According to Michael Schmidt of the New York Times, Boston Red Sox DH David Ortiz and former Sox and current Dodgers OF Manny Ramirez tested positive for PED’s back in 2003.

Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz, the sluggers who propelled the Boston Red Sox to end an 86-year World Series championship drought and to capture another title three years later, were among the roughly 100 Major League Baseball players to test positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, according to lawyers with knowledge of the results.

The list of roughly 100 or so players was never released but we’ve gradually learned names over the past few seasons.

Big Papi had no comment before today’s game but if this ends up being true, this is a huge blow in my opinion. Ortiz has publicly stated that he was clean and has always been clean. Now with this report, it puts his truthfulness to the test.

This news breaking right now is not something the Red Sox need either at this point. They are struggling right now and are involved in a pennant race with the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays and don’t need the outside distractions.

I know a lot of people in Red Sox Nation are stunned to hear this news. I know I am. Hopefully Big Papi nips this in the bud and comes clean about whether he did test positive or not. If other players have been forgiven, why can’t Big Papi.

Ortiz and Ramirez Said to Be on 2003 Doping List [New York Times]

As Joel Sherman of the New York Post pointed out earlier in the afternoon, the Pittsburgh Pirates were active again as they have sent Freddy Sanchez to the San Francisco Giants. In return, the Giants have sent their #4 prospect Tim Alderson who was playing for the Connecticut Defenders of the Eastern League.

In 13 games with the Defenders, Alderson was 6-1 with a 3.47 ERA.

Sanchez currently has an inflamed knee and proabably won’t be in the lineup until Monday for the Giants. This is third organization for Sanchez as he started out with the Boston Red Sox.

Since it appears that this was a straight-up deal, this is a major coup for the Pirates as they dump salary and get a quality prospect in return.

Apparently the Pittsburgh Pirates don’t want to have any fans at their games this season.

The Pirates and Seattle Mariners agreed to a 7-player deal earlier in the day on Wednesday that sends shortstop Jack Wilson and pitcher Ian Snell to the Mariners. In return, the Pirates received Jeff Clement, Ronny Cedeno, Aaron Pribanic, Brett Lorin and Nathan Adcock.

Only Cedeno will report to Pittsburgh while the others have been assigned to the minor leagues. The Pirates will also pay almost all the 2009 salaries owed to Wilson and Snell.

And in more recent news, Joel Sherman of the New York Post is reporting via his Twitter page that the Pirates will send Freddy Sanchez to the Giants.

With the Pirates having just 36 home games the rest of the season and pretty much have now traded away the nucleus of their team, could we expect them to average one fan a game?

I know if I was a fan of the Pirates right now, I’d be auctioning off my fan loyalty or declaring myself a free agent.

The Boston Red Sox have been very busy making trades today. First we had the trade for Adam LaRoche with the Pittsburgh Pirates and now we can officially say adios to Julio Lugo

According to Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald, the Red Sox have traded Lugo to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for outfielder Chris Duncan and a player to be named later or cash. The Red Sox will most likely be responsible for the remaining $13.5 million on Lugo’s contract.

Duncan has played in 87 games for the Cardinals this year and his hitting just .227 with a 5 home runs and 32 RBIs. He’ll probably be assigned to Pawtucket to provide depth in the outfield there.

Sox Send Lugo To Cards for Duncan [Clubhouse Insider]

According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Boston Red Sox have traded for Adam LaRoche from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Alex Speier of WEEI.com is reporting that the Pirates will receive shortstop Argenis Diaz and pitcher Hunter Strickland. Diaz is currently playing in Double-A with the Portland Sea Dogs while Strickland is pitching for the Single-A Greenville Drive.

LaRoche is in the final year of his contract that pays him $7.05 million dollars. The Red Sox will be responsible for the rest of what he is owed this season.

LaRoche is in his third year with the  Pirates. He was traded by the Atlanta Braves before the 2007 season to the Pirates.

