Maddon's departure from Rays to Cubs feels shady  —  This whole thing stinks to high heaven.  —  It smells rotten and it looks shady and it feels dirty.  —  No matter how you slice it, it all just feels wrong.  —  Joe Maddon is gone.  It's official now.  The Cubs introduced him as their manager Monday.

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

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 …