Ailing LHP Garcia removed from Cardinals' roster  —  WASHINGTON — St. Louis Cardinals left-handed starter Jaime Garcia has been removed from the team's playoff roster due to a strained rotator cuff and inflammation in his throwing shoulder.  —  Manager Mike Matheny said Tuesday that Garcia …

Red Sox to step up David Ortiz talks  —  After the Boston Red Sox concluded their dismal 93-loss season, general manager Ben Cherington said re-signing David Ortiz would be a priority in the offseason.  While the sides have had informal talks, serious conversations with the free-agent designated hitter …

Terry Francona reportedly has ‘out clause’ if Tribe front office is shaken: Cleveland Indians Insider  —  CLEVELAND, Ohio — GM Chris Antonetti and new manager Terry Francona would not comment on a Tweet by ESPN's Buster Olney that Francona's four-year deal includes out-clauses in case some of his superiors are fired.

Mets expected to offer about $100M to start as they try to make David Wright a Met ‘for life’  —  Wright fell off a little in the second half but still finished with 21 homers and 93 RBI.  (US Presswire)  —  The Mets are expected to open negotiations with an offer for somewhere in the neighborhood …

On Baseball: Chris Carpenter's Return Animates the Cardinals  —  As a statement of fact, it is rather remarkable: Chris Carpenter, who starts for the St. Louis Cardinals in their division series on Wednesday, has not earned a victory since Game 7 of last year's World Series.

Reds still undecided on Johnny Cueto if there's Game 4  —  CINCINNATI — The Reds aren't sure whether Johnny Cueto would be available to pitch if their playoff series against the Giants goes to a Game 4.  —  The right-hander had to leave the first inning of the NL division series opener Saturday in San Francisco with a sore back.

Document Banning Pete Rose From Baseball Goes on Sale  —  If any baseball player seemed a Hall of Fame shoo-in, it was 17-time All-Star Pete Rose.  No player in baseball history has played in more games or collected more hits than the slugger known as Charlie Hustle.

Top prospect Puig to miss Fall League play  —  LOS ANGELES — Top Dodgers outfield prospect Yasiel Puig will miss the Arizona Fall League because of a staph infection in his right elbow that required a surgical procedure.  —  Puig is expected to be fully healed in three to five weeks …

Rangers are prepared to let talented but injury-prone star free agent Josh Hamilton look around  —  There won't be any quick deal for star free-agent outfielder Josh Hamilton in Texas.  The Rangers aren't prepared to present the large deal Hamilton is believed to seek and will instead …

Game times after Wednesday still in flux  —  WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, Major League Baseball announced the game times for the rest of both leagues' Division Series this week.  If the Nationals are going to play in prime time, their series with the Cardinals will have to go a full five games.

2012 Eastern League Top 20 Prospects  —  A midseason ranking of Eastern League prospects would have yielded much less robust Top 20 than the one that follows.  That's because most of the Double-A circuit's 12 clubs added a rising star midway through the year, with many of them occupying spots near the top of the list.

Carney Lansford out as Rockies hiting instructor  —  Even before manager Jim Tracy walked away from his job on Sunday, the Rockies were planning to overhaul the coaching staff.  Monday night, hitting instructor Carney Lansford and third base coach Rich Dauer were dismissed.