Breaking News

Chicago sports radio stations are reporting that the Chicago Cubs will place starting pitcher Ryan Dempster on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Friday, July 3.

Dempster reportedly has a fractured toe on his right foot.

Kevin Hart, who was just demoted on Monday, will be recalled to fill Dempster's rotation spot between now and the All-Star break next week.

UPDATE: Because the Cubs had optioned Kevin Hart to Iowa after the injury occurred, the team was not able to make the listing retroactive. Dempster's 15 days begin on Tuesday.

Three members of the National League West leading Los Angeles Dodgers have been selected to join the National League All-Stars for July 14th contest in St. Louis at Busch Stadium.

Closer Jonathan Broxton, starting pitcher Chad Billingsley, and second baseman Orlando Hudson are on the NL roster, with outfielder Matt Kemp still under consideration as one of the five finalists for the last spot on the roster.

Rain delays are frequent in baseball:  it rains, the game is delayed, the rain eventually stops, and baseball resumes.

However, in the series finale between the Astros and Padres at PETCO Park, Thursday, there was a different sort of delay.

Bees were the result of the 52 minute delay.  Yes, bees...those pesky insects that sting you when they're mad.

The delay came in the top of the ninth, when bees got out of control in left field.

Play was halted, and a few sections of fans were cleared out.

July 2 has been a busy day in baseball rumors, and with the trade deadline fast approaching, more and more rumors seem to be popping up. This columnn hopes to make known a few of them.

In July of 2005, the Mets signed outfielder Fernando Martinez out of the Dominican Republic for roughly $1.4 million. At the time, the signing was seen as a pivotal move in making the Mets a winning franchise following the acquisitions of Pedro Martinez and Carlos Beltran.

Seattle Mariners General Manager Jack Zduriencik announced today that the M's acquired outfielder Ryan Langerhans from the Washington Nationals in exchange for Mike Morse. He will most likely be on the 25-man roster as soon as third baseman Adrian Beltre hits the disabled list.

Veteran third baseman Mark DeRosa, the subject of trade rumors for weeks, will be departing Cleveland for St. Louis, after less than a year with the Indians.

DeRosa was hitting .270 with 13 home runs and 50 RBI in 71 games. In exchange, the Indians will receive relief pitcher Chris Perez and a player to be named later, likely a highly-rated prospect. Perez has made 29 appearances this season, with a 4.18 ERA and 30 strikeouts

Saturday was June 27th. At the end of the day, the Chicago Cubs were tied for third place in the National League's Central division with the Cincinnati Reds, trailing the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals by three-and-a-half games.

Saturday also marked 179 days since Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry traded the most versatile, and arguably the most valuable, player from last season's team to the Cleveland Indians. Mark DeRosa was dealt to the Tribe for a couple of minor league pitchers.

The Chicago Tribune's Paul Sullivan is reporting that, after flying out in the sixth inning against the White Sox Friday, Milton Bradley was involved in a verbal altercation with Cubs' manager Lou Piniella.

Bradley was replaced in right field by Ryan Freel in the bottom half of the inning, and was reportedly seen leaving US Cellular Field in street clothes before the ninth inning.

So not only is Bradley not hitting anything, or driving in any runs for his $10 million-plus salary, but now the inevitable has happened.