Morning News Links
MLB
The Oakland Athletics are unwilling to accept the current asking price for Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar. [Fox Sports]
One MLB executive suggests that the Boston Red Sox are "trying to dump" starting pitcher Josh Beckett. He is not likely to be traded ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline without a big discount. [ESPN]
Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine believes that the New York Yankees could miss the playoffs. [ESPN]
The Cleveland Indians are open to trading starting pitcher Justin Masterson. [CBS Sports]
The Philadelphia Phillies are expected to make two to three trades leading up to Tuesday's trade deadline. [ESPN]
The San Francisco Giants have discussed acquiring Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Brandon League. [Fox Sports]
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher James Shields is unlikely to be dealt prior to Tuesday's trade deadline. [Yahoo! Sports]
The Chicago White Sox are giving starting pitcher Chris Sale an extended break to solve his struggles and 'dead arm' as of late. [Chicago Sun-Times]
The Cincinnati Reds are interested in Phillies outfielder Juan Pierre. [CSN Philly]
NBA
Kobe Bryant says that he won't prolong his career just to win a 6th NBA title. [Washington Post]
Multiple NBA sources believe that Orlando Magic centre Dwight Howard will be traded by the end of the week. [Fox Sports]
The Houston Rockets are acquiring young talent and draft picks in anticipation of a blockbuster deal later in the season. [NY Times]
The Golden State Warriors, Utah Jazz, Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks are all interested in signing free agent forward Josh Howard. [Yahoo! Sports]
Tony Parker admits that he is totally out of shape for the Olympics. Team USA defeated Parker and Team France 98-71 on Sunday. [ProBasketballTalk]
Magic Johnson said that both Kobe Bryant and LeBron James would make the 1992 Dream Team. [LA Times]
NHL
Opposing players told recently-traded forward Rick Nash, while on the ice last season, that he needed to leave Columbus. [Columbus Dispatch]
Philadelphia Flyers forward Claude Giroux blames Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby for his off-season wrist surgeries. "Every time we'd line up against each other for a faceoff during our series, instead of going for the puck when it was dropped, [Crosby] would hack me across the wrists. I ended up playing the series against Jersey with one of them fractured and had to go for surgery on both of them after we were out of the playoffs," Giroux said. [Timmins Press]
Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli tried to get a longer term deal completed with goalie Tuukka Rask, but was forced to compromise on a one-year deal. [Boston Globe]
NFL
Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson will miss a week after suffering a mild groin strain in the team's second morning practice. [ESPN]
New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis denies missing practice due to contract unhappiness. According to Revis, he has been held out of practice due to hamstring tightness. [ESPN]
Buffalo Bills Terrence McGee is concerned that with all the youth and talent at the cornerback position, his roster spot could be in jeopardy. [Democrat and Chronicle]
Multiple fights broke out at the Philadelphia Eagles' practice on Sunday. [Philadelphia Daily News]
The Denver Broncos will employ a pitch count plan for quarterback Peyton Manning, to limit his workload in camp. [Denver Post]
