Eli's MLB Rumors will be moving in the next day or two to a new platform. We will be joining SB Nation under a new name, MLB Daily Dish. The site will be exactly the same, and I hope you will continue to follow me, among others, over at MLB Daily Dish!EliThis story was approved by MLB Rumors.

The New York Times is reporting that free agent outfielder Sammy Sosa tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. Sosa was among the 104 players who tested positive for PED's in 2003, but the substance he used is unknown.Names from the list of 104 continue to come out, and it will be interesting to see if more names or the complete list comes out.  This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

After 2 1/2 seasons, the Cubs have fired hitting coach Gerald Perry. The move comes after the teams .246 batting average, which ranks last among the National League. He will be replaced by Iowa Cubs hitting coach Von Joshua.The move to bring in Joshua should certainly spark conversation about the possibility of bringing back Jake Fox. This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Free agent pitcher Pedro Martinez is still working out in the Dominican Republic in preparation for a team making him an offer. The economic recession has tightened the belts of nearly every major league franchise, which has led to very few signings off the free agent market. Yet, Martinez is still asking for 5 million dollars for the season. The Rays and Cubs reportedly have some...

FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Nationals will fire manager Manny Acta and replace him with bench coach Jim Riggleman. Acta has been with the team since the 2007 season, and has done a fairly good job despite poor records. Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is having a breakout year for the Nationals, hitting .315 with 11 home runs and a .391 on-base percentage...

Padres ace (and only bargaining chip) Jake Peavy will miss the next month of action with an ankle injury. The question now is how this will affect his trade value this summer.

One of my favorite shows from last season, Hangin' with Hunter is back. Angels outfielder Torii Hunter kicks off this season with Big Papi.This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post Dispatch is reporting that the Cardinals have interest in Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada. Tejada is hitting .355 with 6 home runs and 21 doubles in 57 games, and is hitting .378 in the month of June. Tejada is owed 13 million dollars, and the Astros probably would like to clear payroll considering their current financial situation. Watching Miguel...

I am writing a new blog for the Chicago Tribune's online network, Chicago Now, which covers the Cubs and White Sox top minor league prospects. The site, Down on the Farm, is already drawing attention. If you are a Cubs or Sox fan, or have an interest in the minor leagues, check out the site. I've done interviews with several of the teams top prospects, and have talked with...

The Nationals have come to terms with their 10th overall pick, Drew Storen. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. As a sophomore at Standford, Storen went 7-1 with a 3.80 ERA and 7 saves. The Nationals hope that his attitude on the mound, as well as his mid-90s fastball, will move him quickly through the minor league system and into the Nationals bullpen as their closer or set...

Dodgers outfielder Juan Pierre has stepped up big time since Manny Ramirez was suspended, hitting .352 with 28 runs scored, 13 stolen bases, and a .412 on-base percentage. Pierre has three years and 28.5 million dollars left on his contract, and has a limited no-trade clause. While I think the Dodgers should trade Pierre, mostly because of the prospects they could net, it may not...

ESPN.com is reporting that Jays pitcher Jesse Litsch will undergo Tommy John surgery and will miss the remainder of the season. Litsch, a 13 game winner last season, is just 24 years old. The Jays envisioned him as the number two guy behind Roy Halladay, but they will have to wait until mid 2010. The Jays are currently 2.5 games out of first, and may need to add a veteran starter...

The Washington Nationals selected pitcher Stephen Strasburg with the first overall pick in the MLB Draft today. Strasburg was 13-1 with 195 strike outs in 109 innings for the San Diego State Aztecs, leading them to the postseason for the first time since 1991. The tough part will be to sign Strasburg, who is reportedly seeking a 50 million dollar contract. I believe the Nationals...

Padres closer Heath Bell is 2-1 in 25 games with 1.42 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP, but is making just 1.5 million dollars in 2009. Bell won't be a free agent until after the 2011 season, but his salary will continue to climb if he continues to throw the ball well. If the Padres were to make the closer available, we should expect to see a lot of teams calling.One of those teams could...

