Brad Lidge signed a $37.5 million, three-year contract extension with the Phillies on Sunday, according to an Associated Press report.

Lidge would’ve been a free agent after this season. The 31-year-old right-handed closer has 19 saves in 19 chances and a 0.77 ERA in 35 appearances in his first season in Philadelphia. [READ]

The Marlins have called up top pitching prospect Chris Volstad, and he will be available to pitch out of the bullpen initially, according to MLB.com.

He was the 16th overall pick in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft.

Volstad could join the team's starting rotation during their current road trip, which goes from Colorado on Sunday to San Diego on Monday. [READ]

MLB.com will give the final National League roster spot to one of five players later this week.

Pat Burrell (Philadelphia), Corey Hart (Milwaukee), Carlos Lee (Houston), Aaron Rowand (San Francisco), and David Wright (New York) are the five candidates.

Fans can log onto MLB.com or text in their votes to help determine who will earn the final nod. [READ]

MLB.com will give the final American League roster spot to one of five players later this week.

Jermaine Dye (Chicago), Jason Giambi (New York), Jose Guillen (Kansas City), Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay), and Brian Roberts (Baltimore) are the five candidates.

Fans can log onto MLB.com or text in their votes to help determine who will earn the final nod. [READ]

Milton Bradley will start for the American League at designated hitter during the 2008 MLB All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium next week.

Manager Terry Francona said on Sunday during the TBS Selection Show that since David Ortiz will not be able to play (wrist), Bradley will start, and a reserve will be added to the team.

[READ]

Starters
Catcher - Geovany Soto, Chicago
First Base - Lance Berkman, Houston
Second Base - Chase Utley, Philadelphia
Shortstop - Hanley Ramirez, Florida
Third Base - Chipper Jones, Atlanta
Outfield - Ryan Braun, Milwaukee
Outfield - Alfonso Soriano, Chicago
Outfield - Kosuke Fukudome, Chicago

Pitching Staff
Aaron Cook, Colorado
Tim Lincecum, San Francisco
Dan Haren, Arizona
Ben Sheets, Milwaukee
Carlos Zambrano, Chicago
Brandon Webb, Arizona
Ryan Dempster, Chicago
Brian Wilson, San Francisco
Edinson Volquez, Cincinnati
Kerry Wood, Chicago
Brad Lidge, Philadelphia
Billy Wagner, New York

Reserves
Catcher - Brian McCann, Atlanta
Third Base - Aramis Ramirez, Chicago
Outfield - Matt Holliday, Colorado
Second Base - Dan Uggla, Florida
Shortstop - Miguel Tejada, Houston
Catcher - Russell Martin, Los Angeles
Outfield - Nate McLouth, Pittsburgh
First Base - Albert Pujols, St. Louis
Outfield - Ryan Ludwick, St. Louis
First Base - Adrian Gonzalez, San Diego
Shortstop - Cristian Guzman, Washington [READ]

Starters
Catcher - Joe Mauer, Minnesota
First Base - Kevin Youkilis, Boston
Second Base - Dustin Pedroia, Boston
Shortstop - Derek Jeter, New York
Third Base - Alex Rodriguez, New York
Outfield - Josh Hamilton, Texas
Outfield - Manny Ramirez, Boston
Outfield - Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle
Designated Hitter - David Ortiz, Boston

Pitching Staff
Scott Kazmir, Tampa Bay
George Sherrill, Baltimore
Roy Halladay, Toronto
Mariano Rivera, New York
Jonathan Papelbon, Boston
Justin Duchscherer, Oakland
Joe Nathan, Minnesota
Joakim Soria, Kansas City
Cliff Lee, Cleveland
Francisco Rodriguez, Los Angeles
Ervin Santana, Los Angeles
Joe Saunders, Los Angeles

Reserves
Outfield: J.D. Drew, Boston
Catcher: Jason Varitek, Boston
Third Base: Joe Crede, Chicago
Outfield: Carlos Quentin, Chicago
Outfield: Grady Sizemore, Cleveland
First Base: Carlos Guillen, Detroit
First Base: Justin Morneau, Minnesota
Outfield: Milton Bradley, Texas
Second Base: Ian Kinsler, Texas
Shortstop: Michael Young, Texas
Catcher: Dioner Navarro, Tampa Bay [READ]

Cleanup hitter Carlos Beltran could move to the number two slot in the Mets batting order soon, according to The New York Daily News.

