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.”

Sandy Alderson will be Mets' new GM  —  The Mets have settled on Sandy Alderson to be their new general manager, sources say.  —  The Mets made the choice after bringing back Alderson and former Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes as finalists.  —  The official hire of Alderson as GM could come …

Ortiz: I'll be with the Red Sox in 2011  —  David Ortiz is at the Heat-Celtics game tonight and the Globe's Mike Vega tracked him down at halftime.  —  Big Papi said the Red Sox have yet to tell him whether they will pick up his $12.5 million contract option for next season.

Tragedy  —  My favorite part about sitting in the Yankee Stadium press box is getting the chance to watch Bill Shannon, the official scorer, in action.  Shannon, who for years was the head of public relations at MSG, was ripped out of the pages of Damon Runyon.

Nats to unveil uniform changes Nov. 10  —  After months of rumors and speculation, the Nats are set to unveil significant changes to their uniforms on Nov. 10 at Nats Park.  The team will hold a fashion show event at the stadium, and will show off at least three styles of uniforms.

Yanks, Girardi will open contract talks  —  The Yankees and Joe Girardi are beginning contract talks Monday that are expected to keep Girardi as manager an additional three years.  —  Girardi's new deal is expected to pay him about $3 million a year, according to sources.

Jackson voted AL's top rookie by peers  —  DETROIT — Tigers center fielder and leadoff man Austin Jackson won his second American League rookie honor in just over a week, this time winning the vote of his fellow Major Leaguers for AL Outstanding Rookie in the Players Choice Awards.

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.

Nats bring back manager Riggleman for 2011  —  As expected, Jim Riggleman will be at the helm of the Washington Nationals in 2011.  General manager Mike Rizzo officially made the announcement on Tuesday.  —  MLB.com previously reported in late September that Riggleman would return to his current position as manager next season.