Sources: If healthy, Farrell will return as Red Sox manager  —  NEW YORK — It's a question that has hovered over the Red Sox for several weeks now, intensifying with each day as the season draws to a close: Who will manage the team next year?  —  Some have come to label it the elephant in the room …

J.J. Hardy Playing Through Torn Labrum In Left Shoulder  —  J.J. Hardy has suffered through the worst season of his career at the plate, and Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun reveals the probable reason for those struggles.  Hardy said today that he has a torn labrum in his left …

Jeremy Affeldt To Retire At Season's End  —  Giants left-hander Jeremy Affeldt will retire after the 2015 season, the team announced today via press release.  —  Affeldt, 36, has enjoyed a 14-year career at the Major League level, the past seven of which have come as a member of the Giants' bullpen.

Rewind: Leake calls reunion with Giants ‘strong possibility’  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Mike Leake asked Brandon Crawford to pick his walk-up song Wednesday and he ended up with a gem, “Ghetto Superstar.”  Leake's next decision will be a bit more complicated, and it's a life-changing one he'll have to make mostly on his own.

Mets OF Yoenis Cespedes suffers bruised fingers after hit by pitch  —  3h - MLB YOENIS CESPEDES JUAN LAGARES KIRK NIEUWENHUIS CURTIS GRANDERSON STEVEN MATZ NEW YORK METS + more

Braves Name John Coppolella General Manager  —  1:03pm: The Braves have announced the promotion, adding that Coppolella signed a four-year contract that runs through the completion of the 2019 season.  —  12:02pm: The Braves will promote assistant general manager John Coppolella to the role …

Reds' Losing Streak Reaches 12 With 5-3 Loss to Cubs  —  CINCINNATI — Evidence of the Reds' growing pains showed in a decisive pitch by rookie John Lamb to Austin Jackson that led to another loss.  —  Jackson hit a three-run homer in the third inning, Anthony Rizzo added an RBI double …

Game 159: Mets at Phillies, 12:05 p.m.  —  The Mets (89-69) wrap up their three-game series against the Phillies (61-97) on Thursday in Philadelphia at 12:05 p.m. ET on SNY.  —  LHP Sean Gilmartin (3-1, 2.58 ERA) gets the start for the Mets.  He'll be opposed by RHP Jerad Eickhoff (2-3, 3.07 ERA) for Philadelphia.

Jets Head to London With a Detailed Game Plan, and That's Just for Their Laundry  —  FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — After landing at Heathrow Airport early Friday morning, the Jets will disembark and make a left toward customs, where six lines will be devoted to their delegation of 220 people.

In Jordan Zimmermann's likely finale, Nationals offer little support  —  ATLANTA — The likely final pitch in Jordan Zimmermann's distinguished Washington Nationals career was an 87-mph first-pitch slider twirled over the plate to Andrelton Simmons, who grounded out to end the sixth inning in Wednesday's 2-0 loss to the Atlanta Braves.

I'm retiring.  Here are five things I won't miss about baseball  —  Mariano Rivera.  Babe Ruth.  Christy Mathewson.  Sandy Koufax.  —  Jeremy Affeldt?!  —  Even now, three World Series rings later, it sounds almost comical when I hear my name mentioned among some of the greatest players in baseball history.

Astros Rally Past Mariners, Take Over 2nd AL Wild-Card Spot  —  SEATTLE — Colby Rasmus' broken-bat RBI single capped Houston's rally from a three-run deficit, and the Astros retook the lead in the race for the second AL wild-card spot, beating the Seattle Mariners 7-6 on Wednesday night.