in college. Well, the Diamondbacks have gotten the 23-year-old infielder to tap into his above-average raw power, while being able to maintain his plate discipline and feel for hitting. The Diamondbacks might have to move Lamb or Drury off the hot corner or trade one, but Lamb has shown great ability to hit in the minors and that's what Fantasy owners want to see. Steven Matz, SP, Mets Affiliate: Double-A Binghamton 2014 stats (Class A, Double-A): 8-6, 2.60 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 99 strikeouts, 30 walks and three home runs allowed in 19 starts (110 2/3 innings) Matz had a long recovery following Tommy John surgery in 2010, but he's been a great success story coming back from the major elbow injury. He has a 2.49 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 46 career starts. He is also striking out 9.3 batters per nine innings and has allowed just eight home runs in 246 innings. You can see why the Mets were very patient with the 2009 second-round pick. Matz generates a lot of ground balls thanks to his low-90s fastball and long stride that helps him keep the ball low in the strike zone. Matz has improved his command, which is great because the scouts feel his changeup and curveball could develop into plus pitches. He is showing potential to develop into a No. 2 or No. 3 starter at the major-league level. Ryan McMahon, 3B, Rockies Affiliate: Class A Asheville 2014 stats: .278/.349/.484/.833, two triples, 12 home runs, 36 doubles, 83 RBI, 67 runs, 42 walks, 113 strikeouts and five stolen bases in 96 games The former high school quarterback hasn't looked bad for choosing baseball over football. The 2013 second-round pick has produced a .294/.369/.520/.889 slash line through his first 155 games. He also has 23 home runs, 54 doubles and 135 RBI. He's already an offensive standout and hasn't even progressed past low Class A. Heck, he is just 19-years-old, so it's scary to think what his power potential might be once he grows into his 6-foot-2 frame. McMahon has a fluid left-handed swing and an ability to hit to all fields that allows him to make steady contact. He projects to have plus power and the ability to hit for a high average. It's great that he might one day call Coors Field home. However, the Rockies have a pretty good third baseman in Nolan Arenado, who is expected to remain at the hot corner for years to come. McMahon might have to learn a new position or could end up as a trade candidate, but wherever he lands, this kid seems to have a bright future. Christian Walker, 1B, Orioles Affiliate: Triple-A Norfolk

2014 stats (Double-A, Triple-A): .301/.374/.517/.891, two triples, 18 doubles, 22 home runs, 86 RBI, 63 runs, 47 walks, 94 strikeouts and two stolen bases in 107 games Walker entered 2014 with some scouts doubting his ability to put up big home run numbers. He silenced a lot of those critics when he hit 20 home runs in 95 games prior to his promotion to Triple-A Norfolk. Since moving up to Triple-A, the 2012 fourth-round pick has homered twice and is slugging .524 in 12 games. Walker hit .300 in his first full season as a pro in 2013, and there was little doubt about his ability to make contact. He has been lauded for his gap-to-gap power, but Walker has really taken a step forward this year, which has turned into a breakout performance for the 23-year-old first baseman. Walker has taken a big leap up the prospect rankings, as he is now considered the team's fifth-best prospect by MLB.com. As MLB.com notes: Walker "fits the traditional first-base profile better now than scouts thought he would when he was at South Carolina." Bonus Player Austin Voth, SP, Nationals Affiliate: Class A Potomac 2014 stats (low Class A, high Class A): 6-4, 2.10 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 114 strikeouts, 29 walks, 67 hits and three home runs allowed in 19 starts (107 1/3 innings) The 2013 fifth-round pick has been pretty spectacular as a pro. He is 9-4 with a 1.99 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 30 career starts. He is striking out 9.9 batters and walking 2.0 per nine innings, and he has allowed just three home runs in 153 2/3 innings. Voth's fastball can touch the mid-90s, but he mostly sits in the low-90s. His secondary pitches (changeup, curveball, slider) don't appear to be more than average offerings, but Voth really shines because of his ability to command his pitches. He has an advanced feel for pitching and can work both sides of the plate. Voth said he likes to lean on his fastball and "challenge hitters," per The Washington Post. Well, whatever he is doing is working. He was originally projected as a back-of-the-rotation arm, but he could be developing into much more. He doesn't get hit hard, he doesn't walk a lot of batters and he has a pretty good strikeout rate. If he can keep that up in the high minors, then Voth is a name we might be hearing a lot about in the future.

MLB trade deadline rumors, news and injury roundup for July 30 By Matt Snyder / CBS Sports http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24644213/mlb-trade-deadline-rumors-news-and-injury-roundup-for-july-30 Here we are. It's the homestretch. We're within the final 15 hours prior to the MLB non-waiver trade deadline. Trade talks between the MLB teams are surely furious and the rumor mill is churning just as one would expect. Here's our roundup for the day. Click through on the provided links, when applicable, for the full story. TRADES Cardinals/Indians: Justin Masterson was traded to St. Louis for prospect James Ramsey. Cubs/Red Sox: Felix Doubront was shipped to the Cubs for a player to be named later.

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Dodgers/Cubs: The player to be named later in the Darwin Barney trade is Class A pitcher Jonathan Martinez, who heads to the Cubs (Cubs.com). REPORTS, RUMORS and SPECULATION Astros: They are looking to move power hitter Chris Carter, reports Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Blue Jays: Their main focus is pitching, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. They aren't looking for a short-term fix, per sportsnet.ca. Emilio Bonifacio: The Cubs utility man is expected to be traded very soon. The Giants, Orioles and Reds, among others, are in play, Heyman reports. Dodgers: They aren't against trading one of their top trio of coveted prospects (Joc Pedersen, Corey Seager, Julio Urias) unless it's for a rental, reports Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. Also from Shaikin, GM Ned Colletti says the club was never shopping Matt Kemp. Ian Kennedy: The Padres are discussing Kennedy with the Royals, Pirates, Marlins and more, though he's not a certainty to be traded (via Ken Rosenthal). Jon Lester: The Orioles won't deal their top prospects for him (via Heyman). The A's could be in on the Lester sweepstakes (Heyman). The Pirates and Cardinals are "pushing hardest," reports Fox Sports. Indians: Asdrubal Cabrera is being looked at by Toronto and others to play second, reports Heyman. Marlins: They are seeking a starting pitcher, though Jon Lester and/or John Lackey are unlikely, reports Heyman. Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports there's "zero chance" on Lackey. Mets: Bartolo Colon's trade market still isn't developing, Heyman reports. Nationals: They have "internally" discussed Asdrubal Cabrera and Daniel Murphy, but no deal is close, per Fox Sports. Orioles: They're considering reliever Neal Cotts, reports Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. Other lefty relievers, via Connolly: Tony Sipp, Andrew Miller and Oliver Perez. Padres: The Yankees and Dodgers are looking at Joaquin Benoit, according to Heyman. The Padres are more likely to trade Benoit than Kennedy, but it's possible both stay put, reports Jayson Stark of ESPN. Phillies: They are willing to pay at least some of Cliff Lee's remaining salary in a deal, per Heyman. Rosenthal reports the Phillies haven't received an acceptable offer on any of their players. He further reports the Phillies don't have to cut payroll. Rangers: They are "gaining traction" on trading Alex Rios, reports Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports.

Rays: Neither Joe Maddon nor David Price believe Price is going to be traded (tampabay.com). Red Sox: There has been no "recent" contact between the club and the Phillies about Cole Hamels or Cliff Lee, reports Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald. Reds: Ryan Ludwick is available, reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Rockies: Serious talks about a possible trade involving Troy Tulowitzki and/or Carlos Gonzalez will wait until the offseason, Heyman reports. Also, per Denver Post beat writer Patrick Saunders, neither Jorge De La Rosa, Brett Anderson nor any relievers are likely to be dealt. Royals: They've discussed John Lackey, but the Red Sox are seeking a power arm in exchange and the Royals may not want to give one up (Andy McCullough). Tigers: The club is still scouting relief pitchers, reports Scott Miller. Twins: It now appears Josh Willingham is not going to be traded before the deadline, reports Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, who notes that an August waiver deal is still possible. Yankees: They are discussing a John Danks with the White Sox, but a gap in negotiations still remains, says Heyman. GM Brian Cashman said there's "more work to do" before the deadline (MLB.com). They've talked about adding Marlon Byrd, per Heyman. OTHER ROSTER MOVES Dodgers: A few days after trading for him, Darwin Barney was optioned to Triple-A. Red Sox: Brandon Workman was called up to start in place of Lester and he took Doubront's vacated roster spot. Royals: After four Triple-A starts, Joe Saunders has been released (Royals.com). INJURY UPDATES A's: Coco Crisp has suffered chronic, degenerative changes in his neck. Astros: Reliever Josh Zeid is out for the season, as he needs foot surgery (Ultimate Astros). Blue Jays: Brett Lawrie could begin a rehab assignment this weekend (BlueJays.com). Braves: Jason Heyward's back injury will keep him out until at least Friday (Braves.com). Mets: Matt Harvey has been cleared to start throwing off the mound.

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Orioles: Prospect Hunter Harvey is out for the season (MiLB.com). Padres: Andrew Cashner is nearing a rehab assignment (UTSanDiego.com). Rangers: Alex Rios left Wednesday's game after getting hit with a pitch in the quad, but it doesn't sound serious (Rangers.com). Derek Holland felt "really good" after a rehab outing (Rangers.com). Royals: Eric Hosmer's hand is almost fully healed (Royals.com). Tigers: Eugenio Suarez is day to day with a back injury (freep.com). White Sox: Reliever Nate Jones had Tommy John surgery Monday (Scott Merkin). MISCELLANY Eric Chavez: He has retired. Very good career. Indians: Triple-A pitcher Tyler Cloyd threw a no-hitter (MiLB.com). Tigers: Minor-league reliever Evan Reed has been charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct (freep.com). Twins: They found a dude who throws 100 mph and signed him for $250,000. White Sox: Carlos Rodon made his professional debut in Class A Wednesday (WhiteSox.com).

Eric Chavez retires, an elegy for the fragile great By Steven Goldman / SB Nation http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2014/7/30/5927729/eric-chavez-retires-athletics-yankees-diamondbacks-60-day-disabled-list Eric Chavez, the veteran third baseman, retired on Wednesday, effective immediately. Ongoing knee problems finally put an end to a career that was on life-support for years. Still, with 260 career home runs, 1,615 games played, and six Gold Gloves, Chavez leaves behind quite a legacy at the hot corner. Because of his increasing fragility and accompanying diminution of skills, there will always be a question of what might have been. From 1999, when he first became a regular, to 2010, his last season with the team that made him the 10th-overall pick of the 1996 draft, the Oakland A's played 1,942 games. Chavez played in 1,320 of them, or a little more than two-thirds. This was not by design. Plantar fasciitis sidelined Chavez in his rookie season, and though there was then a stretch in which Chavez was largely healthy in five of the next six years, from 2006 on there was a constant litany of back and shoulder problems that repeatedly sent him to the disabled list. He went on the DL 12 times during the course of his career, including seven listings on the dreaded 60-day DL. For the five years he was at his best, Chavez was awfully good. Having made the majors at 20 years old, he blossomed at 22,