He is hitting .247 with 12 home runs and 40 RBIs with 2 stolen bases. He has an OBP of .327 and is slugging .441.

Adam LaRoche traded to Red Sox [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

Red Sox acquire Adam LaRoche for two prospects [Full Count]

When Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez was able to go on a rehab assignment 40 days into his 50 day suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, there was an outcry on the various social networks and in the media. Many stated that he shouldn’t be able to do this and that he should serve his 50 games without being allowed to play in the minors.

While this is good for the minor league affiliates who receive these players, it’s really not good for the game at all. Why should someone who is suspended be allowed to go “rehab” to get back into shape. Isn’t that what the player should be doing while he’s suspended without pay.

Well the commish, Bud Selig, has spoken about it and he wants to see a rule change that doesn’t allow rehab assignments for suspended players.

“I believe that should be changed in the next labor negotiations,” Selig said. (Serve) Fifty games and then you do what you got to do,” Selig said.

Bud won’t be able to do anything about it until 2011 when the current labor contract expires. And he doesn’t want to do anything about it now either. He’ll wait and bring it up when they start to negotiate the next contract.

If Bud can get this done when the contract expires, this might be the only good thing he’s done for the game.

Selig wants rehab for suspended players eliminated [Extra Bases]

During the press conference this morning for the 2009 MLB All-Star Game, Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon and Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel announced their starting lineups and starting pitchers for the game tomorrow night.

Maddon selected Roy Halladay from the Toronto Blue Jays as his starter while Manuel chose Tim Lincecum from the San Francisco Giants.

1. Ichiro Suzuki, RF	Mariners	1. Hanley Ramirez, SS	Marlins
2. Derek Jeter, SS	Yankees	2. Chase Utley, 2B	Phillies
3. Joe Mauer, C	Twins	3. Albert Pujols, 1B	Cardinals
4. Mark Teixeira, 1B	Yankees	4. Ryan Braun, RF	Brewers
5. Jason Bay, LF	Red Sox	5. Raul Ibanez, LF	Phillies
6. Josh Hamilton, CF	Rangers	6. David Wright, 3B	Mets
7. Michael Young, 3B	Rangers	7. Shane Victorino, CF	Phillies
8. Aaron Hill, 2B	Blue Jays	8. Yadier Molina, C	Cardinals
9. Roy Halladay, P	Blue Jays	9. Tim Lincecum	Giants
SP — Roy Halladay	Blue Jays	SP — Tim Lincecum	Giants

To see the full 2009 MLB All-Star Rosters, click here.

2009 State Farm Home Run Derby Participants

The Boston Red Sox are sending six members this season to St. Louis for the 2009 All-Star Game festivities but once again they won’t have anyone participating in the 2009 State Farm Home Run Derby.

Coverage of the event begins at 8 PM on ESPN on Monday night. I’m pretty sure you’ll be getting a glimpse of your favorite Red Sox All-Stars during the telecast.

It will definitely be quite a spectacle though as some of the games’ young and best players will be looking to entertain you with their home run hitting prowess.

ESPN will also be introducing some new technology that will allow us to see how far the home runs have traveled instantly.

Chris Berman To Double As Weatherman For HR Derby [Awful Announcing]

* Will not play in the game due to injury/personal reasons.

Torii Hunter of the Angels has been replaced on the AL roster by Nelson Cruz of the Texas Rangers

Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox has been replaced on the AL roster by Carlos Peña of the Tampa Bay Rays

Evan Longoria of the Rays has been replaced on the AL roster by Chone Figgins of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Carlos Beltran of the Mets has been replaced on the NL roster by Jayson Werth of the Philadelphia Phillies

Jonathan Broxton of the Dodgers has been replaced on the NL roster by Trevor Hoffman of the Milwaukee Brewers

Matt Cain of the Giants has been replaced on the NL roster by Zach Duke of the Pittsburgh Pirates

Continue reading for the players selected in the 33rd man voting.

Continue reading →