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Carlos Guillen injured his left knee turning the game-ending double play against the Yankees last night and initially thought it wasn’t particularly serious, but now he’s out of tonight’s lineup and after undergoing an MRI exam today. I was fine. Everything was normal. But this morning, when I woke up, I felt a little bit…

No, the Braves aren’t going to bring in Aramis Ramirez to replace Chipper Jones, but they did activate Martin Prado from the disabled list this afternoon and he’s starting at third base tonight against the Nationals. Prado played primarily second base before landing on the DL with a fractured finger on July 30, hitting .315/.357/.484…

Out since August 2 with a back injury, Rafael Furcal is expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment tomorrow at Single-A. Joe Torre indicated earlier this week that the Dodgers won’t ask Furcal to rehab for more than a few games before activating him from the disabled list, assuming of course that he avoids…

Last night the Reds signed first-round pick Yasmani Grandal by giving him a $3 million bonus and a major-league contract, which includes a spot on the 40-man roster. Today that spot was cleared by designating Micah Owings for assignment. Normally it isn’t news when a team cuts a 27-year-old pitcher with a 5.11 career ERA,…

Two years ago right-hander Shawn Chacon allegedly grabbed general manager Ed Wade by the neck and threw him to the ground during an argument, after which the Astros naturally terminated his contract and refused to pay the remaining $983,607 he was owed as part of a one-year, $2 million deal. Chacon and the MLB players’…

Yesterday there was some speculation that the Braves pulled their large contract offer to 18th-round draft pick Zach Alvord in order to set that money aside to potentially claim Aramis Ramirez off waivers from the Cubs. Mark Bowman of MLB.com quickly threw cold water on the report by noting that clearing payroll room for this…

Tonight the Twins and White Sox begin a three-game series at Target Field that could go a long way toward determining the AL Central champion, and during a recent radio interview Chicago bullpen coach Juan Nieves suggested that his pitchers throw at Minnesota hitters in an effort to start a brawl. Seriously: I’ve even thought…

Todd Helton has hit well since returning from the disabled list two weeks ago, going 9-for-30 (.300) with two homers, two doubles, and a .927 OPS, but manager Jim Tracy said yesterday that the 36-year-old first baseman will not be used as an everyday player down the stretch. We were doing a lot of searching…

Shortly after celebrating the signing of No. 1 pick Bryce Harper by hitting general manager Mike Rizzo in the face with a whipped cream pie, Nationals president Stan Kasten “reiterated his contempt for baseball’s current system for signing draft choices.” Right now the majority of top picks wait until the last moment to sign, costing…

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reported yesterday that the Rockies have placed Brad Hawpe on waivers and now Troy Renck of the Denver Post writes that his “days in Denver may be numbered.” Just a few weeks ago the Rockies were said to be telling teams that they couldn’t trade Hawpe, but now that they’re nine…

Called up last week and handed the starting job in left field, 23-year-old Chris Carter went 0-for-19 with nine strikeouts while struggling defensively in his first taste of the majors and was sent back to Triple-A last night. Conor Jackson and Travis Buck returning from the disabled list led to the move, but had Carter…

Carlos Delgado’s comeback from hip surgery has stalled after just five games at Triple-A because more hip and lower back problems. Dan Barbarisi of the Providence Journal reports that “the injury is on the opposite side from the site of his two hip surgeries and is not believed to be serious,” but Delgado is expected…

Out since late June following surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb, Chase Utley has finished a brief minor league rehab assignment and is expected to return from the disabled list tonight against the Giants. Utley went 3-for-12 with two extra-base hits in four games rehabbing at Single-A and will be examined…

Derrek Lee homered in his first two at-bats Sunday, but then left the game in the fifth inning with back soreness and is out of the Cubs’ lineup for tonight’s game with a bulging disk in his lower back. It’s a tough break for Lee, who had smacked four homers in three games since returning…

Now we’re down to 15 unsigned first-round picks, as the Giants inked No. 24 overall selection and Cal-State Fullerton outfielder Gary Brown to a $1.3 million bonus. Brown is basically getting the MLB-recommended “slot” bonus, as last year’s No. 24 pick received $1.25 million. Considered one of the fastest players in the country, he broke…

Last month the Cardinals abandoned any timetable for Brad Penny’s return from shoulder problems and yesterday general manager John Mozeliak said the injured right-hander has a “below 50 percent chance” of pitching again this season. Penny last pitched on May 21, so that means he could end up missing five months with what has been…

Luke Scott is quietly having a huge season in Baltimore, hitting .293/.357/.577 with 22 homers and 24 doubles in 92 games to rank eighth among AL hitters with a .934 OPS. He’d obviously make a nice stretch-run pickup for contenders in need of a big bat and the Orioles placed him on waivers to set…

Mark Prior is making his latest and perhaps last comeback attempt with the Orange County Flyers of the independent Golden League, and Tom Krasovic of Fanhouse caught up with the former phenom who said he’s “having a blast … just getting back out there and just playing the game.” Prior is seeing game action for…

There are going to be an absurd number of draft pick signings to announce today because midnight is the deadline for deals to be reached before teams cease controlling a player’s rights. This morning there were 17 unsigned first-round picks, but that number if now 16 with the Angels convincing Georgia high school infielder and…

Johnny Cueto’s seven-game suspension meant he couldn’t make his scheduled start yesterday, so the Reds activated Homer Bailey from the disabled list to take his place and he shut out the Marlins for six innings in a 2-0 victory that completed a three-game sweep. Cincinnati is back alone in first place despite being swept by…

Courtesy of MLB.com’s Matthew Leach, here is Cardinals closer Ryan Franklin’s fantastic golfing attire:

Jordan Zimmermann turned in another impressive start yesterday in his comeback from Tommy John elbow surgery, tossing five innings of one-run ball at Triple-A. Zimmermann now has a 1.82 ERA, .208 opponents’ batting average, and 26/5 K/BB ratio in 34.2 innings split between four levels, and Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports that he…