hitting .280/.357/.513 (127 OPS+) despite playing in the offense-suppressing Oakland Coliseum (which these days is known by various other names, none of which are important except to the people who pay for naming rights). He averaged 30 home runs a year during that span, yet somehow never made an All-Star team. The only category in which he ever led the American League was in walks drawn (95 in 2004), but this was rarified territory for third basemen. Even with all the missed time, he's still in the top 50 in games played at his position. That was when the termites got in. Though Chavez played a career-high 160 games in 2005, his .269/.329/.466 with 40 doubles and 27 home runs actually was just good by the inflated standard of the time. He would only play more than 100 games twice more, appearing in 137 games in 2006 and 113 in 2012, when he was in his second year with the Yankees, a team he had joined on a greatly discounted free-agent contract. His final A's contract peaked at $12.5 million; the Yankees paid him $2.4 million in total for two years of service, having picked him up after a three-year span in which he had played only 64 games (and hit only .222 with three home runs in 230 at-bats) . Chavez didn't play well for the Yankees in 2011. A foot fracture kept him out for nearly half the season, but with rest and platooning he found one last bit of life in his bat. Put together his part-time work for the Yankees and Diamondbacks in 2012 and 2013 and you get something closely resembling a classic Chavez season: 567 PAs, 25 home runs, .281/.341/488 (123 OPS+). Sure, his managers had to gerrymander his playing time, but there's always room for a reserve or platoon-man who hits that well, even if it makes his skipper think a little before writing out the lineup card. The lesson of Chavez's career is that comparatively few players get to be Ken Griffey Jr., Robin Yount, Cal Ripken Jr. and come up young and play forever. Bryce Harper and Mike Trout currently have the former category checked off, but there is no certainty about the latter. Chavez had already peaked and was in decline by age 26 on. Normally we think of players peaking around 27 and then coasting slowly downwards, maybe with another secondary peak in their early 30s. There is a reason why averages are called averages. There are players on the high and low ends, the early and late. Chavez just didn't have the body to conform to the normal aging curve. It has long been said in sabermetric circles that staying healthy is as much an athletic skill as anything else in sports. What this actually means is that they have a combination of luck -- not getting clotheslined by an outfielder while trying to field a pop-up is one way to stay off the DL, or the good ol' not rolling your car while on a drunken spree, that will work -- and whatever gene or genes allow for repetitive and strenuous muscle movement without the important wires fraying, tearing, and bones that bruise instead of break. Chavez had so many gifts, but whatever proteins, amino acids and enzymes give an athlete that ability, he didn't receive that package. As time goes on, the image of Chavez the player will fade, but the back of his baseball card, his page on Baseball-Reference, these things will always tell a story to athlete and non-athlete alike: Achieve everything you can while the ability to do it, whatever it is, is in you. Do your utmost all the time while your powers are strong. You can't count on them being there

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tomorrow. You can't count on them being there an hour from now.

BAR 7.31.14: Move the trade deadline back By C. Trent Rosecrans / cincinnati.com http://www.cincinnati.com/story/redsblog/2014/07/31/bar073114/13391773/ Today's the trade deadline and I'm headed on the LeBron trip -- Miami to Cleveland (and back to Cincinnati). I've got a 7 a.m. flight to Atlanta, so I'm going to be pretty quick here. Today's, of course, the non-waiver trade deadline. And while trades can still be made after the non-waiver trade deadline, there's a little bit more involved. However, today probably shouldn't be the non-waiver trade deadline. The deadline didn't move when an extra wild card was added, and now teams need more time to decide whether they're in or out. I've written where I feel the Reds are, but they're not alone. Miami, Tampa Bay, Cleveland and Seattle all find themselves in a position similar to the Reds. Two more weeks -- putting the deadline at Aug. 15 -- could make it much more clear who is in and who is out and make for a more interesting trade deadline. In two weeks, we'll know better what should have been done today. • I could be wrong -- Walt Jocketty keeps his cards very close to his vest -- but I just don't see anything happening for the Reds today, or at least anything that will have a major impact on this season or the future. MINOR LEAGUE ROUNDUP Triple-A -- Columbus 13, Louisville 0: Columbus' Tyler Cloyd needed just 88 pitches to no-hit the Bats. Bats starter Scott Diamond gave up 6 runs (5 earned) on seven hits and four walks. He gave up two homers. Cloyd missed the perfect game by hitting Donnie Murphy to start the ninth. [Box] Double-A -- Pensacola 1, Mississippi 0, 10 innings: CF Yorman Rodriguez singled in SS Devin Lohman with the winning run in the 10th. Blue Wahoos starter Michael Lorenzen pitched five scoreless, allowing three hits and two walks, striking out three. [Box] High-A -- Visalia 8, Bakersfield 2: Starter Daniel Wright allowed just four hits and a run over six innings with six strikeouts and no walks. [Box] Low-A -- Dayton 3, Lansing 1: The Dragons scored three times in the first, and that was all Nick Travieso needed to win his 10th game of the season. He gave up just two hits in six innings and allowed an unearned run. He walked four and struck out three. LF Jon Matthews was 3 for 4 with an RBI single in the first. [Box] Rookie -- Helena 8, Billings 6: 1B Kevin Franklin was 3 for 5 with his second home run of the season. [Box] LINKS AND SUCH

(VIDEO EMBEDDED) • We saw the last couple of days why the Diamondbacks coveted Didi Gregorius -- the dude can just flat pick it. • I'll, as I noted, be in Miami, but I'd like to see "Our True Blues" about the Covington Blue Sox. More from John Erardi. • There's TOOTBLANs (Thrown Out On The Base Like A Nincompoop) and then there TOOTBLAFNs. The Pirates turned one of those in on Wednesday. (VIDEO EMBEDDED) • Wait Dan Le Batard would sink to silly stunts just to promote himself? Shocked! Shocked I tell ya. [Awful Announcing] • Esquire says it's OK to wear baseball caps, as if you didn't already know that. • I'm not saying it's right, but I understand -- a woman stabbed her roommate because she wouldn't stop playing the Eagles. [Gawker.com] • 8-bit grunge. [Spin] • David Letterman knows what's up -- Athens, Ga.. y'all: (VIDEO EMBEDDED)

Arizona Diamondbacks - PlayerWatch By Reuters / Global Post http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/thomson-reuters/140731/arizona-diamondbacks-playerwatch LHP Wade Miley pitched in and out of trouble through most of Wednesday's game, but he was able to keep the Reds' struggling offense at bay, allowing no runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings. Miley walked four and struck out one over 99 pitches. "He fights himself when he doesn't have to," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. "We're working on that. He managed it pretty well today. We played pretty well behind him." 1B Paul Goldschmidt hit his 19th home run Wednesday, a two-run shot off Reds RHP Alfredo Simon in the sixth. It is perhaps a sign that the 2013 National League MVP runner-up is breaking out of his batting slump after he went 4-for-24 earlier on the current road trip. SS Didi Gregorius hit a two-run homer Wednesday, his fourth of the season. He has hit safely in three consecutive games and five of the past six. "I'm feeling good at the plate," he said. He also contributed a few nifty plays at shortstop Wednesday to end Cincinnati scoring threats. RHP Bo Schultz got good reports from Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson after tossing two scoreless innings and striking out two on Tuesday. Schultz was 8-7 with a 5.75 in 21 starts at Triple-A Reno before being recalled prior to Tuesday's game. "His arm was very live last night," Gibson said Wednesday. "(Catcher Miguel Montero) liked what he saw. He was hitting the glove pretty good."

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3B Eric Chavez, on the Diamondbacks' disabled list since June 9 due to a sprained left knee, announced his retirement Wednesday after a 17-year major league career. Chavez, 36, won American League Gold Gloves every year from 2001 to 2006 while with the Athletics. He also captured a Silver Slugger award in 2002, when he hit a career-high 34 homers and drove in 109 runs. After 13 years in Oakland, Chavez played for the Yankees in 2011 and 2012, then for the Diamondbacks the past two seasons. He landed on the disabled list June 9 due to a sprained left knee, and he never returned to action. He hit .246 with three homers and eight RBIs in 69 at-bats this year. RHP Trevor Cahill impressed manager Kirk Gibson during his six-inning, three-run performance Tuesday night. "It was a positive," said Gibson. "He was able to locate a little bit better. He just needs to gain some confidence. He pitched well. We need to get a win for him, but we got shut out." While at Triple-A, Cahill made some adjustments with his delivery that are allowing him to become more consistent. He retired 11 in a row in one stretch Tuesday, and he didn't walk a batter for the second consecutive start. RF Gerardo Parra tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning Wednesday. It was his fourth triple this season. Prior to the game, manager Kirk Gibson discussed Parra's defense, which according to some metrics has declined. "The numbers aren't the Holy Grail," Gibson said. "He's still the same player. They don't challenge him as much as they used to. Guy that throws the ball good, if you get him going lateral, it's hard to throw guys out. Not sure the numbers take that into account."

Diamondbacks infielder Eric Chavez retires By Associated Press / USA Today http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2014/07/30/diamondbacks-infielder-eric-chavez-retires/13378121/ PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Eric Chavez announced his retirement Wednesday, ending his 17-year major league career at the age of 36. The left-handed hitting infielder, on the disabled list since June 9 because of a sprained left knee, spent 13 seasons with the Oakland Athletics, two with the New York Yankees and was in his second season with Arizona. Chavez won six AL Gold Gloves from 2001-2006. In 1,615 career regular-season games, he hit .268 with 260 home runs and 902 RBIs. This season, he hit .246 with three homers and eight RBIs in 69 at-bats. Chavez appeared in 1,402 games at third base, 21 at first base, five at shortstop and two in left field. He had a career .970 fielding percentage at third base and was the 2002 AL Silver Slugger winner at the position. He was selected by Oakland in the first round of the 1996 draft out of Mount Carmel High School in San Diego and made his major league debut for the A's in 1998. Texas manager Ron Washington was a longtime coach in Oakland and was the Athletics' infield instructor. He was there

when Chavez made his debut as a 20-year-old late in the 1998 season, and for eight more seasons after that. Chavez later gave Washington one of his Gold Gloves and inscribed it, "Wash, not without you." "He had a tremendous career. Eric Chavez was smart, he was a class act and he was a pro, he was great teammate," Washington said before Wednesday night's game against the Yankees. "I was asked one time if I thought Eric could ever win a Gold Glove. I said it was up to Eric if wants to win a Gold Glove. And he won his first Gold Glove, then he won five more, and his back went out. That's the kind of player he was," he said. "He had power, he could hit for average, smart on the basepaths. He was good. ... He was a special player, he really was."

D-backs' bats bail out Miley to beat Reds By Jeff Wallner / The Sports Xchange http://sports.yahoo.com/news/diamondbacks-5-reds-4-200009221--mlb.html CINCINNATI -- Wade Miley's worst enemy often is himself. That was again the case on Wednesday afternoon, only this time he had a friend in the Diamondbacks' defense. Paul Goldschmidt and Didi Gregorious each hit two-run homers and Miley tossed six shutout innings, lifting the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 5-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the finale of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park. Miley (7-7) pitched in and out of trouble much of the afternoon, walking four with just one strikeout. But he was efficient enough to help Arizona (47-61) take the series. "He fights himself when he doesn't have to," said D-backs manager Kirk Gibson. "We're working on that. He managed it pretty well today. We played pretty well behind him." Catcher Devin Mesoraco hit his 18th home run, a three-run shot, in the ninth for Cincinnati (53-54) which has lost 10 of 12 since the All-Star break. Following the game, Reds manager Bryan Price shouldered responsibility for Wednesday's loss, but catcher Brayan Pena said there's plenty of blame to go around for the club's recent struggles. "The skipper's been great. It's us not playing good," Pena said. "It's not fair for him to put the blame on himself. We're a team -- one unit. When we're right, everybody's right. When we're not doing good, everybody's not doing good." Reds starter Alfredo Simon (12-6) was coming off a 4 1/3-inning performance in his last start in which he gave up three runs and a season-high nine hits. Simon was more efficient with his pitches (105) on Wednesday, allowing seven hits and two runs in seven innings. But his command hasn't been on par with his first 17 starts which earned him a spot on the National League All-Star team.

