MLB Bullets Has Its Mojo Working

I took advantage of the off-day and went surfing for the first time in my life yesterday. Even my sores have sores on them. Now I know why Brian Wilson was afraid of the water.

• Just in case you didn't get enough of trade rumors over the past month, Jay Jaffe has the players who could clear waivers and still get traded in (more likely) August or September.
• Dave Cameron has what he thinks were the five best deals that teams made before the deadline.
• Ken Rosenthal explains why the Blue Jays and the Angels would be willing to trade for struggling pitchers with big contracts like Francisco Liriano and Ricky Nolasco.
• Yankees GM Brian Cashman said that the team had "no plans" to release Alex Rodriguez.
• But if they do, Cliff Corcoran has five teams that might sign A-Rod if he does get released.
• Andrew Marchand thinks the Yankees need to make up their mind about what they're going to do with Rodriguez.That seems odd. You can make up your mind to release someone, but you can never make up your mind to keep a guy because no player gets kept forever.
• Mike Axisa looks at how the Tigers won eight in a row and got back into the AL Central race. Axisa thinks the Tigers are going to be a threat all season.
• Zach Kram also looks at how the Tigers found their mojo, but he's less optimistic about the Tigers chances.
• With the Rio Olympics set to formally begin today, baseball and softball were officially added to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
• Grant Brisbee asks if there is a way to make anyone care? (I assume he means "Anyone in North America.")
• The last time baseball was an Olympic sport was 2008 and you may recognize a couple of players on the bronze-medal winning US team. Two current Cubs stars were on that team. See if you can guess them before clicking on the link.
• Bryce Harper wants to play for Team USA in the 2020 Olympics. Not happening, Bryce. But if you want to wear "USA" on your chest, the World Baseball Classic is next March.
• Rob Arthur examines why Harper has "just been good" this season instead of his normal god-like self.
• Eddie Matz says that "Nationals rookie Trea Turner is so fast . ." How fast is he? "Trea Turner is so fast that . . ."
• Andrew McCutchen's slump has gotten so bad that he was benched for an entire series against the Braves.
• Some Cubs and ex-Cubs spoke out and while we'd normally leave these stories for Cub Tracks, it doesn't publish again until Sunday. So Mark Prior wrote about his major league career and said he had no regrets. He also said that he believes Dusty Baker had no impact on the injuries he suffered and he explains why he was so "aloof" (although he says he doesn't like that word) during his career.
• And on a happier note, David Ross, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo take to the Players Tribune to discuss the Cubs, their clubhouse, each other, Ross' retirement and winning that ring.
• Richard Justice looks at the factors that could make the Orioles "this year's Royals."
• Because you can't get enough of him, Grant Brisbee has the strange career arc (so far) of Yasiel Puig.
• Claire McNair thinks the Athletics need new ownership.
• Padres chairman Ron Fowler blasted the recently-traded Matt Kemp and James Shields.
• Mets GM Sandy Alderson said it was "bad optics" that Yoenis Cespedes was seen playing golf on the day he was placed on the disabled list.
• Craig Calcaterra believes this "Golfing Cespedes" scandal is just another example of ginned-up outrage.
• The Mets chances of winning the NL East are disappearing, writes Adam Rubin.
• The Blue Jays have decided to keep ace Aaron Sanchez in the starting rotation and will instead go to a six-man rotation to limit his innings.
• Dayn Perry applauds the decision on Sanchez.
• Apparently "digital autographs" are a thing. Craig Calcaterra doesn't get it, either.
• And finally, Phillies outfielder Aaron Altherr came this close to pulling a "Merkle's Boner" in a win against the Giants (ironically enough) on Wednesday. He was on first base and failed to run the play out and touch second base when Maikel Franco singled home the winning run in extra innings. The Giants got the ball and tagged second base and Altherr was called out. Unfortunately, that was only the second out of the inning, so the winning run still counted.

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster.