Boston.com reports Bigbie for Shoppach/Stern is dead. On the other hand ESPN says Tampa Bay is now out of the Man-Ram discussions and the Red Sox and Mets will work it out by themselves if it gets worked out at all. Apparently Chuck LaMar wanted Jon Lester and Hanley Ramirez. Is it any wonder the experts say LaMar "doesn't know how to trade?" I doubt Shoppach is going to be involved in a Mike Cameron-for-Manny deal, so the Bigbie trade may well be resurrected at the last moment.

Shawn Chacon pitched well in his Yankees debut, helping defeat the Angels (and move the A's to a mere 2 1/2 back). Aaron Cook unfortunately has not been so great in his first major league start of the year.