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"He wasn't sharp early today," said Price. "He was kind of side-to-side, but he made some adjustments. He made some outstanding pitches with his sinker. He had them hitting the ball on the ground." Simon rolled through the D-backs order, allowing only two hits through five innings. But, that was before Goldschmidt's two-run homer on his 0-1 pitch to put Arizona ahead 2-0 in the sixth. "He put a good swing on it," said Simon. "That was just good hitting. After that, I just tried to come back and do my job." The post-All-Star break slump continued for the Reds who had runners in scoring position in the first, third, fourth and sixth innings but failed to score. Cincinnati went 1-for-11 and left 10 runners on base. Credit Arizona's defense. In the third, Cincinnati had two hits and a walk, but also had a runner thrown out attempting to steal third and another thrown out at trying to stretch a double. Gregorious made several nice plays at short. "The defense made some plays when I needed them to," said Miley. "A lot of bad things could've happened. I just didn't feel that good. There are going to be those days." Right fielder Gerardo Parra tripled and scored on left fielder Mark Trumbo's sacrifice fly in the eighth to make the score 3-0. Cincinnati scored its first run on right fielder Skip Schumaker's RBI double in the eighth. Gregorious' fourth home run, a two-run shot off Carlos Contreras, made the score 5-1 in the ninth. "He was trying to throw a strike there," said Gregorious, who played four seasons in the Reds organization. "I'm feeling pretty good at the plate." Addison Reed allowed Mesoraco's three-run bomb in the ninth, but closed the door for his 26th save. "That's not a good place to turn your offense on, down four runs in the ninth," said Price. NOTES: Reds CF Billy Hamilton was given a day off on Wednesday. "I need to stay aware that he's an everyday player at the big-league level playing centerfield," said manager Bryan Price. "I have no concerns about Billy. He competes and fights every single game." ... Despite losing 9 of 11 since the All-Star break, Price doesn't believe the Reds should be sellers at the trade deadline. "I think we're looking to get better," Price said. "I don't think we're a team looking to 2015." ... Arizona, which is expected to be active at the deadline, has 10 rookies on its roster that, through Tuesday, had compiled 209 hits and 90 runs. ... Cincinnati scored a run in the eighth off RHP Brad Ziegler, ending a 19-inning scoreless streak for the D-Backs bullpen.

Eric Chavez, a star who stayed barely out of the limelight, retires

By Jon Heyman / CBS Sports http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-heyman/24643351/eric-chavez-a-star-who-stayed-barely-out-of-the-limelight-retires Eric Chavez, the five-tool third baseman with extraordinary skill and a low-key California personality who won six straight Gold Glove awards and became the only star of the famed Moneyball A's to sign a long-term deal to stay in Oakland, is retiring Wednesday after an exceptional 16-plus-year career. Chavez rode great natural ability that allowed him to post six 25-homer seasons before he was 28 and unusual dedication and work ethic that transformed him from an "all hit" prodigy to become one of baseball's best third basemen. He would later reinvent himself as a student of hitting and became a high-percentage bench player. But while Chavez characteristically expressed no regret save for the one disappointment over never quite reaching the World Series with the overachieving A's teams or star-studded Yankees teams -- despite some very close calls -- his interesting, bifurcated career path may leave some one wondering what might have been if not for a string of mid-to- late-career injuries. "He had an amazing career," said A's GM Billy Beane, the famed Moneyball architect who is so close to Chavez that folks around the Oakland baseball scene often viewed him and Chavez as big and little brother. "Quite frankly, had injuries not hit at the wrong time, he was on his way to a Hall of Fame career. If you look at what he did to age 26, you could see him ending up (in Cooperstown)." Chavez, best remembered for a rare power-defense combination in his A's heyday, made the retirement announcement Wednesday in an interview with CBSSports.com. Chavez already has turned in the papers with MLB, sacrificing well over $1 million by volunteering to move from the disabled list to retirement, no surprise if you know Chavy, as he is called by his baseball friends. Chavez said he wouldn't have felt right taking money for sitting his last days on the disabled list with the knee injury that finally felled him, years after refining his swing and reinventing himself as one of baseball's best bench players. He enjoyed his last years as a role player on Yankees teams filled with big names, then later took less to play and stay in Arizona, where the family man makes his home. While he was blessed with outsized talent and movie-star looks, it served him well to be just off the cusp of the limelight, first as a star of a small-market team and later a bench player with that storied team in New York. "I'm very lucky," Chavez said. "I just enjoyed competing and being on the field. There's nothing like winning at the major-league level." As it happened, there was a lot of winning for both the A's and Yankees, two teams on opposite coasts with opposite approaches. He thought his career was over when he left Oakland but found success later playing with the big-market team that barely kept the upstart A's from reaching the World Series.

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Chavez, a No. 10 overall pick out of high school, used exceptional hand-eye coordination, hand strength and natural skill to post six straight seasons with at least 26 homers playing in the cavernous Oakland Coliseum. Beane recalls Chavez, who rose to the A's only two years out of Mount Carmel High School (coincidentally the very same San Diego school Beane attended), lining outside pitches for opposite-field home runs to left field Oakland, an amazing feat for a young man barely of drinking age. The lefthanded-hitting Chavez, who finishes with 260 home runs and a .268 batting average, was the right man for a small-budget team, as he never emphasized money or material things. Before he signed his below-market $66-million, six-year contract, Chavez told Beane he'd like stay with the A's his entire career even if meant taking far less. Beane's A's made a run at keeping Jason Giambi long-term, too, but ultimately didn't have the funds to keep him, shortstop Miguel Tejada or pitchers Tim Hudson, Barry Zito or Mark Mulder. Chavez is recalled as someone who shared his good fortune, awarding one of his six Gold Gloves to then-A's coach Ron Washington as a way to reward Wash for all the hard work to turn Chavez from a talented kid with an "all hit, no glove" rep who possessed "terrible footwork" into the best third baseman in the league. Three of the Gold Glove trophies are in his parents' San Diego home. Of all his achievements, Chavez took the most pride in his defense. From the moment as a kid he let a ball go through his legs, inciting a memorable stare from a veteran A's pitcher that put the "fear of God" into him, he strived not to disappoint any of his pitchers. He finishes with a .970 fielding percentage, the fifth best in big-league history at baseball's toughest position historically. "If you don't make the play, you're not only affecting yourself, but you're affecting your teammates," is the way Chavez looked at it. Chavez made a major impact with the A's, averaging a 5.2 WAR over his six prime seasons, putting him in the top 10 in the AL in that period, and he continued to play well in his later years for Oakland, the Yankees and Diamondbacks. He posted an .825 OPS since 2012 (even better than his .818 career mark) despite some more occasional difficulty staying on the field as a variety of injuries, sometimes freak ones, sidelined him. Despite knee pain that has limited him to 44 games, Chavez had a more-than-respectable .795 OPS this year. "It's been a fun ride," Chavez said. Stardom was predicted for Chavez right from the start, and he turned down a USC scholarship offer to sign for $1 million with the A's. The decision quickly was proven to be the correct one, as Chavez was named the Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America in his second professional season, then became the second youngest player in the majors, at only 20, upon his ascension to the big leagues late in the 1998 season. He rarely struggled, but Chavez was by far his best in the second halves of season, as evidenced by the quirk that he never made an All-Star team. That's OK with Chavez as he never sought the spotlight or personal glory. The one hitting category where he

led the league was walks (he had 95 in 2004), a testament to how he worked to fit into Oakland's plan. It was also fine by him that he barely earned a mention in Moneyball despite being the A's clear positional star, along with Tejada, of the 2002 A's team that was featured. The highlight was a 20-game winning streak that was featured in the film, and while it didn't warrant a mention he hit .329 with six homers and an astounding 28 RBI in that alltime run. That might have wound up on the cutting room floor, as the movie was about a submarining reliever Chad Bradford, a converted first baseman Scott Hatteberg and most of all the brilliance of his close buddy Beane and his front-office sidekick Paul DePodesta. Chavez, characteristically, didn't mind a bit. He also gives Beane and other A's scouts and decisionmakers the bulk of the credit for figuring out how to win on a shoestring, year in and year out. "It really didn't bother me," he said. "Billy did a tremendous job. The win with that payroll and reinvent (the team) year after year is simply amazing." Chavez was more interested in team fortunes than personal glory, so it made sense he earned MVP votes in four straight years despite being maybe the best player over the past quarter century never to make the All-Star team. The reason for that is that while he was a solid player in the first half, his first-half numbers (.257 batting average, .457 slugging percentage, .789 OPS) are dwarfed by second-half superiority (.282, .500, .855). The one real void was never quite making it to the World Series with all those great overachieving A's teams. "I thought we were the better team, but Derek had the flip," Chavez recalled. "We were just young kids new to the scene." Chavez would like to stay in the game as a batting coach after learning abut the nuances of hitting in his later years and reinventing himself (just like the A's do). That should fit him, as he was always one of the mature ones. The only complaint he has about today's game is the self-glorifying celebrations that are becoming routine. "To say it was an honor and a privilege to know and represent Chavy the last 19 years is an understatement. He is one of the most special human beings I have ever known," Scott Leventhal said. That's how everyone feels about Chavy.

Eric Chavez announces retirement By Aaron Gleeman / NBC Sports http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/07/30/eric-chavez-announces-retirement/ Eric Chavez, who’s spent most of this season on the Diamondbacks’ disabled list with a knee injury, has decided to retire now rather than waiting until the offseason. Injuries derailed what was a very promising career for Chavez while with the A’s, but he bounced back and got healthy enough to thrive in part-time roles for the Yankees and Diamondbacks. Before all the health problems struck he was a spectacular defensive third baseman with 30-homer power who posted an above-average OPS every season from 2000-2007 and won six Gold Glove awards by age 28. But then he never topped 400

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plate appearances in a season after age 29 and retires at 36 with 260 homers, 1,477 hits, and an .818 OPS in 1,615 games while earning nearly $85 million. It’s a shame Chavez couldn’t have had an injury-free career, because he was an excellent all-around player and dramatically underrated, but he still managed to have a helluva run.

Diamondbacks 5, Reds 4 By Reuters / Global Post http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/thomson-reuters/140730/diamondbacks-5-reds-4 Diamondbacks 5, Reds 4: Paul Goldschmidt homered and Wade Miley worked 6 2/3 scoreless innings as visiting Arizona took the rubber match of a three-game series from Cincinnati. David Peralta tripled among two hits and scored while Didi Gregorius added a two-run homer for the Diamondbacks. Miley (7-7) scattered seven hits and four walks while striking out one before Addison Reed closed out a shaky effort from the bullpen by recording the final two outs for his 26th save. Alfredo Simon (12-6) surrendered two runs and six hits in seven innings for the Reds, who dropped to 2-10 since the All-Star break. Devin Mesoraco hit a three-run homer in the ninth and Skip Schumaker drove in a run as the Cincinnati offense snapped an 11-game streak scoring three or fewer runs. The Reds put two runners on in three of the first four innings but could not push across a run. Arizona snapped the scoreless draw in the sixth when Aaron Hill reached on an infield single in front of Goldschmidt, who lined a 0-1 changeup out to left for his 19th blast. Cincinnati stranded runners in scoring position again in the sixth and seventh innings before Peralta tripled and scored on Mark Trumbo’s sacrifice fly in the eighth. The Reds finally got on the board with Schumaker’s double in the eighth but Gregorius made it a four-run cushion with his fourth homer in the ninth to provide just enough cushion. GAME NOTEBOOK: Cincinnati RF Jay Bruce (bereavement list) missed his second straight game but is expected to rejoin the team on Friday, when the Reds open up a six-game road trip at Miami. … The Diamondbacks return home to begin a 10-game stand on Thursday against Pittsburgh. … Goldschmidt snapped a nine-game homerless drought and matched his RBI total from that stretch.

Trade Winds Swirling: Top 10 Most Wanted By Mac Magee / Vavel http://www.vavel.com/en-us/mlb/374784-trade-winds-swirling-top-10-most-wanted.html The trade deadline is Thursday at 4 P.M. eastern and there are a lot of rumors that swirl out from boredom. But, there are a lot of trade rumors that are real. Here's a quick break down of the top 10 guys of value that will likely go and where. Next to players (from 1-10 chance of being dealt). Teams are listed in order of likelihood.

