A few things....

Looks like we have an Angels-Braves deal.

Casey Kotchman was scratched from the lineup and appears to be heading to the Braves for Mark Teixeira. ESPN's Keith Law first reported Kotchman and Steven Marek will head to the Braves....

Not much happening at the moment on the trade front with the Red Sox. Still a lot of conversations going on. Their top adviser, Allard Baird, is in Boston now which means his scouting work is just about complete.

The Sox may still add a reliever before the deadline Thursday at 4 p.m. They could go the older, veteran route with the likes of Arthur Rhodes or Doug Brocail or they can give up some talent and come up with short term and future solution to their bullpen issues by going after Oakland's Huston Street, who is a tremendous competitor. In my last conversation with Oakland Billy Beane a few days ago, he indicated that Street, at age 24, isn't someone they would seek to deal unless they get quite a bit back in return.

As for Manny Ramirez - he continues to be a tough guy to deal. The Sox haven't been able to get the right talent in return in the past and would seem to run into the same road block again. The Mets are interested, despite reports to the contrary, but still a difficult deal to put together. Julio Lugo, who has a close relationship with Ramirez, was commenting before the game that he believes Manny is staying put because management knows he's a vital cog in their post-season plans....

Dave Aardsma threw on the side at "85-95 percent" according to manager Terry Francona, who also indicated DL'd starter Bartolo Colon is "two sides (throwing sessions) away from us making a decision."

Looks like Julio Lugo, by all accounts, is still a month away from playing a game. He's expected to stay behind and work with Sox physical therapists while the team embarks on a KC-Chicago road trip...

Alex Cora doesn't know why there were reports last week that the Sox were losing faith in him as a player. Cora doesn't believe them to be true and said he was surprised to hear about that.