Over the past few months the Philadelphia Phillies have made "multiple" inquiries to the Miami Marlins about Giancarlo Stanton's availability in a trade, reports Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com. Though the Marlins told, like every team interested in Stanton, he's not available. Philadelphia did make sure that if at some point Miami puts the 23 year-old on the trade block, they want to be the first ones to speak with the Marlins when and if they decide to move the right fielder.
--- Tom Verducci of SI.com thinks that Red Sox's right-hander Clay Buchholz is putting an illegal substance on his fingers to improve his grip.
Buchholz’s left forearm glistens this year with some kind of substance that is not rosin or perspiration. As the righthander admitted, he does keep water on his uniform and in his hair and does pat the rosin bag on his left forearm — all apparently legal. But rosin is white and has a matte finish. Something wet and mostly clear glistens from Buchholz’s left wrist to his elbow, the moisture of which darkens the edge of his left undershirt sleeve.
--- Washington have reinstated third baseman Ryan Zimmerman from the disabled list, meanwhile 22 year-old Anthony Rendon has been sent down to the minors.
In eight games, Rendon posted a .240/.367/.280 batting line in 30 plate appearances with the Nationals. Rendon, who was the 6th round pick of the 2011 draft, only playing 57 games in the minor leagues before getting his first taste of the major leagues. The thing is that the guy (Zimmerman) that the Nats just activated is signed through the 2019 season and it's unclear if they'll try to move him to second base though they already have Danny Epinosa at that position. Rendon's future with the Nationals isn't so bright.