1. Jon Lester-LH SPBoston (9): The Boston Red Sox ace is in the final year of his deal, and talks stalled this past winner for a long-term extension. Everybody from the Pacific to South Beach have been rumored, but these are the likely landing spots. Remember, Boston is dealing him with the chance to re-sign in a few months, so all hope is not lost in Boston. Pirates, Dodgers and Angels. Marlins and Orioles are also dark-horses. (10-7), 2.52 ERA, 1.11 WHIP. 2. John Lackey-RH SP Boston (7): With an affordable option for next year, Lackey has drawn great interest. Lackey was great last post season and that's huge for a young team trying to chase. Blue Jays, Pirates, Royals, Marlins and LA Angels could all be good fits. Lackey's return to Angels could spark a deep run. (11-7), 3.60 ERA, 1.23 WHIP. 3. Andrew Miller-LH RP Boston (10): A free agents at year's end, Miller is having his best year and many are interested. Braves, Nationals, Tigers and Rays. All can use a boost in the pen on the left side. Of course everybody can, ALWAYS. (3-5), 2.40 ERA, .919 WHIP. 4. Emilio Bonifacio-Utility infielder Cubs (10): His versatility to start or come off the bench makes him an attractive acquisition for many. He also has good speed which adds to the interest. Giants, Orioles, Braves and Mariners. .279 BA / .373 SLG / . 692 OPS. 5. Marlon Byrd- OF Phillies (6): His power is wanted, his long contract and age are not. Many have been rumored, look for him to get shopped, but he might not stick because of the price tag. Yankees, Royals, Cardinals and Giants. .273 BA/ .482 SLG / .803 OPS. 6. Tommy Milone- LH SP Oakland (5): The A's do not have to move him and he is a good security blanket in case of injury. But, he has chirped about wanting out, so offers will come in. Even from teams not in the playoff picture. Marlins, Yankees, Royals, Redsox and Phillies. (6-3), 3.55 ERA, 1.21 WHIP. 7. Alex Rios- O.F. Rangers (10): He's going somewhere. With 4.23 million dollars owed on this year, and a 1 million dollar buy out for next, stars are aligned in Texas for a move. Yankees, Giants, Braves, Royals, Pirates, Cardinals and Marlins. .305 / .431 SLG/ .766 OPS. 8. Joaquin Benoit- RH RP Padres (7): He's been stellar all year and very affordable through next year. Talks have heated up this week. Even after trading closer Huston Street, San Diego might be shuffling that closer's role come Thursday. Dodgers, Yankees, Braves, Brewers and Blue Jays. (4-2), 3 SV/ 1.88 ERA / .83 WHIP 9. Aaron Hill- 2B Diamondbacks (8): Whether it's now, or on waivers in August, this looks like it will get done. Many teams need a solid second base option to platoon or much more. Braves, Nationals, Mariners and Yankees. .253 BA/ .385 SLG/ .675 OPS 10. Bartolo Colon- RH SP Mets (7): The big man can still pitch. Whoever gets him will have an out of shape 41-year-old with another year on his contract. Buyer beware: his bat is awful, so

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AL is likely. Blue Jays, Yankees, Rays, Mariners and Pirates. (10-8)/3.88 ERA/1.16 WHIP. Batters Key: SLG-slugging percent, BA-Batting average, OPS- On base plus slugging percentage. Pitchers Key: (Win-Loss), ERA-Earned Run Average, WHIP- Walks+Hits divided by Innings Pitched, Sv-Saves.

MLB veteran Eric Chavez retires By Sports Network / The Province http://www.theprovince.com/sports/veteran+Eric+Chavez+retires/10076509/story.html (SportsNetwork.com) - Six-time Gold Glove third baseman Eric Chavez is retiring after 17 years in the majors. Chavez told CBSSports.com on Wednesday he didn't feel right accepting over $1 million remaining on his contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks this season, so he volunteered to move from the disabled list to retirement. "I'm very lucky," Chavez told the website. "I just enjoyed competing and being on the field. There's nothing like winning at the major-league level." The Diamondbacks confirmed Chavez's retirement and said he would hold a press conference Thursday afternoon at Chase Field. Chavez, 36, went on the disabled list on June 9 with a sprained left knee. He made his last plate appearance the day before as a pinch-hitter against Atlanta, drawing a walk. Pitcher Bronson Arroyo, running for Chavez, later scored as part of a six-run seventh inning that lifted the Diamondbacks to a 6-5 win. At his peak as a slugger for the Oakland Athletics, Chavez batted .273 and averaged 28 homers, 94 RBI and a .352 on-base percentage between 2000-06, winning six straight Gold Gloves over the last six years of that span. He signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees in 2011 and spent two seasons in the Bronx, batting .274 with 18 homers in 171 games. Arizona signed him in 2012 and he hit .273 with 12 homers in his only 124 games in the NL. Chavez's last eight years were marked by injuries as he averaged just 56 games per season from 2007-14. "Quite frankly, had injuries not hit at the wrong time, he was on his way to a Hall-of-Fame career," A's general manager Billy Beane told CBSSPorts.com. "If you look at what he did to age 26, you could see him ending up (in Cooperstown)." Chavez finishes with 260 career home runs, 902 RBI, a .268 average and .342 on-base percentage in 1,615 games.

Clayton Richard signs with Diamondbacks By Nathan Baird / Indy Star http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/2014/07/30/clayton-richard-signs-diamondbacks/13384495/ Throughout his rehabilitation process from shoulder surgery, McCutcheon High School grad Clayton Richard said he expected to pitch in professional baseball this season.

He could achieve that goal by the end of the week. Richard said he agreed to terms on a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday. Richard, an IndyStar Indiana Mr. Football and Indiana Mr. Baseball winner, must pass a physical at the organization's headquarters in Phoenix on Friday before signing a contract. But the veteran of six Major League seasons expects to make his first appearance in the Rookie level Arizona League this weekend. "I'm just excited about another step in the right direction," Richard said. "It's another opportunity to get back on a mound against professional competition. I'm excited to get out there." Richard threw for a handful of teams over the past week, but said "Arizona stuck out." Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers held the same position with the San Diego Padres during Richard's tenure with that club. "I know how he likes to run his organization," Richard said. "I'm a big fan of his. I think it's a good fit all-around." A Diamondbacks spokesperson said via e-mail that the team could not yet comment on a potential signing of Richard. Richard, who also previously played with the Chicago White Sox, has not pitched in the Major Leagues since June 21 of last season. The 6-foot-5, 245-pound left-hander underwent AC joint surgery last summer and thoracic outlet surgery in the offseason, and has been rehabbing at his Lafayette home. He began throwing from a mound again on June 19. "You don't want teams to come in and you're not healthy enough to be impressive," said Richard, whose arsenal includes two-seam and four-seam fastballs, a changeup, a breaking ball and a cutter. "Velocity was a part of it. I didn't see the point of throwing for teams before I was ready to actually go somewhere. It was about having command of my pitches and looking like being a feasible option in professional baseball." Richard elected free agency after being outrighted from the Padres' roster last October 28. He has a 46-47 career record with a 4.33 ERA across 773 innings in six seasons. Richard won 14 games in both 2010 and 2012, leading the National League with 33 games started in 2012 and topping 200 innings pitched in both seasons. Richard became the first athlete to be named Indiana Mr. Football and Mr. Baseball before playing both sports at Michigan. The White Sox selected him in the eighth round of the 2005 draft, and one of his first roommates was Aaron Cunningham, now an outfielder for the Diamondbacks' Triple-A affiliate in Reno, Nevada. Just as he did during his rehab process, Richard is setting no timetables and letting each day's performance determine the next step. But he's believes it's possible he could be back on a Major League mound before the end of the season. "My last outing I threw four simulated innings, so my endurance level needs to be increased there," Richard said. "My command

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and control could improve a little bit. I think I'm where I want to be and improvements will come as the innings come."

Price takes blame for latest Reds loss but team has bigger issues By Kevin Goheen / FOX Sports Ohio http://www.foxsports.com/ohio/story/price-takes-blame-for-latest-reds-loss-but-team-has-bigger-issues-073014 CINCINNATI -- Bryan Price did a little sword falling on Wednesday. The Reds' manager lamented some late-game maneuvering that he felt did his team a disservice in a 5-4 loss to Arizona, a loss that closed out a forgettable homestand and extended the club's struggles after the All-Star Game. That's all well and good for Price to say but the bottom line is any button he's pushed, any rope he's pulled and any lineup he's put out on the field for the last two weeks hasn't been producing well enough. Devin Mesoraco's three-run home run with two outs in the ninth inning made things interesting but wasn't enough to keep the Reds from losing for the 10th time in their last 12 games. They lost four of six games on this homestand. The offense had just one hit in 11 at-bats with runners in scoring position and left 10 runners on base, including six in the first four innings. Relievers J.J. Hoover and Carlos Contreras gave up three tack-on runs in the eighth and ninth innings that proved crucial after Alfredo Simon had pitched seven solid innings, allowing only a two-run home run to Arizona first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. Price said he was specifically thinking about the use of Kristopher Negron as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning and how that move affected later choices he had to make, although if he was thinking about the late-inning relief no one could fault him. "The game got away from us at the end and made it just far enough for us not to be able to get back there and tie the game or win it," said Price, "and in large part I think it was poor game management by myself. I don't think I made the choices that needed to be made in that game. I really mismanaged the roster in this game. I could've created better opportunities for us to win that game and I didn't do a great job managing this game." Thursday is the non-waiver trade deadline for Major League Baseball. The Reds could use a bat in their everyday lineup to infuse some energy into an offense that has been catatonic. Mesoraco's home run was the first non-solo homer hit by the Reds since Todd Frazier hit a two-run shot against Pittsburgh on July 13 in a 6-3 victory. Negron also had a three-run home run that game. The extended absence of Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips from the lineup because of injury, plus Jay Bruce being away from the team following the death of his grandfather, has taken a cumulative toll on the Reds. Even if those three aren't at their best -- Votto and Bruce in particular have produced well below their career averages this season -- their presence in the lineup can only help. The Reds can't simply wait on their return if they are going to make a serious push for the postseason.

They need some help from the front office, and those that are on the roster have got to figure a way out of this offensive funk. "It's never easy because nobody is safe," said first baseman Brayan Pena about the trade deadline. "We as players try not to think about it but we read papers and watch TV. Even if you try not to get caught up in those rumors and stuff like that, it's impossible because everyone is talking about it." The Reds play four games in Miami over the weekend against a Marlins team that has an identical 53-54 record and is teetering on the same buy/sell balance beam as the Reds. After that trip to Florida, they begin a four-game home-and-home series with Cleveland. The first two games, Monday and Tuesday nights, will be at Progressive Field before the teams come to the south side of the state for games Wednesday and Thursday nights. Maybe by then there will be a clearer picture on just which way their season is headed.

