Diving catches are great for highlight reels, but the best outfielders in the business are the ones who use good reads, take direct routes and know their opponents so well that they rarely have to leave their feet.

Fifteen years after leaving the Colorado Rockies, and almost a full decade since ending his illustrious Major League career, Andres Galarraga is enjoying the perks of retirement.

Every lineup, every day, as they are made public by the clubs.

Here’s a look at what 16 contending teams might have to offer in terms of up-and-coming talent in exchange for big league talent before the July 31 non-waiver Trading Deadline.

The Chicago Plan Commission on Thursday approved the $500 million renovation project to and surrounding Wrigley Field, according to a published report.

Derek Jeter was placed on the 15-day DL on Friday, retroactive to July 12, due to a Grade 1 right quad strain.

The Major League season is so daunting that it does a fine job of separating the contenders from the pretenders. But even here at the ceremonial “halfway” point — roughly 60 percent of the way through the 2013 season — so much of that sorting has yet to occur.

Bauman: The lines of argument over the 2013 American League Most Valuable Player Award are already forming. They are looking altogether too much like last year’s, and haven’t we already defined “valuable” enough to know just how important Miguel Cabrera is to Detroit.

No question, Brandon Phillips is spectacular defensively. But Joe Morgan also appeared to be otherworldly with the glove. So who’s better at flashing the leather?

Scott Kazmir was angry. The left-hander caught the fresh baseball tossed his way — the last one he had was now bouncing down some stairs in the left field bleachers — and headed back up the mound at Progressive Field.

There are plenty of candidates this season who hope to add themselves to the ever-growing list of second-half “All-Stars” after not being selected for the Midsummer Classic.

With July more than half over and the All-Star break coming to a close, a single topic will dominate baseball conversation over the coming weeks: the non-waiver Trade Deadline. Clubs are sorting out whether they’re buyers or sellers, and at what price in either case, all while also trying to, you know, win ballgames.

One powerful swing of the bat showed that Alex Rodriguez is nearing a return to the Yankees. Rodriguez continued his rehab Thursday with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and hit a two-run homer in the third inning.

Alexi Ogando thinks he’s ready to return to the Rangers after his best rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Round Rock. The right-hander allowed two runs on three hits in seven innings. He threw just 80 pitches, 15 below his limit, 49 of which were strikes.

Giants general manager Brian Sabean indicated that Tim Lincecum will stay put for the rest of the season. And the right-hander couldn’t be happier.

One of the best things about this era of baseball is that there’s only a teensy difference between the top 10-15 teams. At least 18 teams still have a very decent shot at the postseason. And what decides the playoff berths may be things that haven’t happened yet — a trade or an injury.

Bruce Bochy said center fielder Angel Pagan has resumed swinging a bat while working out and rehabilitating his surgically repaired left hamstring at the Giants’ training complex in Scottsdale, Ariz.