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Athletics place 1B Barton on DL (PA SportsTicker)

The Oakland Athletics on Saturday placed first baseman Daric Barton on the 15-day disabled list with a neck strain suffered in a scary incident during the All-Star break

Oakland 1B Barton on DL after hitting head in pool (AP)

Daric Barton smacked his head on the bottom of a pool during the All-Star break, requiring six staples to close the gash and leaving the Oakland first baseman with a neck strain that landed him on the disabled list Saturday. Barton was placed on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 14. The Athletics recalled infielder Wes Bankston from Triple-A Sacramento and started him at first base against the New...

How Soriano looks will determine what Cubs do at deadline (Yahoo! Sports)

How Alfonso Soriano looks when he comes off the disabled list within the next week might determine whether the...

Athletics Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Joe Blanton was supposed to pitch Friday in New York. That was before he was traded to the Phillies on Thursday.

So the A's sent lefty Greg Smith to the Yankee Stadium mound, three days after it was used for the 79th All-Star Game, and he was charged with six runs in Oakland's 7-1 loss to the Yankees.

The A's didn't announce that Gio Gonzalez would be called up from Class AAA Sacramento to take Blanton's place, as was speculated. Instead, they said lefty Dallas Braden will move into the rotation and start Tuesday against Tampa Bay.

The rest of the revised rotation: Sean Gallagher Saturday, Justin Duchscherer Sunday, Dana Eveland Monday.

Nobody from last year's rotation.

Dan Haren was traded to the Diamondbacks, Rich Harden to the Cubs and Blanton to...

Cano, A-Rod help Mussina earn 12th win for Yanks (AP)

Mike Mussina received plenty of support from the New York Yankees, and newcomer Richie Sexson was right in the middle of it. Robinson Cano hit a three-run homer, Alex Rodriguez also connected and New York built an early cushion for Mussina in a 7-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Friday night. Sexson hit an RBI single in his first at-bat with the Yankees, and Mussina (12-6) pitched six...

Oakland activates SS Bobby Crosby from DL (AP)

The Oakland Athletics activated shortstop Bobby Crosby from the disabled list Friday and moved left-hander Dallas Braden into their rotation. Braden, who had been pitching in relief, will replace Joe Blanton in the rotation. Blanton was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday for three minor leaguers.

A's trade Blanton to Phillies (AP)

The Oakland Athletics traded away their second starting pitcher this month, dealing burly right-hander Joe Blanton to the Philadelphia Phillies for three minor leaguers on Thursday. A's general manager Billy Beane swapped Blanton a week after sending Rich Harden to the Chicago Cubs -- and that's with his team very much in contention in the AL West, six games behind the first-place Los Angeles...

Pertinent post-All-Star break issues (Yahoo! Sports)

Questions for each team come to mind two at a time as the season enters its second half.

Rays, Cubs have big hopes for second half (AP)

Raise your hand if you had this in your preseason picks. Evan Longoria and the Tampa Bay Rays are sandwiched between the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees and leading the wild-card race in -- gasp! -- mid-July. The Chicago White Sox are on top in the AL Central, with the big-budget Detroit Tigers in third and Cleveland languishing in last.

MLB likely to defer worldwide draft to 2012 (AP)

Baseball owners likely will postpone any effort to institute a worldwide draft until their next labor contract with players begins in 2012. Commissioner Bud Selig said interest in a worldwide draft has increased among management, but Rob Manfred, his executive vice president for labor relations, indicated owners probably wouldn't push for the players' association to reopen the collective...

Aybar's infield single drives in winner for Angels (AP)

Reggie Willits' aggressive baserunning is a result of coaches past and present instilling in him that instinct. Sometimes it's pure luck. Willits scored from second on Erick Aybar's infield single with two outs in the ninth and the Los Angeles Angels rallied to beat the Oakland Athletics 4-3 on Sunday, spoiling another solid outing by All-Star Justin Duchscherer.

Santana pitches Angels to victory (AP)

Ervin Santana refuses to even think about his dominance over Oakland. The first-time All-Star keeps his focus on winning. Ervin Santana allowed five hits over seven scoreless innings, Howie Kendrick had two hits and an RBI, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Oakland Athletics 4-1 on Saturday night. "I don't feel like I had that kind of energy," Santana said.

