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.

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 …

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.

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.

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 …

Melvin talks Crew's bright spots, offseason plans  —  GM confident club can win with current roster, intends to add to first-base depth  —  MILWAUKEE — Two days after the end of a season that saw the Brewers win 12 of their final 18 games but finish 14 games under .500 …

Josh Johnson Has Elbow Surgery; Expected To Be Ready For Spring Training  —  Righty Josh Johnson underwent minor elbow surgery this morning to remove bone spurs, agent Matt Sosnick tells MLBTR.  Dr. James Andrews performed the procedure, telling Johnson he feels the discomfort caused …

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 …

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 …

Minor Moves: Velez, Gomez, Diaz, Leon  —  Here are today's minor moves from around the league...  - The Brewers have re-signed infielders Eugenio Velez and Hector Gomez and catcher Robinzon Diaz to minor league deals with invitations to Spring Training, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy.

Amaro Feels the Heat, Talks Future  —  Ruben Amaro Jr. settled into one of the blue seats a few rows from the field Saturday afternoon at Turner Field.  He munched on sunflower seeds as Scott Proefrock, one of his assistant general managers, sat in the row behind him.