Eric Chavez announces retirement, leaves $1 million on the table By Mike Oz / Big League Stew https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/eric-chavez-announces-retirement--leaves--1-million-on-the-table-201526525.html By all accounts, Eric Chavez is a great guy. He was also a great ballplayer before injuries derailed his career, causing him to play just 212 games between 2007 and 2011. Chavez, 36, announced his retirement Wednesday after 17 seasons in the big leagues, and he did so with one final classy gesture. He left $1 million on the table, which the Arizona Diamondbacks would have owed him had he just sat on the disabled list the rest of the season. He played 44 games for the D-backs in 2014 until a knee injury sidelined him. Chavez was due the rest of the $3.5 million contract he signed in the offseason, but he told CBS Sports' Jon Heyman that his conscience wouldn't let him take the money and not play. Chavez said he wouldn't have felt right taking money for sitting his last days on the disabled list with the knee injury that finally felled him, years after refining his swing and reinventing himself as one of baseball's best bench players. He enjoyed his last years as a role player on Yankees teams filled with big names, then later took less to play and stay in Arizona, where the family man makes his home. While he was blessed with outsized talent and movie-star looks, it served him well to be just off the cusp of the limelight, first as a star of a small-market team and later a bench player with that storied team in New York. "I'm very lucky," Chavez said. "I just enjoyed competing and being on the field. There's nothing like winning at the major-league level." Chavez made $83 million during his big-league career, but he probably could have had more. He was one of the few homegrown Oakland Athletics stars of the early 2000s to sign an

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extension there for less money than he could have gotten as a free agent. He finishes his career with 260 homers and 902 RBIs. Chavez hit .268/.342/.475 and won six gold gloves for his play at third base. Injuries took over the narrative of Chavez's career so much that it might be hard to remember how good he was during his younger years with the Oakland Athletics. He had three consecutive 100-RBI seasons from 2001-2003 and had a combined WAR of 15.5 in those three seasons. He also hit more than 25 homers each season from 2000-2005. From CBS Sports: "He had an amazing career," said A's GM Billy Beane, the famed Moneyball architect who is so close to Chavez that folks around the Oakland baseball scene often viewed him and Chavez as big and little brother. "Quite frankly, had injuries not hit at the wrong time, he was on his way to a Hall of Fame career. If you look at what he did to age 26, you could see him ending up (in Cooperstown)." Chavez's post-playing career will likely lead to managing or coaching. He's been grooming himself for the role for a few years now. People in the media who covered him will also tell you Chavez has the knowledge and charm to become a broadcaster. Whichever path he chooses, it sounds like Chavez won't need that last million bucks.

Diamondbacks take rubber match from Reds By Sports Network / FOX News http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2014/07/30/diamondbacks-take-rubber-match-from-reds/ Cincinnati, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Paul Goldschmidt and Didi Gregorius hit two-run homers on Wednesday, boosting the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 5-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds. Goldschmidt, who was mired in a 1-for-18 slump heading into his third at-bat of the game, hit his 19th of the season to break a scoreless deadlock in the sixth. Gregorius added a crucial shot in the top of the ninth inning to make it 5-1 before the Reds rallied in the home half to make things interesting. Eury De La Rosa started the bottom of the ninth and allowed a leadoff single to pinch-hitter Billy Hamilton. Ramon Santiago then drew a one-out walk before closer Addison Reed came on and served up a three-run homer to Devin Mesoraco that trimmed the deficit to 5-4 with two outs. Reed responded by striking out Ryan Ludwick to preserve the game and earn his 26th save of the year. Wade Miley (7-7) pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings for Arizona, which won a series at Great American Ball Park for the first time since 2011. The win also gave manager Kirk Gibson his 337th victory with the club, matching Bob Melvin's franchise record. Cincinnati starter Alfredo Simon (12-6) was charged with two runs on six hits over seven innings of work, as he fell to 0-3 since the All-Star break with the loss.

The Reds own baseball's worst record since the break, winning just twice in 12 games. Aaron Hill was 0-for-9 lifetime against Simon before reaching base on an infield single with one out in the sixth. Goldschmidt then smashed a liner that snuck over the wall in left. David Peralta tripled to start the visiting eighth against Monday's losing pitcher J.J. Hoover. After Hill popped up and Goldschmidt was walked intentionally, Mark Trumbo lifted a sacrifice fly to left for a 3-0 advantage. The Reds, who stranded runners in all but one of the first seven innings, got on the board in the home eighth with Skip Schumaker doubling in Brayan Pena. Game Notes Gregorius had two hits in all three games during the series ... Reds outfielder Jay Bruce missed his second straight game since being placed on the bereavement list. He is eligible to return to the lineup Friday in Miami ... Miley is 4-1 over his last six starts ... This was the first time Cincinnati scored more than three runs since the break ... The Reds finished 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10.

Six-time Gold Glove winner Eric Chavez retires By SI Wire / Sports Illustrated http://www.si.com/mlb/2014/07/30/eric-chavez-retires Veteran third baseman and six-time Gold Glove winner Eric Chavez announced his retirement Wednesday. The 17-year pro has been on the disabled list since June 8. He got 81 plate appearances in 44 games this season with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Chavez won his six consecutive Gold Gloves with the Oakland Athletics, beginning in 2001. The only other third basemen in MLB history to win at least six Gold Gloves are Brooks Robinson (16), Mike Schmidt (10), Scott Rolen (8), Buddy Bell (6) and Robin Ventura (6). Chavez won a Silver Slugger award after the 2002 season, in which he hit .275 with 34 home runs and 31 doubles. He hit 26 or more home runs in a season six times and finished his career with 260 homers, which ranks 25th among third basemen all-time. The third baseman retires with a .268 lifetime average. Chavez played for the Athletics from 1998 to 2010. He finished his career with the Yankees and Diamondbacks. -- Alex Hampl

Former Yankees third baseman Eric Chavez retires By A.J. Perez / NJ.com http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2014/07/former_yankees_third_baseman_eric_chavez_retires.html Third baseman Eric Chavez, who spent parts of two seasons with the Yankees, is retiring after 16-plus seasons in the majors, CBSSports.com's John Heyman reported on Wednesday.

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Chavez spent his first 13 seasons in an Oakland Athletics uniform before the Yankees acquired the lefthand-hitting Chavez during the 2011 season to fill in for an injured Alex Rodriguez. The Yankees signed Chavez to a one-year deal that offseason before he departed for Arizona. "It's been a fun ride," Chavez told Heyman. Chavez will reportedly leave about $1 million on the table by retiring; he had been on the disabled list with the Diamondbacks and hadn't seen action since June 8. Chavez, a six-time Gold Glove winner, batted .268 for his career with 260 home runs and 902 RBI. "He had an amazing career," said A's GM Billy Beane told Heyman. "Quite frankly, had injuries not hit at the wrong time, he was on his way to a Hall of Fame career. If you look at what he did to age 26, you could see him ending up (in Cooperstown)." HIs exploits in his mid twenties led Beane, the man behind "Moneyball," to give Chavez a six-year, $66-million contract -- not something Beane was prone to offer with the financially strapped A's.

Thursday's scouting report: Pirates at Diamondbacks The Tribune-Review http://triblive.com/sports/pirates/6518860-74/diamondbacks-games-stretch - axzz390dPbcLJ Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt shared the league HR crown last season, but he's also a doubles machine. Entering Wednesday's games, Goldschmidt led the majors with 39 two-baggers. Goldschmidt, who had 43 doubles in 2012, is on the verge of becoming the second Arizona player with multiple 40-double seasons. Luis Gonzalez did it four times. • Entering Wednesday, Jordy Mercer's .300 batting average since May 31 was second highest among NL shortstops behind the Rockies' Troy Tulowitzki (.315). In that span, Mercer's 27 RBIs rank third among major league shortstops behind the Nationals' Ian Desmond (30) and the Cubs' Starlin Castro (29). Mercer is batting .319 against left-handers this season and .350 against them in his career. The Buzz The Pirates' interest in Red Sox LHP Jon Lester is an indication they believe RHP Gerrit Cole will overcome his lat injury. A possible Cole-Lester combo could be deadly down the stretch. Cole will remain with Triple-A Indianapolis this week instead of rejoining the Pirates in Arizona to throw his between-starts bullpen session. Cole will make his second rehab start Saturday vs. Toledo and likely will be activated Aug. 7 or 8.

Diamondbacks down Reds in series finale, 5-4 By John Fay / cincinnati.com http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2014/07/30/diamondbacks-down-reds-in-series-finale/13368313/ Reds manager Bryan Price took one for the team.

Price blamed himself for Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. But any of the 26,332 who witnessed the game at Great American Ball Park would tell you that there was plenty of fault to go around. "In large part, I think it was game management by me," Price said. "...I think I mismanaged the roster in this game. I could have created better opportunities for us to win the game. I didn't do a great job managing this game." Price wouldn't go into specifics. "I put us in position where we had to pinch-hit earlier," he said. "The way I utilized the roster when I hit with (Kristopher) Negron. I could have left him in the game and I didn't. That would have saved our pinch-hitters for other opportunities." With the way the Reds are going, it's easy to question every decision. Wednesday's loss was the Reds' 10th in 12 games since the All-Star Break. And while it ended up a close game, the Reds did not close to within one until Devin Mesoraco hit a three-run home run with two outs in the ninth. Again, it was the offense or lack thereof. The Reds scored a total of eight runs in the three-game series against Arizona, which is second to last in the National League in ERA and last in fielding. Reds manager Bryan Price insisted before the game that Reds are looking to add before Thursday's 4 p.m. non-waiver trade deadline. But it's hard to imagine there's a player or two players out there who can revive this offense. The Reds had 11 hits and 15 baserunners Wednesday. But they were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and made two baserunning blunders. They're hitting .127 with RISP since the break. "Everybody feels very disappointed," Brayan Pena said. "We were a team. We are one unit. When we're going right, we are all going right. When we're not going good, everybody's not doing good. It's all about us as a team. "I'm very optimistic. Tomorrow's another day. We got to go to Miami and take care of business." Alfredo Simon went seven innings and allowed two runs on five hits. He walked none and struck out three. Simon, 12-6, had struggled in his two previous starts since the break. He had gone 9 1/3 innings in them and allowed seven runs on 14 hits. "He was good, really good," Price said. The Reds ran their way out of a chance to take the lead in the third. Chris Heisey led off with a shot into left. Mark Trumbo cut it off before it made the gap. Heisey tried for second when Trumbo bobbled the ball. Mistake. Trumbo threw him out easily. "I can't begrudge (Heisey) for that," Price said. "He saw the outfielder drop the ball. It was a bang-bang play. He made an aggressive play. I don't think it was a mistake."

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Ramon Santiago followed with a single. Todd Frazier then walked. Santiago, however, was thrown out trying to steal third. "We had a sign mixup there," Price said. "It wasn't a play we wanted to run there. There was a miscommunication on signs. No fault of Santy." Mesoraco grounded out to end the inning. Simon only allowed two hits through five innings. But in the sixth, Paul Goldschmidt, 1-for-11 in the series coming into the at-bat, hit a two-run shot for his 19th home run of the year. The seventh went about as well as the third for the Reds. Pinch-hitter Kristopher Negron led off with a single. Heisey bunted him over. It was scored a sacrifice, but that's an odd move down two runs late. Heisey may have been bunting for a hit. Santiago followed with a hard grounder that pitcher Wade Miley snared. Negron was caught in a rundown. Frazier grounded out. Threat over. J.J. Hoover took over for Simon. David Peralta hit Hoover's first pitch off the wall in center for a triple. Trumbo got him in with a sac fly to make it 3-0. Hoover's overall ERA is 5.40 and he's allowed runs in six of his last seven outings. "If we get some shut down, it obviously gives us a better chance," Price said. "But we can't continue to run out Jumbo (Diaz), (Sam) LeCure and (Jonathan) Broxton and (Aroldis) Chapman. We have roles. Guys are getting opportunities to satisfy those roles. We need better outings. We got guys who do the job in the past. Today wasn't one of those days." The Reds broke through in the eighth. Skip Schumaker doubled home Brayan Pena to make it 3-1. Former Red Didi Gregorius broke it open in the ninth with a two-run shot off Carlos Contreras to make it 5-1 -- or just enough to make Mesoraco's home run not enough.

Richard signs with Diamondbacks By Ross Bolin / WLFI http://wlfi.com/2014/07/30/richard-signs-with-diamondbacks/ WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) – Former McCutcheon Maverick Clayton Richard has agreed to terms on a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. “I’m excited about the opportunity that the Diamondbacks have given me,” Richard said. “I cannot wait to get back on the mound against professional competition. I’m going to work as hard as I can to move up in their organization.” Richard last pitched for the Padres in 2013 and posted a 7.01 ERA with 4.1 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 in 52 2/3 innings pitched. Opponents batted .308/.369/.578 against Richard in a season that saw him miss three weeks with a stomach virus before going down for the year with a shoulder injury in June.

