Lee's stellar pitching lifts Texas, but free agency is looming  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — As the Texas Rangers convened behind closed clubhouse doors July 9, manager Ron Washington announced to his players the move that forever changed the franchise.  —  “We have traded,” Washington said, “for Cliff Lee.”

Inside the Phillies: Age is a consideration as Phillies GM Ruben Amaro builds his team for next season  —  Winning never gets old, but the players do and that has always been the tricky part for the men in charge of making sure the victories keep coming even as the names on the back of the uniforms change.

Jon Daniels out of Mets' plans for next GM, will decide between Sandy Alderson and Josh Byrnes  —  Texas Rangers general manager and Queens product Jon Daniels is no longer being considered to replace Omar Minaya as Mets' GM, and all indications are that the team expects to choose between Sandy Alderson …

After Lincecum, Giants tweak Series rotation  —  Cain moved up to Game 2, Sanchez back to Game 3  —  SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants announced their rotation for the World Series on Monday, flip-flopping Jonathan Sanchez and Matt Cain to give Cain the Game 2 start.

Duncan's new deal puts him at the top  —  The Cardinals formally cemented all but one position within their coaching staff Monday, reaching agreement with pitching coach Dave Duncan on a two-year contract that includes a mutual option for 2013 and with four others on one-year arrangements.

John Farrell introduced as manager of Toronto Blue Jays  —  The Toronto Blue Jays have officially named Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell to be their new manager, robbing Boston of one of its best assets and potentially helping to create another talented team taking aim at Boston, New York and Tampa.

Tim Wallach out of Brewers mix  —  PHOENIX — Tim Wallach has been told by the Milwaukee Brewers that he is no longer a candidate for their managerial vacancy, a development that all but assures Wallach will be the third-base coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2011.

Baseball union head says players open to expanding playoffs  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Baseball's playoffs could be expanding in two years.  —  The new head of the players' union says his members are open to adding more wild-card teams for 2012 and possibly extending the division series to a best-of-seven.

Vlad to play right field in Game 1 of Series  —  Hunter to start Game 4 as Rangers keep rotation the same  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Vladimir Guerrero will be in right field for the Rangers in Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday, and right-hander Tommy Hunter will be on the mound for Game 4 when the Series returns to Texas.

Highlights From Yankees' News Conferences  —  Highlights of General Manager Brian Cashman and Manager Joe Girardi's news conferences Monday after the Yankees' four-games-to-two loss to the Texas Rangers in the American League Championship Series:  —  * Saying it was strictly his decision …

Week 2 AFL Players of the Week  —  Scorpions' Culberson, Sox's Holt claim honors  —  PHOENIX, Ari.  — Scottsdale Scorpions IF Charlie Culberson (SF) and Mesa Solar Sox RHP Brad Holt (NYM) are the Arizona Fall League's week two player-of-the-week and pitcher-of-the-week, respectively.

Slighting Weaver  —  Jered Weaver was a top five starter in the 2010 AL.  —  If you accept the premise, you may expect a few Cy Young votes to come his way.  'Twas a fine season, worthy of recognition.  —  Alternatively, you reject the premise and would be surprised if many—if any—writers figured in him the top three.

No deal for De La Rosa  —  Colorado optimistic it can sign left-hander as he enters free agency.  —  The Denver Post  —  The Rockies will not be re-signing Jorge De La Rosa before he becomes a free agent.  But they remain poised to make an aggressive multiyear bid for the left-hander …

Memo to mainstream media: Girardi relying on hitter-pitcher matchups is not sabermetrics  —  With a few exceptions the media members in New York are ripping Joe Girardi to shreds following the Yankees' lackluster showing in the ALCS and many of them are focusing on the fact that Girardi places …