Major League Baseball's New Leader Wants To Make Baseball Exciting Again  —  Meet Rob Manfred, baseball's tenth commissioner.  Manfred takes the helm from Bud Selig, who retired after 22 years in charge of the game.  —  Patrick McDermott / Getty Images  —  Manfred had been Selig's right-hand man through much of Selig's tenure.

Reds Extend Devin Mesoraco  —  The Reds have locked up one of their core young pieces, agreeing to a four-year extension with catcher Devin Mesoraco the team has announced.  With three years and 28 days of Major League service, the 26-year-old backstop had been arbitration eligible for 2015 …

Beeston to remain Jays president through '15  —  TORONTO — The Blue Jays say Paul Beeston will remain as team president through the end of this season.  —  Rogers Communications, which owns the team, announced Monday that Beeston signed a contract extension with the club and plans to retire at the end of the season.

Yankees prepared for fight over A-Rod home run bonus money  —  The frayed relations between the Yankees and Alex Rodriguez are bound to be front and center when their one-time superstar reports to spring training next month with the goal of not only making the team but of cashing …

Orioles Avoid Arbitration With Bud Norris  —  Th Orioles have avoided arbitration with right-hander Bud Norris by agreeing to a one-year deal that is worth $8.8MM, reports Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter links).  Norris, who is represented by Joel Wolfe of the Wasserman Media Group …

Hector Olivera Showcase Report  —  When it comes to 29-year-old Cuban second baseman Hector Olivera, three words come up often that aren't common to hear in the scouting community:  —  “I don't know.”  —  For the scouts who followed Olivera on the Cuban national team from 2008-10, they loved what they saw.

Rockies and Ottavino agree to one-year deal for 2015  —  DENVER - The Colorado Rockies announced today that the club has avoided arbitration with right-handed pitcher Adam Ottavino by agreeing to a one-year deal.  Terms of the deal were not disclosed, per club policy.

CWS Champion Vanderbilt No. 1 In 2015 College Preseason Top 25  —  A year after ending the season with the final No. 1 ranking, Vanderbilt opens the 2015 season ranked No. 1.  —  The defending national champion Commodores head up Baseball America's preseason Top 25 college rankings for the first time.

Twins closer optimistic with new pitching coach, manager heading into 2015 season  —  9/19/14: Glen Perkins is shut down for the remainder of the 2014 season after being diagnosed with a strained forearm and nerve irritation  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Twins closer Glen Perkins said he's fully recovered …

Former Red Sox pitcher Bill Monbouquette dies at 78  —  Red Sox pitcher Bill Monbouquette was one out away from a no-hitter against the White Sox at Chicago's Comiskey Park.  The date was Aug. 1, 1962, and the pitcher known as Monbo, who had been signed by Boston seven years earlier …

Baseball's toxic tradition of chewing tobacco  —  Cheeks bulging with chewing tobacco are a common sight on the baseball pitch.  —  Once described as the nation's religion, baseball has a special place in American culture.  But there is a darker side: the cancer-causing tradition of chewing tobacco …

Indians ace ‘excited about getting going’ for 2015 season  —  Hall of Famer John Smoltz presents Indians pitcher Corey Kluber with the 2014 American League Cy Young Award during the 2015 BBWAA dinner  —  CLEVELAND — It sat near the edge of a table inside the training room within the Indians' clubhouse.

Zack Wheeler must lead Mets turnaround against Washington Nationals  —  FOLLOW @#!  /BTB_MIKEBHURST … There's a saying long popularized by wrestling great Ric Flare - in order to be the man, you gotta beat the man.  —  That holds true for Zack Wheeler and the New York Mets.