Scott Boras is hinting that he could explore Japan as an outlet to get client Stephen Strasburg compensated in line with his talent.

"If a [contract agreement] does not happen," Boras said, "obviously you then look to all the available resources that one would have to evaluate what the next step is, whether it's to re-enter the draft, or alternative choices."

Boras is hoping that he'll be able to make Strasburg a free agent, removing his rights from the Nationals and placing him on the market for the highest bidder. [READ]

The Diamondbacks have been scouting the Red Sox a lot lately.

Arizona just saw corner infielder Chad Tracy come off the disabled list, and many view him as a player that could interest Boston.

The Red Sox don't have an obvious roster spot for Tracy, but shortstop Julio Lugo has been hitting well and may have increased his trade value. [READ]

Tim Wakefield will make his 383rd start for the Red Sox on Friday night against the Mariners.

The start will push him past Roger Clemens for first-place on the team's all-list.

Wakefield, 42, is 10-3 with a 4.18 ERA through his first 15 games this season. [READ]

Alex Rodriguez will likely get a day off during New York's four-game series against Toronto this weekend.

Rodriguez played on Friday, hitting a home run in the eighth inning.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that if Rodriguez doesn't get a game off this weekend, he'll almost certainly rest the third baseman against the Twins on Minnesota's turf next week.

Girardi added that he'd also like to play Mark Teixeira at designated hitter this weekend, giving him a day off in the field. [READ]

Red Sox left fielder Jason Bay was sworn in as a United States citizen on Thursday.

Bay, 30, is a native of Trail, British Columbia. He was among 360 people that took part in a naturalization ceremony at Faneuil Hall in Boston.

"I don't denounce being Canadian at any point, but I'm definitely proud to be an American," Bay said. [READ]

The Blue Jays called up outfielder David Dellucci prior to their afternoon game against the Yankees on Friday.

To make room for Dellucci, Toronto designated utilityman Russ Adams for assignment.


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Authorities are investigating whether a newly discovered set of letters contains documents that disappeared long ago from the New York Public Library, according to the Associated Press.

The letters were to Harry Wright, who built the country's first professional baseball team in Cincinnati in the 19th century. [READ]

The Phillies have had internal discussions about signing free-agent pitcher Paul Byrd.

Byrd had a 4.30 ERA in 30 starts for the Red Sox and Indians in 2008.

"The question is whether Paul Byrd is going to be any better than any of the guys that we have -- Rodrigo Lopez, or Carrasco, or Carpenter or Kendrick," Philadelphia general mananger Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "Why would he be any better than those guys? We've brought up the name, we've talked about it. We've talked about almost every guy that might be available, whether it is free agency or what." [READ]

John Lackey is headed for free agency this winter and grew up a fan of the Rangers.

Lackey's boyhood idol was Nolan Ryan, who now acts as president for the Rangers.

He isn't sure that he'd have the guts to say no to Ryan if he inquired about his services this winter.

"I'm not sure who does," Lackey said. "It'd be cool, no doubt (to meet Ryan under those circumstances). But I'm not even thinking that far ahead." [READ]

Angels general manager Tony Reagins says that he won't simply swing a deal just to look busy.

"Never would we make a decision anxiously or make a decision just to make a decision or make a move or trade just to make a trade," Reagins told the Los Angeles Times. "At the end of the day you have to find pieces that really make your club better."

The team's pitching staff has been shaky this season.

"There's nothing that I see on the horizon right now," Reagins said. "We've talked a lot to a lot of different clubs. But ... I'm not any closer to a trade than I was a month ago." [READ]

Yahoo! Sports is reporting that Major League Baseball has loaned millions of dollars to Rangers owner Tom Hicks.

The league is now assisting Hicks with the sale of the franchise.

"Tom is the control person, and there was no issue of making payroll," Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, said Thursday. "Major League Baseball is working with the Rangers to sell the team, as Tom requested." [READ]

The Colorado Rockies had no room for utilityman Jeff Baker when he completed his rehab assignment in Triple-A Colorado Springs.

This situation created an opportunity for Cubs general manager Jim Hendry, who acquired Baker for Minor League pitcher Al Alburquerque on Thursday. Hendry said he hoped Baker would provide a little more offense off the bench than the Cubs have been getting.

"When you're not going great, and you're not playing the way you want to offensively, you try to mix and match and get a little spark," Hendry said. [READ]

The St. Louis Cardinals gave a $3.1 million signing bonus to 16-year-old outfielder Wagner Mateo, considered to be among the top amateur free agents from Latin America.

