Rollins nabs NL MVP Award  —  Shortstop backed up talk this season with big performance  —  PHILADELPHIA — Considering the amazing streaks for the teams whose uniforms they wore, the National League MVP race had to be this close.  —  There could be no other finish.

Hunter refutes Sun-Times report  —  Free-agent outfielder says impending signing 'not true'  —  CHICAGO — Torii Hunter's affinity for all things White Sox has been well documented over the past few months, from the impressive condition of U.S. Cellular Field's playing field …

Sources: Tribe near deal with Kobayashi  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  The Indians, continuing the run on Japanese relievers, are close to an agreement with right-hander Masahide Kobayashi, according to major-league sources.  —  Kobayashi was already taking his physical for the team Tuesday.

Mets may trade for new catcher, starting pitcher  —  Oakland A's starter Joe Blanton is one of the Omar Minaya's targets as the Mets try to improve their pitching via the trade market.  (KRT Photo)  —  The field of free-agent starting pitchers is mediocre at best, and the available catchers aren't even that good.

Lowell staying put  —  Third baseman agrees to three-year, $37.5 million deal  —  It all started not long after the final out of the World Series, the thousands left in the Coors Field crowd chanting for the return of third baseman Mike Lowell: "Bring back Lowell!  Bring back Lowell!"

Mariano Rivera takes 3-year deal for $45 million from Yankees  —  Mariano Rivera did what he does best Monday: He closed the deal.  —  Rivera, the team's All-Star closer, agreed to a three-year, $45 million contract, remaining in the only big-league uniform he has ever worn.

Anatomy of a player: Tom Glavine  —  Tom Glavine is a certain Hall of Famer who notched his 300th career victory this year, his 20th in the majors.  Glavine started his career with the Braves, winning two Cy Young awards, and signed a free agent deal with the Mets in 2003.

McDonough stepping down as president  —  Longtime team exec to take position with Blackhawks  —  CHICAGO — John McDonough, who has been with the Cubs since October 1983, most recently as team president, is reportedly stepping down to take over the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks.

WFAN lands Heyman, Girardi  —  It's always baseball season on WFAN, so it's no surprise that when it made two announcements in recent days, both involved the New York pastime.  —  Friday, the station revealed it had hired Jon Heyman away from ESPN 1050, for whom he had spent the past five years offering insights and information.

K-Rod could make big money next year  —  FOXSports.com, Updated 9 minutes ago  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez, eligible for free agency after next season, has slowed down talks about a possible contract extension.  —  Mariano Rivera's new, three-year …

Give Chris Burke the job and fix the pitching staff.  —  Enough is enough.  Give the second base job to Chris Burke and find out if he can play once and for all.  There's not a free-agent second baseman out there worth breaking the bank over.  If Ed Wade is indeed close …

If only they'd noticed … The Rays' Carlos Pena, ninth in AL MVP voting hit 46 home runs with 121 RBI.  Only 35 seasons have ever been better since they began giving MVP awards in 1931.  —  Times]  —  ST. PETERSBURG - This distinction will never be officially recorded.

The Best and Worst Pitchers  —  I just finished my projections for next year.  I don't project playing time (other than classifying a pitcher as starter, reliever, or both/either) and I don't go beyond next year, so my "best" and "worst" players are always by "rate" and don't consider longevity …