both the beaver county times and the pittsburgh post-gazette report that the cards have inquired about rightfielder matt lawton. the gazette adds that lawton ranks first among nl leadoff men in obp (.387), slugging (.470), and home runs (10) and ranked second in doubles (26) and RBIs (40).
but the pittsburgh tribune-review sez pirate gm dave littlefield is playing hard to get: "According to industry observers, Littlefield continues to set the bar high in his pursuit of trades he could possibly make before Sunday's 4 p.m. non-waiver deadline."
the newark star-ledger speculates about a three-way deal among the marlins, phillies, and either bosox or chisox; aj burnett would land w philadelphia, wagner with the sox team, and players unknown w the marlins. . . .
the seattle post-intelligencer has the yankees backing off of randy winn . . . .
tacoma news tribune links eddie guardado to the bosox, marlins, nationals, and phils . . . .
game thread is directly below