The New York Yankees on Thursday also gave a $3 million bonus to a 16-year-old Dominican prospect, catcher Gary Sanchez.

Cardinals vice president Jeff Luhnow announced details of their signing at a news conference in Santo Domingo.

"We have a tradition of competing and winning and Dominicans have been a big part of that success. We hope that one day soon, Wagner joins Albert Pujols and helps us win," Luhnow said. [READ]

The Astros defeated the Padres after waiting out a 52-minute delay in the top of the ninth inning caused when a swarm of bees took over left field at Petco Park.

"It's how this year's going. Bizarre things. You think you've seen it all in baseball and you're going to see something new," said Houston's Geoff Blum , who hit a three-run homer and finished with four RBIs. [READ]

The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired right-handed relief pitcher John Meloan from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for right-handed relief pitcher Winston Abreu. Meloan has been added to the Rays 40-man roster, bringing the roster to its full capacity. He will report to Durham (AAA).

Meloan, who turns 25 on July 11, has spent the entire 2009 season with Columbus (AAA). [READ]

The Diamondbacks would not engage in serious discussions with the Los Angeles Angels about trading pitcher Dan Haren, according to a report on foxsports.com.

Though a trade seems unlikely, the Diamondbacks do not appear to have ruled out the idea of moving Haren. It likely would take a package similar to the one they gave up two years ago to pry him away.

Haren is signed through 2012 with a club option for 2013. [READ]

Albert Pujols is batting .337 with 30 HRs and 77 RBIs through the Cardinals first 80 games.

The only other players to hit .330 with 30 HRs and 75 RBIs in his team's first 80 games in baseball history are Babe Ruth in 1921, Jimmie Foxx in 1932 and Luis Gonzalez in 2001. [READ]

The Dodgers played their 50th and final game without Ramirez, beating the Colorado Rockies 1-0 Wednesday on pinch-hitter Rafael Furcal's RBI single in the eighth inning. During Ramirez's absence, the Dodgers went 29-21.

"It's not until you lose somebody like Manny that you realize that there's no safety net out there," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "I continue to talk about how fortunate we've been with the number of close games we've won." [READ]

Ricky Romero pitched four-hit ball over eight innings, Rod Barajas, helping the Jays end the Tampa Bay Rays' seven-game winning streak with a 5-0 victory Wednesday.

"[Romero] throws a decent fastball but he has an above-average changeup," Tampa Bay slugger Pat Burrell said. "He was mixing it up and locating it fairly well. We just weren't able to make the adjustment."

Barajas said Romero's off-speed pitch has few equals.

"I've caught some good changeups and he's right up there with the best I've caught," Barajas said.

"That was one of my pitches the past two offseasons," Romero said. "Just working on that pitch, trying to throw the hell out of it when I played catch. It's becoming better and it's just getting better every time." [READ]

The Red Sox signed their first pick in the 2009 draft, outfielder Reymond Fuentes, along with four other picks. Fuentes, the cousin of Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran, comes from Fernando Callejo High School in Puerto Rico, and signed for a $1.134 million bonus, according to a team source. Fuentes, 18, was assigned to the Rookie League Gulf Coast Sox in Fort Myers, Fla. [READ]

Bob Melvin, who managed Arizona when Padres CEO Jeff Moorad ran the Diamondbacks, will soon join the Padres to help evaluate the minor league system.

General Manager Kevin Towers says nothing extra should be read into that.

“He's an extra set of eyes who is very good at evaluating talent,” said Towers. “Seeking out Bob was actually something I've been directly involved with, Jeff has spent very little time on this." [READ]

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin has told the Journal Sentinel that he has no interest in pursuing right-hander Brandon Backe, recently released by Houston.

Melvin said Backe has had too many health problems.

"We talked about it and decided to pass," said Melvin. [READ]

The Cubs recalled right-handed pitcher Jeff Samardzija from Triple-A Iowa and optioned right-hander Jose Ascanio.

Samardzija will be moved back to the bullpen, where he'll try to fill the void left by Angel Guzman.

"Tends to be a trend so far," he said, laughing. "I've done the 'pen before, so I know what to expect. Same approach I had as a starter, go out and attack with the fastball and throw my off-speed stuff for strikes." [READ]

Vernon Wells was not surprised when Cito Gaston called him into the manager's office Wednesday morning.

"He's always been straight up and straightforward with me," Wells said. "Since day one, he's called us into his office and told us how he's felt about different things. It's been an open relationship."

Wells will move down in the lineup and Adam Lind will bat third for the foreseeable future. [READ]