The Diamondbacks will have sole possession of first place heading into September for the first time since 2007. Let's check out the rest of the news and notes from the NL West:
- Corey Brock of MLB.com sat down with Padres' second-round draft pick, catcher Austin Hedges. The 18-year-old Hedges agreed to a $3 million signing bonus to bypass a college commitment to UCLA. Hedges is a highly-regarded defender who many feel has an advanced handle on such a premium position.
- It appears left-handed starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez may be done for the season. Giants manager Bruce Bochy had this to say about Sanchez's progress with a bothersome ankle: "The way it's going, it's going to be a race between he and Buster." reports Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News. With Sanchez likely out for the year, MLBDD's Julian Levine says Jonathan Sanchez is starting to look like a legitimate non-tender candidate.
- Denver Post's Troy Renck writes Ellis has worked his way into the conversation when the Rockies' front office addresses the second-base situation this winter. The Rockies acquired second baseman Mark Ellis from the Oakland Athletics for nearly nothing, and since then he's hitting .285/.320/.407 for Colorado.
- Andre Ethier backtracked on yesterday's comments that implied the Dodgers had told him to keep playing through a knee injury, writes Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times.