Manny reportedly fined "six figures"
Reports have surfaced that Manny Ramirez was fined six figures for his role in an altercation with the team’s traveling secretary in June. Manny was reportedly upset that the secretary couldn’t get him enough tickets, and the tension reportedly grew until Manny shoved the secretary to the ground. One Boston sports talker accused Manny of striking out on purpose to get back at the Sox. (Boston Globe)

Slim chance Erik Bedard will be traded
Erik Bedard isn’t expected to be able to pitch early next week against Boston as originally hoped, and thus he’ll make just one start before the July 31 trading deadline. With teams in the need filling their pitching holes, it’s not expected that Bedard will be traded. Jarrod Washburn appears to be the most likely to be freed from the hellhole that is the Mariners. (Associated Press)

Morning tidbits

Bisexual giving A-Rod some love?
The bisexual Ingrid Casares has been hanging out with Madonna since the early '80s and has been hooked up romantically with such folks as Paris Hilton. But now she's apparently finding warmth by the side of Alex Rodriguez, who could apparently use a little love these days. Casares spent a good deal of time by his side at the All-Star party that he threw at Jay-Z's club (you know, the one that Madonna and his teammates didn’t show up for) and then was also seen leaving A-Rod's place the afternoon after the All-Star game. Hmm. His Yankee teammates, by the way, all went to a party thrown by teammate Derek Jeter instead. (TheImProper)

Gossage tells Yanks to put Joba back in 'pen
Hall of Fame closer Goose Gossage is thinking that Joba Chamberlain has a chance to join him in Cooperstown if the Yankees switch him back to the bullpen. He's telling the team that Chamberlain's skills should be used way more often than every fifth day and that pretty much anybody can go five innings to make a start while not everybody can do what Chamberlain does. "You don't win a world championship without a great, great bullpen," he says. "So I think he was more valuable in the bullpen." (New York Post)

Cubs not likely after Padres' Khalil Greene
Rumors earlier this week had the Chicago Cubs going after San Diego shortstop Khalil Greene but it appears there is nothing to it. After all, Ryan Theriot has an on-base percentage of .396. The North Siders will be looking for a bat off the bench to help in the stretch run and are part of the posse of teams that is after the Rockies closer Brian  Fuentes. (Daily Herald)

Pirates not backing down on Nady requests
Other teams are saying the Pirates trade requests for Xavier Nady and reliever Damaso Marte are insane but the Pirates aren't backing down. Word is they just want two prospects for each of them with a preference for pitching. Calls are apparently still coming to gauge the availability of Jason Bay, who the team seems ready to trade as well, but the price would be a teensy bit more than for Nady and Marte. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

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