Tampa Bay turnaround highlights 'crazy' first half (AP)

Tampa Bay is on top, the Chicago Cubs keep winning and Major League Baseball might add instant replay before the summer's over. What in the name of Babe Ruth is going on with this grand ol' game? Conventions are getting shattered everywhere, just like those thin-handled maple bats. Indeed, it's been a wild first half for the national pastime: one no-hitter, three fired managers and Ken Griffey Jr.'s...

Gallagher wins in Oakland debut (AP)

Most of Sean Gallagher's belongings remain in boxes and the right-hander is trying to learn the names and faces of his new teammates. He still managed to make a good first impression Friday night. Gallagher allowed two hits over seven innings in his Oakland debut and fellow newcomer Matt Murton drove in two runs to help the A's beat the Los Angeles Angels 9-2.

Murton joins A's for game against Angels (AP)

Outfielder Matt Murton, acquired by Oakland in the trade that sent Rich Harden to the Chicago Cubs, joined the Athletics on Friday night and was in the starting lineup against the Los Angeles Angels. The 26-year-old Murton was originally slated to join Oakland's Triple-A team in Sacramento, but plans changed when outfielder Ryan Sweeney left Thursday's game against Seattle with a dislocated left...

OF Murton joins Athletics (PA SportsTicker)

The Oakland Athletics announced Friday that outfielder Matt Murton, who was acquired from the Chicago Cubs in the Rich Harden trade, will report to the major league club.

Unloading Harden is Beane's business (Yahoo! Sports)

Oakland A's GM says trading pitchers at their peak is merely business as usual, not throwing in the towel.

Brown's homer beats Mariners in 11 innings (AP)

Emil Brown rounded the bases, then grabbed A's hitting coach Ty Van Burkleo and nearly smothered him in a hug -- a good student acknowledging his teacher. Brown hit a solo homer in the 11th inning, after Jack Cust and Kurt Suzuki hit solo shots in the ninth inning to tie the game, and Oakland rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Thursdsay.

Sweeney leaves with injured finger (AP)

Oakland Athletics outfielder Ryan Sweeney left Thursday's game against the Seattle Mariners following the bottom of the third inning with a dislocated left pinkie. Sweeney, who was caught stealing second base in the third, has been on the disabled list with a left toe injury and recently missed three games with a sprained left ankle.

Answer Man: Huston Street talks streets, Texas, good tipping (Yahoo! Sports)

Oakland Athletics right-hander Huston Street was recently spotted at Chicago's U.S. Cellular Field carrying a...

Lopez, Beltre lead Mariners to win (AP)

Roy Corcoran knew his first big league victory was coming. He never saw J.J. Putz, though, and caught his first shaving cream pie full in the face. "Now I have to shower again," Corcoran said, smiling. "It's a good feeling to get the first one." Jose Lopez hit a three-run double, Adrian Beltre drove in two runs and the Seattle Mariners ended a three-game slide with a 6-4 victory over the Oakland...

Cardinals' turn in NL Central chess match (SportingNews.com)

The Brewers acquired CC Sabathia, the Cubs countered with Rich Harden ... now it's the Cardinals' turn. But St. Louis might be relegated to waiting for injuries to heal.

Duchscherer leads Oakland past Seattle (AP)

Justin Duchscherer gave a sharp reminder to anyone who thinks the Oakland Athletics have thrown in the towel in the AL West. On the day the A's traded starting pitcher Rich Harden and reliever Chad Gaudin to the Chicago Cubs, Duchscherer responded with the best outing of his career, facing only three batters over the minimum in a two-hitter as Oakland beat the Seattle Mariners 2-0 on Tuesday...

Cubs land pitcher Rich Harden from Athletics (AP)

One day after the Milwaukee Brewers landed an ace, the Chicago Cubs answered. Intent on ending their 100-year drought without a World Series title, the NL Central leaders acquired talented right-hander Rich Harden in a six-player deal with the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday. With CC Sabathia going to Milwaukee, Harden was the best available pitcher, Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said.

A Harden fast response by Cubs (Yahoo! Sports)

Cubs get hard-throwing starter Rich Harden from the A's, quickly answering the Brewers' acquisition of CC Sabathia.