Two separate operations followed over the next eight months for the former Maverick who has been rehabbing ever since in his attempt to make it back to Major League Baseball. Over the last seven to 10 days, Richard has worked out for numerous teams and decided that the diamondbacks were the best fit for him. He will make a start this weekend in the Arizona League. The Arizona League is a minor league baseball league that operates in and around Phoenix. It is a Rookie-level league run by Major League Baseball since 1989.

Cal notes: Shipley balancing three pitches D-backs' No. 2 prospect ironing out his approach with coach Heredia By Alex Espinoza / Special to MiLB.com http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140730&content_id=86946778&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb&sid=milb Braden Shipley is trying to do a balancing act for the Visalia Rawhide. While it's great to have three above-average pitches -- his fastball, changeup and curve -- the 20-year-old righty knows it can also work against him at times. "I'm excited about the fact that I can throw three pitches for strikes when I want to," said Shipley, who has become Arizona's No. 2 prospect since being taken 15th overall in last year's Draft. "I'm trying not to fall in love with my changeup or my breaking pitch. I know they're good pitches for me, but I also want to keep them in my back pocket a little bit and really use my fastball. I've been trying to find that balance." Shipley developed a curveball during his junior and senior years of high school in Medford, Oregon, but once he got to the University of Nevada-Reno, he was able to dominate simply by using a fastball-changeup combo. So as he got his feet wet in pro ball with Class A Short Season Hillsboro, Shipley had to find the feel for his curve once again. Visalia pitching coach Gil Heredia, a 10-year Major League veteran, said the organization has focused on helping Shipley develop his pitch selection at the Class A Advanced level, and it looks like it's paying dividends. Shipley has finished at least six innings in seven of his nine starts for the Rawhide, matching his career high with seven frames last Friday against San Jose. Shipley (1-4) has a 4.39 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 59 strikeouts in 53 1/3 innings of work in Visalia after going 4-2 with a 3.74 ERA for Class A South Bend to start the year. Save for two rough outings he had about a month ago, he's looked like the power pitcher the Diamondbacks hope to see. "When he does make a mistake, he does it by overusing his secondary pitches," Heredia said. "That little rough patch he went through, he was pitching behind in counts, pitching defensively and not being as aggressive." Shipley is clearly held in a high regard as he was selected to represent Arizona with Team USA in the All-Star Futures Game

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earlier this month. The D-backs righty retired the only two batters he faced. "It was a great event and I was fortunate enough to participate in it and have a really good time," Shipley said. "The two outs that I did get, it made me better." If he stays on the same trajectory, Shipley has the makeup to contribute to the big league club as early as 2015, according to Heredia. There are a lot of expectations that come with being a first-round pick and a poster boy of the farm system, but Shipley doesn't seem to be affected by the added attention. "He's handled it pretty well," Heredia said. "He's got a good head between his shoulders. He's pretty realistic as far as understanding how he has to develop. We're not going to try to rush him at all, but you never know what could happen at the big leagues as far as the need for pitching. Who knows what that could bring for him?" In brief Astros promote Appel: Despite struggling with his command all year, 2013 No. 1 overall pick Mark Appel has been promoted to Double-A. The Houston Astros also hosted Appel at Minute Maid Park for a private workout after they decided to call him up to Corpus Christi. Appel started the season with Lancaster before being sent back to extended spring training. He put together his best outing of the year Thursday against Stockton, allowing two runs over six innings while striking out a season-high seven. In 12 starts with Lancaster, he was 2-5 with a 9.74 ERA, 1.92 WHIP and 40 strikeouts in 44 1/3 innings. Back-to-back Lara: After earning his second straight Cal League Player of the Week honor for High Desert, Jordy Lara has been promoted to Double-A. The 23-year-old batted .353/.413/.609 with 22 homers and 80 RBIs in 102 games for the Mavericks. Lamb on fast track: Southpaw Chris Lamb has made the jump all the way to Triple-A after starting the season with Oakland's Class A affiliate at Beloit. Lamb began the season as a reliever but was moved to a full-time starting role once he reached Stockton in mid-May. In 13 starts with the Ports, Lamb went 3-2 with a 3.46 ERA and 1.32 WHIP.

RENO ACES

Aces win third straight By Staff / Reno Gazette-Journal http://www.rgj.com/story/sports/2014/07/31/aces-win-third-straight/13395801/ The Reno Aces grabbed their third consecutive win as they beat the Fresno Grizzlies, 3-1, at Chukchansi Park in Fresno, Calif., on Wednesday. The starting pitching has been tremendous for the Aces over the past few days and Mark Serrano continued the trend. The right-hander allowed one run on four hits over 6 2/3 innings in just his third start of the year. Both teams scored in the first inning. Continuing his red-hot July, Andy Marte gave the Aces an early lead with a one-out, RBI single in the first. Mike Jacobs followed with a run-scoring groundout.

The Grizzlies got back-to-back hits from Darren Ford and Mark Minicozzi in the bottom half of the inning. Minicozzi's double scored Ford to cut the lead in half at 2-1. After the double from Minicozzi, Serrano retired 16 of the next 17 hitters he faced. He struck out six and issued two walks on the night, as he improved to 3-0. In the fourth inning. Marte had his second hit of the night, a double. Jacobs made it a 3-1 game when he drove in Marte with a sharp single to left-center. With his 3-for-3 night at the plate, Marte is hitting .396 (38-for-96) with 19 RBIs, 13 runs scored and 10 doubles in of July. Will Harris worked a perfect eighth inning to keep the 3-1 lead. With one out in the ninth, Grizzlies third baseman Chris Dominguez hit a towering fly ball to center that Mike Freeman robbed of being a home run. Jake Barrett went on to retire the side in order to grab his sixth save of the season. During the three-game winning streak, starters Charles Brewer, Lucas Harrell and Serrano have combined to allow only one run over 21 1/3 innings. On Tuesday, the Aces and Arizona Diamondbacks announced Steve McQuail transferred to Visalia. Alfredo Marte was optioned to Reno. Today's Game Reno Aces at Fresno Grizzlies TIME/RADIO: 7:05 pm./630 AM PITCHERS: Aces RHP Mike Bolsinger (6-1, 3.29) vs. Grizzlies TBA

Aces win third straight behind Serrano's start Aces right-hander improves to 3-0 with quality start By Chad Seely / Reno Aces http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140731&content_id=87192974&fext=.jsp&vkey=recap&sid=t2310 Fresno, Calif. - The Aces grabbed their third consecutive win as they topped the Fresno Grizzlies, 3-1, at Chukchansi Park Wednesday night. The starting pitching has been tremendous for the Aces over the past few days and Mark Serrano continued the trend in Fresno. The right-hander allowed one run on four hits over 6 2/3 innings in just his third start of the year. Offense looked like it would be the name of the game as both teams scored in the first inning. Continuing his red-hot July, Andy Marte gave the Aces an early lead with a one-out, RBI single in the first. Mike Jacobs followed with a run-scoring groundout to give Serrano a 2-0 lead before he threw his first pitch.

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The Grizzlies got back-to-back hits from Darren Ford and Mark Minicozzi in the bottom half of the inning. Minicozzi's double plated Ford to cut the lead in half at 2-1. After the double from Minicozzi, Serrano retired 16 of the next 17 hitters he faced. He struck out six and issued two walks on the night while improving to 3-0. Marte and Jacobs were back at it again in the fourth inning. Marte's second hit of the night, a double, started the frame. Jacobs made it a 3-1 game when he drove in Marte with a sharp single to left-center. With his 3-for-3 night at the plate, Marte is hitting .396 (38-for-96) with 19 RBI, 13 runs scored and 10 doubles in the month of July. Serrano worked into the seventh where he gave up a lead-off single to Brandon Hicks. He then struck out Guillermo Quiroz and retired Adalberto Santos on a fly ball to center. Kevin Munson came on in relief and got Brett Krill to pop-out on the first pitch he threw to end the threat. Will Harris worked a perfect eighth inning to keep the 3-1 lead. With one out in the ninth, Grizzlies third baseman Chris Dominguez hit a towering fly ball to center that Mike Freeman robbed of being a home run. Jake Barrett went on to retire the side in order to grab his sixth save of the season. During the three-game winning streak, starters Charles Brewer, Lucas Harrell and Serrano have combined to allow only one run over 21 1/3 innings. Game three of the series is set for Thursday night at Chukchansi Park. Right-hander Mike Bolsinger (6-1, 3.29) starts for Reno while Fresno has yet to name a starter. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Single-game tickets are on sale for the remaining 13 home games of the 2014 season. For more information, or to purchase an Aces ticket plan, call (775) 334-4700. For up-to-date news and notes throughout the offseason, visit www.RenoAces.com, follow the club on Twitter (@aces) or like the team on Facebook.

MOBILE BAYBEARS

BayBears Announce New General Manager By MiLB.com / Mobile BayBears http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140731&content_id=87216866&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t417&sid=t417 MOBILE, AL - The Mobile BayBears Professional Baseball Club has announced a new General Manager, Chris Morgan who will oversee the day-to-day operations of the franchise. A graduate of Louisiana State University, Morgan comes from the Senior Bowl where he served as the Director of Game Operations for over 16 years (1998-2014). The BayBears continue to work towards a brighter future with the addition of Morgan, who played a significant role with nearly every aspect of the Senior Bowl organization, including oversight of all corporate partnerships, organization of the annual

marketing and advertising plan, and management of all ancillary events that are staged by the Senior Bowl throughout the year. Hank Aaron Stadium is a familiar sight to Morgan as he returns to the Mobile BayBears for his second stint with the team. Morgan spent 1996-1998 in the front office as the Community Relations and Marketing Manager. These duties included the development and the execution of in-game promotions, management of stadium operations, and the development of all community outreach programs. "I am thrilled to be returning to the very organization that brought me to Mobile back in 1996. My time with the BayBears during their first two seasons still ranks as the highlight of my career and words truly can't express how excited I am to return to Hank Aaron Stadium," said Morgan. Back in 1996, Morgan focused on building a great family friendly experience with top notch entertainment and that will be one of his priorities as he returns to the BayBears. "I want to thank owner Mike Savit and Executive Vice-President Mike Gorrasi of the HWS Group for having the faith in me to come in and work hard to enhance the current profile of the BayBears organization and make Hank Aaron Stadium and BayBears games an entertainment destination for fans throughout the area," said Morgan. "We conducted a nationwide search over the last 90 days and we had a lot of qualified candidates interested in the position," said Gorrasi. "Chris was clearly our first choice as his combination of industry experience and leadership skills will be a nice addition to an already strong front office staff." A press-conference to announce the official hiring of Chris Morgan will be announced at a later date. Morgan will formally join the BayBears on August 11 and begin implementing his new ideas and strategies as the BayBears finish up the 2014 season. Tickets to all BayBears' 2014 home games are available for sale now by calling the BayBears ticket office at (251) 479-BEAR (2327), Monday through Friday, 9-5 PM. For more information on the BayBears, or for more information on any upcoming games and promotions, visit the official team web site at MobileBayBears.com or by "Liking" the Mobile BayBears on Facebook and following the team on Twitter @Mobile_BayBears.

After 16 years with Senior Bowl, Chris Morgan rejoining Mobile BayBears By Tommy Hicks / AL.com http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/07/after_16_years_with_senior_bow.html MOBILE, Alabama - Chris Morgan, who has served as director of game operations and corporate sponsorships for the Reese's Senior Bowl the past 16 years, has been named the Mobile BayBears general manager. A press release announcing the hiring is expected Thursday morning, with a formal announcement scheduled Aug. 12.