Outfielder Ryan Church occupied the spot on Saturday night before leaving the game with dizziness. Manager Jerry Manuel said he is giving "strong consideration" to placing Beltran in the No. 2 hole.

"If the bats don't liven up real quickly, we're going to have to put him up there and see if he can get some fastballs," Manuel said.

"To me, you only hit cleanup one time in the order. There are times when you are going to have opportunities to drive in runs in the cleanup spot, and other times when you won't have guys on base. Hitting second you get opportunities sometimes, too. It's all about being able to get the hits when the opportunities are there," Beltran said. [READ]

Mets' third baseman David Wright isn't likely to participate in the home run derby next week, according to a report in The New York Post.

He finished second to Ryan Howard at the event two years ago in Pittsburgh.

"It's a good one-time thing," Wright said Saturday. "I can't see me one-upping what I did in Pittsburgh. I think I left it all in Pittsburgh." [READ]

Brandon Webb will start for the National League at the 2008 MLB All-Star Game next week, according to a report in The East Valley Tribune.

The New York Times initially broke the story.

Webb is 12-4 with a 3.43 ERA this season and started the season by winning nine consecutive starts.
[READ]

Royals' outfielder José Guillen initiated a near-brawl with pitching Coach Bob McClure in the team's clubhouse before their game against the Rays on Saturday, according to The Kansas City Star.

Witnesses said no punches were thrown, but the two had to be separated after exchanging words. Guillen remained in the lineup as the designated hitter.

Guillen is believed to have been upset by excessive supervision by coaches in the clubhouse. The coaches’ lockers in the visitors’ clubhouse at Tropicana Field are located alongside the players’ lockers. [READ]

Astros' starter Roy Oswalt has had his next scheduled start pushed back once again because of an ailing left hip, according to The Houston Chronicle.

He was supposed to start on Tuesday but will be replaced in the rotation by Brandon Backe. Oswalt will throw off flat ground Monday and throw a bullpen session Tuesday before being re-evaluated.

Oswalt was originally supposed to start Saturday but was pushed back to Tuesday to give the team more time to evaluate him.

"He said originally the abductor muscle was hurting him when he rotated out, but this was a little bit higher," GM Ed Wade said. "Because it was an issue that seemed to be in a different position, it made sense to get him back." [READ]

Erik Bedard might not be fully healthy, Mariners' Manager Jim Riggleman hinted before Seattle played Detroit on Saturday night, as reported by the Associated Press.

Bedard has not thrown 100 pitches in a start in more than a month. On Friday he was pulled after five innings and 99 pitches despite giving up just one run to the Tigers. [READ]

Oakland shortstop Bobby Crosby went on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a strained left hamstring, giving the A's seven players on the DL, according to an Asscoiated Press report.

Crosby had started the A's first 84 games this season before he was sidelined Thursday. His DL stint is retroactive to July 3, meaning he won’t be back until after the All-Star break. [READ]

The Rockies on Saturday placed shortstop Troy Tulowitzki on the 15-day disabled list with a cut on his right hand, as reported by the Associated Press.

Tulowitzki missed 46 games earlier this season due to a left quadriceps tendon tear. [READ]

The Dodgers are reportedly interested in the services of Pirates' shortstop Jack Wilson, according to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Fox Sports claims that Los Angeles has contacted the Pirates about the availability of Wilson. The Dodgers learned earlier this week that they'll likely be without shortstop Rafael Furcal for the rest of the season.

"We're in the rumor season, and it's going to be a very active season for rumors," said Pirates General Manager Neal Huntington. "We don't comment on specific trade rumors." [READ]

Albert Pujols hit the 300th home run of his career on Friday against the Cubs, becoming the fifth-youngest player in Major League history to reach the milestone.

The bomb was his eighteenth home run of the season.

Alex Rodriguez is the youngest to reach 300, doing so at 27 years, 249 days. Pujols reached the plateau at 28 years, 170 days. [READ]

The Rockies have placed first baseman Todd Helton on the disabled list with an ailing back, according to The Rocky Mountain News.

He has been playing through lower-back inflammation for the last three weeks.

"We don't think it is too serious," trainer Keith Dugger said. "We just want the area to calm down."

Helton has suffered through a slump that coincided with the injury. He was hitting .297 when the Rockies arrived in Chicago on June 13; he had gone 8-for-56 since as his average fell to .268. [READ]