The White Sox have signed pitcher Freddy Garcia. Garcia was with the team in 2005 when they won the World Series, winning the series clinching game four. Garcia, who was released by the Mets on April 28th, is 118-77 with a 4.07 ERA in ten major league seasons.He will likely go on a minor league assignment before joining the White Sox. This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

With the Phillies pitching rotation still in ruins, the Phillies front office may start asking around for available pitchers. One of those guys could very well be Indians pitcher Carl Pavano. Pavano has won six of his last eight starts, throwing at least seven innings in the past three, including a complete game.Pavano is 6-4 on the year with a 4.63 ERA in 12 starts with a 1.26 WHIP...

A scout has confirmed an ESPN.com report that the Phillies called the Red Sox about pitcher Brad Penny. Despite a 5-2 record, Penny owns a 5.85 ERA in 11 games with a 1.60 WHIP. The Red Sox have John Smoltz, Clay Buchholz, and Michael Bowden all performing well in Triple-A, meaning they will likely join the team soon. Penny will be a free agent at seasons end and is making 5 million...

Angels shortstop Erik Aybar is hit .303 in the month of May, bringing his season total to a .277 average with 1 home run. Aybar, 25, is blocking top prospect Brandon Wood, who is hitting .308 with 11 home runs in 39 games for the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees. If the Angels were to trade Aybar, it would open up a spot for the long awaited. Ken Rosenthal mentions in his Full Count that...

Missouri pitcher Kyle Gibson has a stress fracture in his right forearm and will be out for six weeks. This will definitely hurt his draft stock for Tuesday's amateur draft, where he was projected to be an early first rounder.A team can take a chance on Gibson and wait to see him throw prior to signing him before the August 15th deadline. I see him falling to the compensation...

Mets relief pitcher J.J. Putz is scheduled to have elbow surgery, and will be out for 10-12 weeks. Putz, who is 1-4 with a 5.22 ERA in 29 games, has made a successful transition to the set up role. "If you look at the way I was pitching, I wasn't really getting out in front and letting loose," he said. "I knew it was going to hurt. Mechanically, I was trying to...

The Atlanta Braves have acquired outfielder Nate McLouth from the Pirates in exchange for pitchers Charlie Morton and Jeff Locke, and outfielder Gorkys Hernandez. This is a solid move for both clubs, but especially the Pirates. McLouth had a breakout year last season, hitting .276 with 26 home runs in 152 games. McLouth is 27, and should provide the Braves with some much needed support...

The Rangers have requested outright waivers on pitcher Vicente Padilla, who is 3-3 with a 5.57 ERA. Teams can submit claims on Padilla, but that means they would have to absorb the remainder of his salary. Padilla could get picked up somewhere, but it would have to be at a reduced price. With several free agent pitchers still available, I would be surprised to see a team take a...

The Atlanta Braves cut ties with future Hall of Famer Tom Glavine, releasing him just a day after throwing six scoreless innings in a rehab start. Glavine, who is recovering from minor elbow surgery, was clocked between 83-86 mph on his fastball. "I don't know what else I can do," Glavine said after Tuesday night's game, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution...

Foxsports.com's Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Nationals will draft Stephen Strasburg with the first overall pick in June's draft. Strasburg's advisor, Scott Boras, is looking for a record 50 million dollar signing bonus. The Nationals do expect to sign Strasburg, but do not feel pressure to sign him after failing to sign their first round pick last year. Rosenthal...

Brewers outfielder Corey Hart is drawing interest from several teams, including the Tigers, Giants, and Red Sox. Hart, who is hitting .256 with 5 home runs and a .330 on-base percentage, is making 3.5 million dollars this year. The Brewers are asking for pitching in return, something all three of those teams have. Hart isn't a game changer or team leader, so he likely would...