Cubs Hire Mike Quade  —  The Cubs signed manager Mike Quade to a two-year deal with a club option for 2013, according to the team.  Quade, 53, became Chicago's interim manager on August 23rd after Lou Piniella retired.  He was the team's third base coach from 2007-10 after managing the Triple-A Iowa Cubs for four seasons.

Mets will not pay closer Francisco Rodriguez $3.1 million as part of settlement from alleged assault  —  Francisco Rodriguez still must close out his legal problems, but he and the Mets have reached a settlement over his contractual grievance stemming from injuries suffered during …

Braves release Melky Cabrera  —  When I arrived at AT&T Park for Monday afternoon's National League Championship Series workout, it seriously felt like it had been two months since Rick Ankiel drilled that 11th-inning pitch into the water and gave the Braves what proved to be their last win of the year.

Nationals Sign Mike Rizzo To Five-Year Extension  —  The Nationals signed GM Mike Rizzo to a five-year extension and promoted him to executive vice president of baseball operations and GM, according to the team.  Rizzo, who turns 50 later this year, has been Washington's GM since August 2009 …

Lee humble after masterful performance  —  Hear from the Rangers and Yankees after Game 3 of the ALCS.  —  PRINT RSS  —  Updated Oct 19, 2010 3:06 AM ET  —  NEW YORK  —  The clock said it was past midnight, and nearly all the witnesses were gone.  —  Cliff Lee sat at his locker …

San Francisco Giants notebook: Edgar Renteria still expected to play shortstop despite a torn biceps tendon  —  Edgar Renteria is expected to start at shortstop again for the Giants today despite a completely torn biceps tendon in his left arm.  —  Renteria, who missed time in August …

Minor League Transactions: Oct. 10-17  —  Released: RHP Erik Crichton, C Tyson Kendrick, 2B Chris Sedon, OF Londell Taylor  —  A 49th-rounder in June, Tyson Kendrick was the first-ever draft pick from Tabor (Kan.) College.  With short-season Connecticut after signing, he got into 12 games as a backup catcher and 5-for-20.

ALCS Game 4 updates  —  Rangers 5, Yankees 3, Top 6  —  Now there's the A.J. we all know and love...  Burnett just gave up a three-run homer to Bengie Molina, giving the Rangers back the lead.  It happened so quickly that the Yankee Stadium crowd seems a bit stunned.  But not too stunned to leave Burnett alone.

Yu Darvish will stay in Japan next season  —  From Yu Darvish's latest blog entry:  —  A lot has been mentions about the Majors.  —  I received a lot of comments, both on Twitter and on my blog.  —  I don't know if this will match everyone's guess.  —  Next season...

La Russa returns with “fire”, ready with some answers  —  ST. LOUIS - With fuel in his tank and playoff games on the radio, St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said he realized “the fire was still in the gut” during his cross-country trip home.  —  He knew then he wanted to manage the Cardinals.

Fenway Park improvements detailed  —  This image provided by ANC Sports shows what the new video display and signage will look like next season at Fenway Park.  At the bottom of this post is a video provided by ANC that outlines the specs of the video screens.

Natural Lee  —  Costello: Who has it?  —  Abbott: Naturally.  —  Costello: Who?  —  Abbott: Naturally.  —  Costello: Naturally?  —  Abbott: Naturally.  —  Costello: So I pick up the ball and throw it to Naturally.  —  Abbott: No you don't!  You throw the ball to Who.  —  Costello: Naturally.

Ted Lilly finalizes Dodgers deal  —  LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers finalized a three-year, $33 million agreement with Ted Lilly on Tuesday after the veteran left-hander passed a physical examination.  —  The deal ensures that at least three of the team's starting pitchers from 2010 will be back in the rotation in 2011.