Yankees have no plans to pursue free agents Pablo Sandoval, Jon Lester or Max Scherzer  —  Instead, the Yankees are interested in bringing back two of their own, free agents Brandon McCarthy and Chase Headley, neither of whom was eligible to receive a qualifying offer after being traded to the Bronx this past July.

Cubs introduce Maddon; deal is for 5 years … CHICAGO — When Joe Maddon and the Tampa Bay Rays visited Wrigley Field in August, the manager raved about National League baseball and praised the iconic neighborhood ballpark.  —  Couple that with Maddon's impressive resume …

COLORADO ROCKIES / MLB  —  MICHAEL CUDDYER RECEIVES $15.3M QUALIFYING OFFER FROM COLORADO ROCKIES  —  The Denver Post  —  Let the chess game begin.  —  In a surprising move, the Rockies extended a qualifying offer to veteran outfielder-first baseman Michael Cuddyer on Monday.

Aramis opts for another season with Brewers  —  9/17/14: Aramis Ramirez chases a ball off Jon Jay's bat into foul ground and makes the great basket catch  —  Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez on Monday exercised his part of the mutual option in his contract for the 2015 season, solidifying his place with the club for next year.

EXCLUSIVE: Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez paid cousin Yuri Sucart nearly $1 million to keep quiet about his PED use  —  Rodriguez, who just finished serving a season-long ban for his role in the Biogenesis scandal, entered into a confidential settlement with Sucart on June 5, 2013 …

Angels' Garrett Richards on track in knee surgery recovery  —  Ten weeks into his recovery from surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in his left knee, Angels pitcher Garrett Richards remains on track to return to the field during spring training next February or March.

A.J. Burnett Declines Player Option  —  Phillies starter A.J. Burnett has declined his player option, the Phillies announced.  By turning down his $12.75MM option, Burnett will become a free agent.  —  Burnett's decision was one of the more closely-watched option situations around the game …

Left-hander Sale among three finalists for Outstanding Pitcher Award  —  White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu talks about winning the Players Choice Award for 2014 American League Outstanding Rookie  —  CHICAGO - The players have spoken.  They actually have spoken twice …

Showcase planned for Cuban prospect Yoan Moncada  —  Scouts believe Yoan Moncada could be the best teenage prospect to come from Cuba in years.  —  Now, he is one step closer to making his Major League dream a reality.  —  Moncada, 19, a switch-hitting infielder from the Cuban city of Cienfuegos …

Padres Designate Stults, Roach; Lose Jackson To Dodgers On Waivers  —  The Padres announced today that they have designated left-hander Eric Stults and right-hander Donn Roach for assignment, adding that catcher Adam Moore has been outrighted off the 40-man roster.

Kansas City extends $15.3M offer to Shields  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Royals extended a $15.3 million qualifying offer Monday to right-hander James Shields, which assures Kansas City of draft pick compensation if its staff ace signs a major league contract with another team before June 8.

M&R: Bumgarner wanted to ride a horse in the World Series parade  —  When pitching ace Madison Bumgarner arrived at Steuart Street for the start of the World Series parade, the cops assigned to the parade were waiting, and just as pumped as the thousands of other Giant fans who were lining the route.