Truth & Rumors > MLB

07:15 AM ET 06.19 | If Philadelphia decides to sell, it could have been looking at the future in Lakewood, N.J. A potential cache of Phillies trade prospects waited out the rain at the South Atlantic League All-Star Game on Tuesday night. The Phillies, too, are waiting. The organization's strategy for the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline remains muddled. But if the Phillies end up sellers, several possible targets were at FirstEnergy Park. The South Atlantic League All-Star Game has produced a long list of major-league talent. ... More recently, in 2008, Madison Bumgarner and Jason Heyward participated. The Phillies sent Travis D'Arnaud, Justin De Fratus and Tyler Cloyd in 2009. Manny Machado and Bryce Harper played in the game in 2011.

Philadelphia Inquirer

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07:14 AM ET 06.18 | Brian Cashman has a full plate these days, one that includes leaning toward placing Mark Teixeira on the DL and renewed concern over Kevin Youkilis. [Cashman] hadn't heard anything about [Youkilis'] visit to a back specialist when he spoke with reporters on a conference call, but it was clear the general manager was concerned about the state of his third baseman's balky back. "Back issues usually don't get better," Cashman said. "They can, but they're very debilitating and hard to get a handle on. It's definitely a concern. As of right now, I'm not planning on him until they tell me I can plan on him." Youkilis was placed on the disabled list Friday with a lumbar strain after playing all 18 innings of Thursday's marathon loss in Oakland. He woke up with numbness in his foot and calf.

New York Daily News

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07:13 AM ET 06.18 | The Cubs, who entered Monday night's game against the Cardinals having lost 13 games when leading after five innings, are showing the signs of frustration, from Dale Sveum's seventh-inning ejection to questions about Carlos Marmol's future. General manager Jed Hoyer said he wasn't sure where he stood on the player reaction to [Marmol's] blown game Sunday. "You want to see your players are really upset after a bad loss," he said. "Apathy is the worst thing you could ever have, and we certainly don't want to have that." ... Hoyer said the Cubs have no intention of releasing Marmol. "He has provided value to this team at different times," Hoyer said, "but he's been a significant part of the losses that unfortunately are why we are where we are record-wise."

Chicago Tribune

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07:12 AM ET 06.18 | The big fella, as of late Monday, remains unsigned. [Astros GM Jeff Luhnow said] the club is "fully engaged" in contract talks with No. 1 overall pick Mark Appel, the right-handed pitcher from Stanford, and hopes to be able to complete a deal this week. While it was reported late last week the Astros and Appel had reached a deal, Luhnow said he wanted to wait until Appel's commencement exercises at Stanford on Sunday to ramp up negotiations. "We're trying to move it as fast as we can," he said. "We wanted to give him the weekend to enjoy his commencement. We're optimistic we can move it pretty quickly." Luhnow said the Astros have yet to meet with Appel or his representative, Scott Boras, but there have been solid conversations.

MLB.com

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07:12 AM ET 06.18 | Georgia native Zack Wheeler certainly knows the landscape in Atlanta, where he'll make his anticipated MLB debut Tuesday, but he's swimming in uncharted waters with the Mets. The Mets entered Monday's action 25-39, fourth in the NL East, and in need of a jolt. "I don't think I'm the savior at all," said Wheeler, who attended high school about 45 minutes from here, in Dallas, Ga. "We've got great arms here and you've got great players. We might not be doing too well right now, but I know the talent of these guys and hopefully we can turn it around here soon. I'm just trying to come up here and help the team any way I can." Wheeler said he relaxed with family and friends on Sunday and expects a "huge" turnout from the local area for his Mets debut.

New York Post

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