Top News:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Extra Bases — It's official: Red Sox fire Bobby Valentine — The Red Sox have fired Bobby Valentine after the franchise's worst season in decades. The Sox were 69-93 and finished in last place in the American League East. — Not since 1934 have the Red Sox fired a manager after only one season.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Bluebird Banter, Over the Monster and MLB Daily Dish
RELATED:
Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox Receive De La Rosa, Sands From Dodgers — The Red Sox announced that they have received right-hander Rubby De La Rosa and outfielder Jerry Sands to complete their blockbuster deal with the Dodgers from earlier this summer. In a related move, the club has designated catcher Guillermo Quiroz for assignment.
Discussion:
Boston Globe and Yahoo! Sports
Boston Herald:
Bitter end for Bobby V, Sox
Bitter end for Bobby V, Sox
Discussion:
Surviving Grady, Bats, ESPN.com, ESPN and Associated Press
La Velle E. Neal III / Twins Insider:
Twins coaching shakeup: Stelmaszek, Liddle, White, McWane out. Vavra, Ullger reassigned. — The Twins are making big changes to their staff after a second straight 96-plus loss season. — Bullpen coach Rick Stelmaszek, third base coach Steve Liddle, first base coach Jerry White …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Twinkie Town
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Twins fire five coaches, head trainer in shakeup — MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins have fired five coaches and their head athletic trainer in the wake of a second straight last-place finish in the AL Central. — The Twins announced the moves on Thursday.
Fox Sports:
O's GM connected to former tormentor — Friday in Texas, the Baltimore Orioles will play their first postseason game in 15 years. The 2012 season has been one of rebirth for the franchise, a fresh start after 14 consecutive years with a losing record. — But there's a link between …
RELATED:
Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com:
O's will send Johnson or Saunders to face Rangers — ST. PETERSBURG — Hours after their 4-1 loss to the Rays on Wednesday, the Orioles had not named a starter for Friday's American League Wild Card matchup against the Rangers, with Steve Johnson and Joe Saunders the two options for the organization's first playoff game in 15 years.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Baseball Prospectus and Camden Chat
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Starting pitching help will be priority in offseason — MILWAUKEE — At the top of the Padres wish list this winter will be starting pitching, as the team could look to add as many as two starters — either through trades or free agency — to bolster a rotation that was ravaged by injuries and ineffectiveness this season.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Associated Press:
Bochy unsure of Giants' NLDS Game 3 starter — SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy plans to start a pair of 16-game winners in the first two games of the National League division series, but says he's not certain what he'll do beyond that. — Matt Cain will pitch Game 1 …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Associated Press:
Miguel Cabrera wins Triple Crown — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera became the first player in 45 years to win baseball's Triple Crown on Wednesday night, joining an elite list that includes Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams and Lou Gehrig. — Cabrera
Discussion:
Bless You Boys, Halos Heaven, Associated Press, Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Dave Skretta / Globe and Mail:
With Triple Crown in sight, Cabrera in lineup for Tigers' regular-season finale
With Triple Crown in sight, Cabrera in lineup for Tigers' regular-season finale
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, MLB Daily Dish and Bless You Boys
Brian McTaggart / MLB.com:
New horizons await Astros in move to AL West — Before '13 campaign, club aims to build around core through free agency — HOUSTON — After playing their first 51 years in the National League, the Astros will embark on a brave new frontier when they move to the American League West in 2013.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
Richard Durrett / ESPN:
GM: Hamilton not to blame, but not at his best — ARLINGTON, Texas — While the Texas Rangers are ready to move on after Josh Hamilton's error, general manager Jon Daniels confirmed Thursday that his star slugger didn't play his best down the stretch. — Daniels said Hamilton shouldn't shoulder …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Kevin Reichard / Ballpark Digest:
Digital Domain pulls out of ballpark naming deal — Digital Domain Park, the spring home of the New York Mets and the regular-season home of the St. Lucie Mets (High Class A; Florida State League), will have a new name after a bankruptcy filing from the naming-rights holder.
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online and Metsblog
Michael Baron / Metsblog:
Alderson spoke to David Wright's agents, intends to work quickly on a new deal — Today on WFAN, Sandy Alderson spoke with Mike Francesa and said he has talked with David Wright and his agents since the conclusion of the season yesterday, and said while there are no guarantees of a resolution …
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online
Associated Press:
Mariners fire Chris Chambliss — SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners will not retain hitting coach Chris Chambliss for 2013 after another season during which their offense was among the worst in baseball. — The Mariners made the announcement on Thursday. The rest of Seattle's coaching staff will return next season.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
MLB.com:
Kemp slated for shoulder surgery — LOS ANGELES — Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp said he will have surgery on his injured left shoulder Friday. — Kemp said Dr. Neal ElAttrache isn't sure of the extent of damage caused when he slammed into the wall at Coors Field on Aug. 27.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
RELATED:
Mark Saxon / ESPN:
Kemp to have shoulder surgery; out indefinitely
Kemp to have shoulder surgery; out indefinitely
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit, MLB, Associated Press and True Blue LA