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It marks a return to the BayBears for Morgan, who arrived in Mobile to work with the then-newly formed BayBears' organization that began play in 1997. He remained with the team for two seasons, before accepting a job with the Senior Bowl in 1998. "I moved here with the BayBears,'' Morgan said Wednesday night. "I was working in Augusta, Ga., for the Class A team there. I met (former BayBears' general manager and president) Bill Shanahan while there - he was the general manager of the team in Columbia (S.C.) that was owned by the same group that was moving the team to Mobile. One thing led to another and I moved to Mobile.'' Morgan said to be on the ground floor of the beginning of an organization, as was the case with his joining the BayBears as the team's first marketing and community relations manager, will always be a highlight of his career. The 1994 LSU graduate, who in high school worked concessions and other jobs for a minor league team in Shreveport, La., said growing up he often dreamed of working in minor league baseball. "We got to do everything from the ground up, and that experience always stuck with me,'' he said of his first job with the BayBears. "When I went to the Senior Bowl in '98, I had no intention of staying there for 16 years; I was going to get back in baseball. ... Moving away (from Mobile) to me really wasn't an option. So to have the opportunity to get back in minor league baseball at the leadership level and in Mobile with the team that got me here to begin with, it's incredible.'' And so he has, taking over the Arizona Diamondbacks' local Class AA affiliate, which won the Southern League's first-half South Division championship and is atop the division standings again in the second half. The team has already secured a spot in the league playoffs in September with its first-half divisional crown. Morgan noted the team's success in winning past league championships. However, Morgan said, there is work to do in other areas of the team and its operations. Related: Bill Shanahan recently left the BayBears to return to Columbia, S.C. "I don't have any delusions as to what lies ahead,'' Morgan said. "We've got a lot of work to do. This is a team that's lost its place in the community. My job and the job of the staff that we currently have in place is to enhance the profile of the BayBears and to regain the relevance that we had in the community when we started back in '97.'' Despite some challenges, Morgan said he is excited about his new job and the future of the BayBears. He said he also believes his work in the Mobile community with the Senior Bowl - he handled all marketing and advertising, corporate sponsorships and event management for the game and events related to the game - will serve as a huge plus in his new role as the BayBears' GM. "I was fortunate at the Senior Bowl to pretty much have a hand in everything we did,'' Morgan said. "... The past 16 years have absolutely prepared me for this next step - to be a general manager and to be in a leadership position.''

Morgan is set to take on his new role on Aug. 11.

VISALIA RAWHIDE

SOUTH BEND SILVER HAWKS

Hot Rods Accelerate Past Hawks 10-1 South Bend Silver Hawks http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140730&content_id=87165426&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t550&sid=t550 Left fielder James Harris circled the bases on a first-inning inside-the-park grand slam as the Bowling Green Hot Rods (16-22, 48-59) plated six runs in the first inning en route to a 10-1 win over the South Bend Silver Hawks (22-16, 62-45) on Wednesday night at Four Winds Field. Hawks starter Blake Perry (L, 5-4) lasted just two-thirds of an inning as he could not find the strike zone and the Hot Rods took advantage. Bowling Green, the Class-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, did not waste any time taking a dominating lead over the Silver Hawks. Shortstop Pat Blair led off the inning by walking and then stealing second. He went to third on second baseman Kean Wong's ground out to the right side. Catcher Oscar Hernandez walked before Perry struck out third baseman Ty Young for the second out of the inning. Designated hitter Alexander Simon got Bowling Green on the board with a ground ball single to left that plated Blair for a 1-0 lead. First baseman Darryl George walked to load the bases and right fielder Julian Ridings worked the count full before also walking to force in a run and make it 2-0. That was the end of the night for Perry and Tom Jameson came in out of the pen to replace him. Harris went to a full count before lacing a liner up the middle. Center fielder Chuck Taylor made a diving effort at the ball but it skipped past his glove and rolled all the way to the wall, allowing Harris to clear the bases and head home himself with an inside-the-park grand slam. Perry finished the night allowing 5 earned runs on two hits and four walks in just two-thirds of an inning. South Bend, the Class-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, struck back for a run in the bottom of the second inning. Third baseman Joe Munoz reached on a hit by pitch to lead off the inning. Catcher Michael Perez grounded out to second and Munoz advanced to second base on the play. Second baseman Jamie Westbrook then launched a double off the top of the left-field wall that scored Munoz and cut the lead to 6-1. That was the closest the Hawks would get for the rest of the night as Chris Kirsch (W, 7-6) shut down the South Bend offense. After the second inning, he allowed just three batters to reach base and retired 19 out of 22 Silver Hawks following Westbrook's double. He threw eight dominant innings, allowing just one run on four hits and no walks while striking out four. The Hot Rods padded their lead with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. In the top of the fifth, Wong led off and reached second on a throwing error by Munoz. He scored when Hernandez followed with a double off Jameson down the left field line that made it 7-1. Jameson pitched well out of the pen for the Hawks as he went 4 1/3 innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits. Adam Miller came on for the Hawks to start the sixth and gave up three consecutive hits and one run

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to start the inning. Ridings, Harris, and center fielder Spencer Edwards all singled to give Bowling Green an 8-1 lead. Bowling Green continued to pour it on by adding two more run in the seventh. Wong led off with a single and with one out, Young was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. Simon hit a tailor-made double play ball to third but Munoz threw high of second and into right field for his second error of the game. Wong scored on the play and Young went to third. George then grounded a single through the left side that scored Young for the tenth run of the game for the Hot Rods. Jose Jose pitched the top of the eighth for the Hawks and worked around a two-out double by Wong for a scoreless inning. Will Locante entered in relief to pitch the ninth for South Bend and struck out the side after allowing a single to Young to start the inning. Kirsch exited the game after eight strong innings. Josh Kimborowicz entered for Bowling Green to pitch the ninth and he closed the game out quickly with a perfect inning for an 10-1 Bowling Green victory. The Hawks and Hot Rods finish the series on Thursday night with first pitch scheduled for 7:05pm. Jaime Schultz (2-1, 1.87 ERA) will start for Bowling Green while Markus Solbach (2-1, 2.79 ERA) puts his 17.1 inning scoreless streak on the line for the Silver Hawks. It is Thirsty Thursday at Four Winds Field so come on out and enjoy $2 22 ounce sodas and 16 ounce beers all night long.

HILLSBORO HOPS

Scorin' For Doran Twelve hits, five for extra bases as Hops defeat Spokane 9-1 By Matt Richert / Hillsboro Hops http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140731&content_id=87204624&fext=.jsp&vkey=recap&sid=t419 One night after their worst performance of the season, the Hops responded with one of their best. Ryan Doran notched another quality start, the Hops played flawless defense behind him and Zach Esquerra's three-run home run to right field in the sixth inning highlighted a 12-hit attack as Hillsboro defeated the Spokane Indians 9-1 in the opening game of their five-game series at Avista Stadium. It was a matchup of first half championship teams and a matchup of All-Star pitchers as Doran (4-3) outdueled Spokane's Richelson Pena (4-3) with the assistance of a strong offensive attack, something the second-year right hander has rarely received this year. Doran pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning, but the Hops had just a 2-0 lead until Esquerra cleared the short right field porch with an opposite field blow. It was his first home run for the Hops in his second game back at Hillsboro. The second-year right filelder from La Habra, California hit four home runs this year at long A South Bend and now has nine career homers at Hillsboro, tops in franchise history. Doran, who struck out a season-high eight with no walks, checked out of the game after surrendering an RBI double to Spokane first baseman Fernando VIvili with two outs in the seventh inning. In ten starts this year, Doran, whose team-

leading earned run average dropped to 2.56, has pitched no fewer than 5 2/3 innings and surrendered no more than three earned runs. Cody Geyer fanned Ian Kiner-Falefa to end the inning before retiring the side in order in the eighth. Luis Ramirez pitched a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts. The three pitchers combined for zero bases on balls, while the Hops played error-free defense one night after tying a season-worst with five in an 11-2 loss to Boise. Stryker Trahan, the Diamondbacks' number one draft pick in 2012, doubled down the left field line leading off the second inning for his first hit in a Hops uniform. Trahan should have been tagged out after he broke for third on a Jordan Parr grounder to third baseman Juremi Profar, but Profar inexplicably failed to make a tag attempt on Trahan and threw late to first. Nate Irving followed with a sacrifice fly to left center for his first professional run batted in and Nate Robertson delivered a double down the right field line to put the Hops up 2-0. Pena retired 11 consecutive Hops batters until a one-out base hit by Kevin Cron in the sixth. After Trahan was hit by a pitch with two outs, Esquerra followed hit a 1-2 Pena pitch just beyond the short wall in straight right field to give Hillsboro a 5-0 lead. The Hops pounded reliever Erik Swanson for three runs on three hits in the seventh, an inning when even all three outs were crushed, two hit to the wall in straightaway center by Cron and Trahan. Three consecutive hits in the eighth off Luis Pollorena netted the final run of the night when Nate Robertson plated Parr with a single for his second RBI and Parr's second run of the evening. Five of the Hops 12 hits went for extra bases. Cron went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored including his second double in as many nights. Trahan scored twice and Parr, Irving and Robertson, the bottom three in the order, each had two hits. Pepe Cardona went 2-for-4 with a double and scored Spokane's only run. The Hops (6-3 2nd half, 28-19 overall) and Indians (3-6, 28-19) are now tied with Vancouver (3-6, 28-19) for the best overall record in the Northwest League after the Canadians squandered a 7-1 lead in an 8-7 loss at Boise. Austin Platt (1-2, 3.18 era) gets the start on the hill tonight for the Hops against Spokane's Derek Thompson (4-4, 3.38). Catch all of the live action on Rip City Radio 620 AM beginning with the pregame show at 6:05, first pitch comes your way at 6:35 on the air or online at foxportsradio620.com.

Hillsboro Hops bounce back from Tuesday's trouncing with 9-1 win over Spokane By Pete Christopher / Oregonian http://www.oregonlive.com/hillsboro-hops/index.ssf/2014/07/hillsboro_hops_bounce_back_fro.html#incart_river The Hillsboro Hops racked up nine runs on twelve hits on Wednesday night to power past Spokane, 9-1.

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Ryan Doran picked up the win for visiting Hillsboro, throwing six and two thirds innings while striking out eight, improving his season record to 4-3 with a 2.56 ERA. Zach Esquerra launched a sixth inning home run with two on and two out to help boost the Hops. Austin Platt will take the mound on Thursday at Spokane, with first pitch set for 6:30 PT.

