After being scouted by approximately 15 teams yesterday, Freddy Garcia is saying he'd like to make a decision this weekend on where he will pitch the rest of the season. Garcia told one scout he could be ready to go to the minors by next week and would need a few starts to work himself up to Triple-A. That would leave him ready, if all goes well, by the beginning of September. Read Full Story

Biggest Needs for AL Playoff Contenders -The Red Sox are in pretty good shape, according to Perry. He points a finger at Jason Varitek's underachieving season but thinks the only real need they have is RH middle relief, assuming that Justin Masterson can settle in in the bullpen. -The Yankees have a long list of players on the DL, with the chance that Matsui and Posada could be gone for the season. They need another bat and will likely be looking at the same players as the Mets, Holliday... Read Full Story

Yankee officials gathered for meetings today to, among other issues, strategize going into the trade deadline next week. When asked if a Bonds deal was possible, Hank Steinbrenner said, "I'll mention it. We cover everything. No stone will be left unturned." There's no point in reading into his cryptic remarks but it sure can't be called a flat-out no-way, no-how. Read Full Story

What Aren't the Yankees Shopping For? In taking a last look for the day on any evening news I might have missed, I couldn't help noticing the number of items detailing interest in players that the Yankees supposedly have. For starters, they have talked to the Mariners about LH pitcher Jarrod Washburn. Also, being reported by the New York Post is their ongoing interest in Pirates reliever Damasco Marte and Rockies Brian Fuentes. In addition, they are considering going after Mark Teixeira... Read Full Story

The Brewers and Giants are in serious discussions about a deal for Ray Durham. The Brewers, it appears, will not give up anyone of serious value on their 25 man roster, but nothing is written in stone. More on this as the deal is worked out. Read Full Story

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports is reporting that a proposed deal for Matt Holliday and Brian Fuentes to go to the Phillies for a package of players, including Of Shane Victorino, LH J.A. Happ, Double A RH Carlos Carrasco and Double A catcher Lou Marsen has been called off. Talks are not expected to resume. Read Full Story

ESPN's Buster Olney took a look at the market for closers heading into the trade deadline and sees it like this: Fuentes, Sherrill and Street. While Colorado's Brian Fuentes seems like the top pick here, the Rockies are, at the moment, asking for the moon in return. Olney points out that one reason Baltimore's George Sherrill or Oakland's Huston Street might be more attractive is that neither one of them is eligible for free agency until 2010 for Street and 2011 for Sherrill and Fuentes is a... Read Full Story

Word is circling around the MLB that the Pirates are making unreasonable demands regarding their most prized assets, Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte, as the trade deadline nears. The New York Post cited one front office executive saying the Pirates demands were "exorbitant". With top prospects being held out of most deals not involving star players, the Pirates will be hard pressed to pry away any blue chippers for either Nady or Marte. Read Full Story

This is by no means anything definitive but it is interesting. Of the three other NL teams to have ever sent 8 players to the All-Star game, two; the 1943 Cardinals and the 1960 Pirates made it to the World Series, with the Pirates winning it. The other team, the '56 Reds finished the season in third place. Does any of this make you feel more or less confident? Me either. Read Full Story

-The Phillies and Rockies held talks about a possible deal for OF Matt Holliday but talks have cooled for now. -Francisco Liriano is apparently very frustrated with the Twins for keeping him in Triple-A. He is considering filing a grievance. -Long time hurler Hideo Nomo has retired at the age of 39.  Read Full Story