The Boston Red Sox have acquired catcher/first baseman/DH Victor Martinez from the Cleveland Indians. In exchange, Cleveland will receive pitchers Justin Masterson and Nick Hagadone (#10 ranked pitching prospect in Boston’s system). While further details have not been discussed, such as possible cash considerations, the deal is in the process of being completed. Stay tuned for more trading deadline updates!

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The final day before the trading deadline was an eventful one. Though no top-level players changed hands, a good deal of players will be donning new uniforms the next time they take the field. The Los Angeles Dodgers traded Josh Bell and Steve Johnson for Baltimore closer George Sherrill. The Pirates traded John Grabow and Tom Gorzelanny to the Cubs for Kevin Hart, Josh Harrison, and Jose Ascanio. The Royals only needed to send cash considerations to the Tigers to obtain Josh Anderson.

Deals to look out for tomorrow: Roy Halladay talks are “dead” according to J.P. Ricciardi, though the team is open to discussing deals tomorrow. The Rangers, Angels, and Red Sox are still in the hunt. Padres closer Heath Bell may be on the move as well. The Marlins are reportedly interested, but are unwilling to part with the players San Diego wants. Bell’s teammate Adrian Gonzalez is also said to be the subject of heated talks between the Padres and Sox, but no deal is iminent.

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NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has conditionally reinstated Michael Vick, though he will not be able to play in a regular season game until week six. Though twelve teams have publicly voiced that they are not interested in signing the QB, the Patriots seem to be kicking the tires. USA Today, Sports Illustrated’s Peter King, and many other sources are all reporting that Bill Belichick would like to use Vick in a single-wing formation; a wildcat offense that would benefit more from agility than from throwing ability. ESPN’s Dan Shanoff goes as far as to speculate that the Pats could be using Vick to test the efficacy of a wildcat offense before going all-in on drafting Florida Gators QB Tim Tebow. Given the Patriots reputation for rehabilitating players’ images, New England could be a good fit; and Tom Brady could use 5-10 snaps off per game as he recovers from major surgery.

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Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle got a World Series ring with his team in 2005, but he cemented his sole place in baseball history over the past week. Burhrle threw the 18th perfect game in MLB history. The left-hander completely silenced the Tampa Bay Rays, though he needed a hilight-reel catch from DeWayne Wise to clinch it. Burhrle continued his dominance in his next start. The first seventeen Minnesota Twins batters were retired, breaking a record set by the Giants’Jim Barr in 1972 and tied by teammate Bobby Jenks in 2007. “I’m not into the whole attention stuff,”Buehrle told the Chicago Sun Times’ Joe Crowley. Burhrle is humbled to be mentioned among some of the greatest names in baseball after making his bit of history. Though the White Sox would lose the second game, the team seems to have gotten a major morale boost from the lefty’s amazing feat.

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The Miami Dolphins are turning their franchise into an entertainment spectacle as well as a playoff competing team. With Jimmy Buffett, Marc Anthony, Gloria Estefans, and Jennifer Lopez all on board, the Dolphins have many halftime and postgame concert options. Buffett has been tapped to write a new team theme song. Additionally, Buffett’s beer enterprise, Land Shark Lager, has bought the naming rights to Dolphin Stadium (to be renamed Land Shark Stadium). The Dolphins didn’t add very much this offseason, being confident that they have the team to win. Coming off of a 1-15 season, the 2008 Dolphins racked up a 11-5 record and a plyoff berth. With rookie Pat White, the team can really rely on the wildcat formation.

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The Dallas Cowboys are going into the 2009 training camp with a new mentality.  Expected to make the Super Bowl, a dismal 9-7 2009 season means that Wade Phillips is not going to be to be a laid back coach anymore. Although the change may mean tougher training regimens, Cowboys players seem to welcome the new mentality. With the loss of wide receiver Terrell Owens, the Cowboys are going to use the running game more often. Marion Barber, Tashard Choice, and Felix Jones will anchor the running back corp. If the Cowboys want to make the playoffs, quarterback Tony Romo will have to step his game up with wideouts Roy Williams and Patrick Crayton. In what many consider to be the most competitive division, the Cowboys will need to defeat the Eagles, Giants, and Redskins for a chance to win.

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In light of John Smoltz’s issues getting readjusted to playing in the MLB, Junichi Tazawa’s overwhelming success playing AA ball is encouraging. The 23-year old signed with the Boston Red Sox in the past offseason after a successful run in a Japanese industrial corporate league. Tazawa was 9-5 with a 2.57 ERA, 88 strikeouts, and just 26 walks in 18 starts. Tazawa was nearly unstoppable in his last 5 stars, with a 1.03 ERA, 22 k’s, and only five walks.

With the recent struggles of John Smoltz, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Tim Wakefield, Junichi Tazawa could be another solid option at the back end of the rotation should he prove effective at the AAA level.

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Multiple sources are reporting that Glen “Big Baby” Davis is heading to the New Jersey Nets. Kenyon Dooling, Yi Jianlian, Eduardo Najera, and the 2010 first round pick are among the possible assets the Celtics may be after. Two drafts ago, Danny Ainge expressed serious interest in Yi before opting to trade the pick. As the C’s may also be looking to deal Gabe Pruitt, the deal may be expanded to include more teams and more players.

Stephon Marbury (in the midst of his 24/7 webcast, StarburyTV) may have an offer to rejoin the Boston Celtics according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. Rumors of a deal that may potentially bring Bruce Bowen to Boston are circulating as well.  Stay tuned for more updates and more 2009-2010 Boston Celtics news!

The Red Sox announced yesterday that they will be retiring Jim Rice’s #14 on Tuesday July 28th before the Red Sox take on the Oakland Athletics. Rice, who will be enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame this Sunday,  was one of the most dominant offensive forces of his era – finishing in the top 5 for MVP voting  6 times in his career. 

Over the course of that time Rice firmly established himself as one of the greatest sluggers in Red Sox history – ranking 3rd all time in franchise history in Home Runs (382), RBIs (1451), and 4th in Runs (1249) and being selected to the all-star team 8 times. He has continued his work with the Red Sox community following his retirement from the game – serving as a hitting coach and occasional TV studio analyst on the Red Sox pre and post-game shows.

Red Sox Tickets are still available for Tuesday’s game as well as all games at Fenway Park in 2009.

After the resounding succeses that were the Las Vegas and Phoenix NBA All Star games, next season’s edition is slated to be bigger and better. The Dallas Mavericks will be hosting the event at the brand new, 80,000 seat Cowboys Stadium. The state of the art new home of “America’s team” features massive 72 by 160 foot LED screens that will ensure that every fan in attendance will have a clear view of the action. The Mavericks last hosted the All Star Weekend in 1986, at Reunion Arena.

Mavs owner Mark Cuban had previously rejected an offer for the team to host the event, citing that season ticket holders for host teams generally do not have a chance to attend. The arrangement at Cowboys Stadium will ensure that all season ticket holders will have an opportunity, though premium tickets will still be in high demand.

2010 NBA All Star Game tickets are available now!