Report: Cubs to hire ex-Rays manager Joe Maddon  —  Rumors that surfaced immediately after Joe Maddon left the Rays last week that he was headed to the Cubs apparently are about to become reality.  —  Though agent Alan Nero told the Tampa Bay Times on Wednesday night there was “not a done deal …

Send Alex Gordon!  —  It would have been close.  Alex Gordon might have scored, particularly if he'd been in the mindset to do so all along.  Or maybe not.  I'm sure there will be Zapruder-film-type breakdowns, and I'll look forward to seeing them.  It would have been one hell of a moment …

Hot stove begins to warm as 121 players become free agents under Article XX B  —  Free agency and the Major League Baseball offseason represent a time of optimism and hope for baseball teams and their fans.  By the time the last pitch in the World Series is thrown, all 30 teams are already hard …

Nationals Exercise Denard Span's Option; Decline LaRoche, Soriano  —  3:01pm: The team announced the move on Span while also announcing that it has declined its club option on reliever Rafael Soriano and the team end of a mutual option for first baseman Adam LaRoche.  —  Neither of those moves surprised, either.

Hisashi Iwakuma's Option Vests  —  The Mariners announced that Hisashi Iwakuma's $7MM option has officially vested based on his on-field performance.  The option was widely believed to be a club option, however Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune recently reported that the option vested by virtue of Iwakuma's on-field performance.

Veteran executive reunites with Preller, Welke after 13 years with the Dodgers  —  Logan White: “More than anything, I just wanted to come over here and help.”  —  SAN DIEGO — Even with the changes to the Dodgers' front office, Logan White still had a place with the team as the vice president …

Brewers Exercise Yovani Gallardo's Option  —  The Brewers have officially exercised their $13MM club option on right-hander Yovani Gallardo, reports MLBTR's Tim Dierkes (on Twitter).  —  Gallardo, 29 in February, has spent his entire career with the Brewers after being selected in the second round of the 2004 draft.

Cards exercise Lackey's MLB-minimum option  —  ST. LOUIS — The Cardinals have exercised their 2015 contract option on pitcher John Lackey, which is at the major league minimum.  —  The right-hander agreed to an $82.5 million, five-year contract with Boston in December 2009 that contained …

Ribcage injury kept Danny Duffy from the Royals playoff rotation  —  Ned Yost had his rotation set.  As the Royals prepared for the American League Division Series, with James Shields occupied by the Wild Card Game two days prior, Yost knew who would start the first game against the Los Angeles Angels.

Yankees' next hitting coach could be in Royals dugout  —  Raul Ibanez greets Alex Gordon .  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — There was serious speculation running through Kauffman Stadium before the Giants' 3-2 victory over the Royals in Game 7 of the World Series that the Yankees were waiting …

New York Mets hurler Vic Black and volunteer crew mark Hurricane Sandy anniversary by sprucing up Staten Island school  —  Vic Black and a crew helped create a baseball diamond and other improvements.  The school took in 17 feet of water during Hurricane Sandy and the playground is still shuttered because of potential sinkholes.

Giants, Royals Not Your Normal Wild Card Clubs  —  Whichever team wins tonight's Game 7, there is sure to be mention of how a team that didn't even win 90 games during the regular season is the World Series champion.  —  It will be cited as an example of the randomness of the playoffs.