Highlights and Analysis: 2013 N.L. Wildcard — Pirates 6, Reds 2  —  Anyone who has even casually followed the Pittsburgh Pirates this season is probably familiar with one particular number: 21.  That's how many years it had been since the Pirates have made the postseason, let alone had a winning season.

Braves Happy Entering Playoffs Under the Radar  —  (Reuters) - For the first time in nearly a decade, the Atlanta Braves have won the National League East division crown, raising fresh hopes they can rekindle their glory days and make a charge at winning the World Series.

Brewers Waive Mat Gamel, Taylor Green  —  The Brewers have placed Mat Gamel and Taylor Green on waivers, a source tells Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.  Both players suffered injuries in 2013 that cost them the entire season.  —  Gamel was set to fill in the gap at first base after Corey Hart …

Alex Rodriguez tells panel he was duped into taking steroids: source  —  The embattled Yankee and his lawyers have presented a case based partly on the idea that Rodriguez believed the substances he procured from the Biogenesis anti-aging clinic were innocent legal supplements.

Astros Claim Raul Valdes, Decline Humber's Option  —  The Astros have issued a press release announcing that they have claimed left-hander Raul Valdes off waivers from the Phillies and declined their 2014 club option for right-hander Philip Humber.  Humber is one of four players …

Yu Darvish dealt with nerve problem  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers ace Yu Darvish suffered from a nerve problem in his lower back and buttocks area in September, a source familiar with the situation told ESPN Dallas.com on Wednesday.  —  The issues caused numbness down Darvish's right leg …

What Royals GM Dayton Moore really meant by his ‘World Series’ comment  —  Dayton Moore said something stupid.  This stupid thing he said will hang on him.  His words will be mocked.  —  To some, Moore has already been the Royals' general manager too long.  Seven years already.

Sources: Cubs have serious interest in Girardi  —  Brian Cashman's meeting with Joe Girardi's agent Wednesday comes at a time when the Chicago Cubs have serious interest in hiring the New York Yankees manager, sources told ESPN.  —  Chicago fired Dale Sveum on Monday, and sources …

Sitdown interview with Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln (Part 1).  —  It was an odd end to yet another disappointing season for the Seattle Mariners.  They finished the 2013 season with 91 losses - their fourth straight losing season.  And in the final days of the season, manager Eric Wedge decided …

Santo family to receive memorabilia tossed out by Cubs  —  The Ron Santo memorabilia mistakenly tossed into a dumpster by the Cubs on Monday was fished out by bartenders at Murphy's bar and will be given to the Santo family.  —  “I'm glad the stuff was saved by Beth Murphy and I'm looking forward …

Rays praise Delmon Young's impact  —  CLEVELAND — Evan Longoria proved again in Monday's tiebreaker win that — even in a season marred by inconsistency — he is still the biggest force in the Rays lineup.  And Wil Myers has been putting an impressive finish on his first big-league season.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman's lose-lose dilemma on Robinson Cano; Girardi return seems likelier; NY Mets likely to tender Turner  —  The Yankees need to sign Robinson Cano.  The Yankees need to let Robinson Cano decline in some other city.  You have heard both arguments many times …

Mariners Will Make Qualifying Offer To Morales  —  The Mariners will “definitely” make a qualifying offer to impending free agent Kendrys Morales, general manager Jack Zduriencik said on 710 ESPN Radio in Seattle (h/t: MLB.com's Greg Johns on Twitter).  —  A qualifying offer …