MISSOULA OSPREY

Lots of new faces dot Missoula Osprey roster KPAX http://www.kpax.com/news/lots-of-new-faces-dot-missoula-osprey-roster/ MISSOULA - There's a lot of new folks hitting the diamond for the Missoula Osprey as they continue second half play in the Pioneer League. The parent Arizona Diamondbacks have announced seven new Osprey have been added to Missoula's roster. Catcher Tyler Baker and first baseman Taylor Ard have been transferred from Short Season Hillsboro to Missoula. Relievers Anthony Bazzani and Cody Clark, starter Yefrey Ramirez, infielder Henry Castillo, and outfielder Stewart Ijames have been transferred from the AZL D-Backs to Missoula. Taylor Ard joins the Osprey to give Missoula an Apple Cup combo at first base as the former Washington State Cougar joins recent University of Washington draft pick Trevor Mitsui. Ard was a seventh round pick by the Mariners in 2012 and began his career with twelve homeruns for Everett in the Northwest League. After a hot start with River City in the Frontier League this summer, Ard was signed by Arizona and joins the Osprey after playing ten games with the Hops. Tyler Baker was Arizona's fifteenth round selection in June's draft out of Wichita State. Baker batted .250 and picked up ten RBI through 23 games with Hillsboro to begin his professional career. This spring for the Shockers, Baker collected 18 RBI but was an anchor behind with plate with just four errors on the season and supported a strong pitching staff that finished with a 3.43 ERA. Yefrey Ramirez has been the standout in the AZL D-Backs' rotation with a strong 1.93 ERA in seven appearances. Ramirez tallied an incredible 48 strikeouts to just four walks in 37.1 innings in his dominance over the AZL. Cody Clark and Anthony Bazzani shared the closer role with the AZL D-Backs with much success. Clark carried a 2.00 ERA through nine games, with both runs coming in only one appearance, with eight punch outs in nine innings. Opponents mustered just a .212 clip off the right-handed pitcher who earned four saves. Bazzani was signed as a free agent out of Eastern Kentucky where he registered a team-best six saves. He held his opposition scoreless in all but five appearances on the hill. In the AZL, the righty tallied three saves with a 2.35 ERA in eight games. Stewart Ijames is a former Louisville Cardinal standout that was signed this summer from the Washington Wild Things out of the Frontier League. Ijames drove in three runs in just five AZL

contests after blasting a total of 31 homers for Washington over less than two seasons. Through 40 fewer games than 2013, the outfielder matched his RBI total of 45 this summer. The two-time draft pick ended his career as a Cardinal ranked second in RBI (212) and at-bats (828), third in games played (239), fifth in hits (256), sixth in home runs (45) and seventh in doubles (52). Henry Castillo has been a leader in the AZL with a .331 average in 28 contests with six doubles and nine triples. The switch-hitting infielder totaled 22 RBI and a .900 OPS. Arizona also announced Tuesday that catcher Tyler Clark has been transferred to Triple A Reno. First baseman Kevin Cron and reliever Tyler Toyfair have been transferred to Short Season Hillsboro. Starter Brad Keller, infielder Michael Abreu, and reliever Holden Helmink have been transferred to the AZL D-Backs, while Wagner Mateo has been released.

Missoula Withstands Late Great Falls Rally O's Hit Five Homers And Williams Is The New Owner Of Hit Streak Record Missoula Osprey http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140731&content_id=87192042&fext=.jsp&vkey=recap&sid=t518 MISSOULA, Mont. - In an offensive slugfest that saw Great Falls charge late, Missoula held on for a 10-9 victory with five home runs and saw Justin Williams emerge as the sole owner of Missoula's hit streak record at 25 games. The Osprey (2-3, 19-24) chicks dug the long ball with the new additions accounting for all five home runs. Stewart Ijames had a pair of two-run blasts, including what would be the O's final runs of the night in the fifth inning. Tyler Baker and Taylor Ard each launched a long ball that drove in two runs while second baseman Henry Castillo lifted his solo shot to the rails beyond right field. Sergio Alcantara picked up an RBI single in the second inning for the lone run that was not trotted in. Justin Williams reached a 25-game hit streak with a line drive single in the third inning. As a whole, Missoula had sixteen hits and every starter came away with at least one base knock. Great Falls (2-3, 25-18) scored at least a run from the fifth inning on, including a pinch-hit two-run dinger off the bat of Louie Lekich with two outs in the ninth, but newly added reliever Anthony Bazzani would pick up his first save with three strikeouts in the inning. The Voyagers stepped up to the launching pad as well with three round trippers, all solo shots, off starter Yefrey Ramirez (1-0). Jake Peter, Chevy Clarke, and Mason Robbins each belted a homer. In his first appearance out of the AZL, the right-handed pitcher Yefrey Ramirez went 5.1 innings and gave up nine hits with all five runs earned, two walks, and used a big breaking ball for three strikeouts. Voyager starter Matt Ball was hung with the loss as the O's roughed him up for six earned runs in 2.1 innings off eight hits.

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Missoula continues its six-game homestand tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. against the Great Falls Voyagers for Bark In the Park, Pet Adoption Night presented by Subaru of Missoula, and Taco Plate Night. Tickets for all Osprey games are available at the MSO Hub Box Office, by phone at (406) 543-3300 and online at MissoulaOsprey.com.

NATIONAL

MLB NEWS July 31, 2014 • sports.yahoo.com/mlb/morenews http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/morenews July 31, 2014

AP source: A's acquire Lester, Gomes for Cespedes 11:28 am EDT (The Associated Press)

A's deal Tommy Milone to Twins for Sam Fuld 11:27 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Report: Amaro's price 'extremely high' for Marlon Byrd 11:21 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia)

2014 Trade Deadline Tracker 11:20 am EDT (NBC Sports)

A’s trade Tommy Milone to Twins for Sam Fuld 11:13 am EDT (NBC Sports)

This trade can be a winner for Oakland, even if they don’t win it all 11:12 am EDT (NBC Sports)

Report: A's send Milone to Twins for OF Fuld 11:10 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

As trade deadline looms, Orioles go for Angels sweep 11:09 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)

Calcaterra: Red Sox-A's trade is a win-win 11:07 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet New England)

A's re-acquire Fuld, send Milone to Twins 11:07 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)

Three things we learned about Red Sox Wednesday night 11:03 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet New England)

A's acquire ace Lester for All-Star Cespedes 11:00 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

MLB trade deadline tracker: Jon Lester to A's 10:56 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia)

Quick pitch: The deal makes sense 10:54 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet New England)

Orioles shut down prospect Hunter Harvey with elbow injury 10:47 am EDT (NBC Sports)

The Lester trade is a win-win 10:30 am EDT (NBC Sports)

“All indications” Cubs will trade Emilio Bonifacio 10:15 am EDT (NBC Sports)

BLOCKBUSTER: Jon Lester and Jonny Gomes heading to Oakland for Yoenis Cespedes 10:02 am EDT (NBC Sports)

30 Seconds to Know: the trade deadline is not really a deadline 9:46 am EDT (NBC Sports)

Corey Kluber tossed an 85-pitch shutout last night 9:16 am EDT (NBC Sports)

Matt Kemp is sizzling since the break, plays the hero again last night 8:55 am EDT (NBC Sports)

The State of the Trade Deadline: Yesterday was pretty sleepy. Will general managers wake up today? 8:10 am EDT (NBC Sports)

And That Happened: Wednesday’s scores and highlights 6:59 am EDT (NBC Sports)

Red Sox: A big-market team that isn't acting like one 5:47 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet New England)

Team Report - ST. LOUIS CARDINALS 3:56 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Team Report - SAN DIEGO PADRES 3:56 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Team Report - LOS ANGELES DODGERS 3:32 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Padres rookie RHP Hahn off to sizzling start 3:30 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Braves-Dodgers Preview 3:16 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Your Top Plays for Today 3:02 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Kemp carries Dodgers to fifth win in a row 3:01 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Cardinals-Padres Preview 2:50 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Kluber outpitches Hernandez in 2-0 win 2:48 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Chances of Phillies' deadline overhaul slim 2:44 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Baseball-Highlights of Wednesday's MLB games 2:41 am EDT (Reuters)

Mets' Murphy set for uneasy deadline day 2:39 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Gyorko, Venable drive Padres past Cardinals 2:38 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Dodgers beat Braves 3-2 for 5th straight win 2:38 am EDT (The Associated Press)

A day later, Cubs C Baker savors pitching win 2:27 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Gyorko, Venable back Hahn in Padres' 12-1 laugher 2:25 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Royals need offense, but at what cost? 2:12 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Twins-Royals Preview 2:09 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Daily Dose: Deadline Day 1:14 am EDT (Rotoworld)

Cubs C Baker enjoys spotlight after first win 1:13 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Cubs acquire struggling LHP Doubront from Red Sox 1:10 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Rockies-Cubs Preview 1:09 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Cubs working to trade Emilio Bonifacio 1:07 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)

SNC Update: White Sox, Cubs face decisions at trade deadline 1:07 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)

Dupont: ‘I think in the end they will pay Lester’ 1:00 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet New England)

Big inning pushes Royals past Twins 12:51 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

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36

Extra-inning rematch goes Rockies' way 12:50 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

White Sox-Tigers Preview 12:48 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Dodgers could be idle at trade deadline 12:32 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Rockies beat Cubs 6-4 in 10 innings 12:31 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Wilson could return to Angels' rotation this weekend 12:30 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Will anyone pay the price for Tampa's ace? 12:30 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Cardinals take Masterson from Indians ahead of deadline 12:20 am EDT (Reuters)

Report: Cardinals, Pirates pushing hard for Lester 12:18 am EDT (Comcast SportsNet New England)

Perez helps Royals struggle to 3-2 win over Twins 12:13 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Blue Jays-Astros Preview 12:09 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Rangers get rare series win, 3-2 over Yankees 12:09 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Angels-Orioles Preview 12:06 am EDT (The Associated Press)

Lewis pitches Rangers to 3-2 win 12:03 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

Gausman, Orioles top Angels again 12:00 am EDT (The SportsXchange)

July 30, 2014

A's plan to stick with slumping Hammel 11:55 pm EDT (The SportsXchange)

Workman struggles vs. Blue Jays filling in for Lester 11:52 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet New England)

Tony Gwynn Day declared under acting governor 11:51 pm EDT (The Associated Press)

White Sox allow 6 in 1st, lose 7-2 to Tigers 11:39 pm EDT (The Associated Press)

Mariners-Indians Preview 11:36 pm EDT (The Associated Press)

Kluber leads Indians to win vs. Mariners 11:34 pm EDT (The SportsXchange)

Castellanos' first-inning homer powers Tigers 11:28 pm EDT (The SportsXchange)

Angels muster only 4 hits in 4-3 loss to Orioles 11:22 pm EDT (The Associated Press)

Giants make roster moves, expected to cut Uggla 11:20 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)

Buehrle leads hot Blue Jays past Red Sox 11:20 pm EDT (The SportsXchange)

John Danks still scheduled to start for White Sox on Thursday 11:20 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)

Castellanos helps Tigers to 7-2 win over White Sox 11:19 pm EDT (The Associated Press)

Marlins, White Sox “have discussed” a John Danks trade 11:19 pm EDT (NBC Sports)

What kind of impact will Cubs prospects have on franchise? 11:08 pm EDT (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)

Toronto beats Boston 6-1 to sweep Red Sox 10:55 pm EDT (The Associated Press)

Astros' Singleton learns on the job 10:54 pm EDT (The SportsXchange)

MLB TRANSACTIONS July 31, 2014 • MLB.com http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions

LAST UPDATED: THU, JULY 31, 2014, 10:34 EDT

THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2014

TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION

Oakland Athletics

Jon Lester

Traded From from Red Sox, Boston (w/OF Jonny Gomes for OF Yoenis Cespedes)

Oakland Athletics

Jonny Gomes

Traded From from Red Sox, Boston (w/LHP Jon Lester for OF Yoenis Cespedes)

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2014

TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION

Arizona Diamondbacks

Clayton Richard

Signed to a Minor League Contract

Arizona Diamondbacks

Eric Chavez

Removed From 60-Day DL, (Sprained left knee)

Arizona Diamondbacks

Eric Chavez Retired

Boston Red Sox

Brandon Workman

Called Up from Minors

Chicago Cubs

Felix Doubront

Traded From from Red Sox, Boston (for player to be named later)

Chicago Cubs Chris Rusin Called Up from Minors

Chicago Cubs

Blake Parker

Sent to Minors

Cleveland Indians

Justin Masterson

Removed From 15-Day DL, (Right knee inflammation)

Cleveland Indians

Justin Masterson

Recalled From Minors, Rehab Assignment

Colorado Rockies

Cristhian Adames

Sent to Minors

Colorado Rockies

Rob Scahill Called Up from Minors

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37

Los Angeles Dodgers

Darwin Barney

Sent to Minors

Miami Marlins Ed Lucas Called Up from Minors

San Francisco Giants

Tyler Colvin

Sent to Minors

St. Louis Cardinals

Michael Wacha

Transferred to 60-Day DL, (Stress reaction, right shoulder)

St. Louis Cardinals

Justin Masterson

Traded From from Indians, Cleveland (for OF James Ramsey)

Texas Rangers

Derek Holland

Sent to Minors, For Rehabilitation

Toronto Blue Jays

Cole Gillespie

Sent to Minors, For Rehabilitation