Colby Rasmus Accepts Qualifying Offer  —  NOV. 13: The Astros announced (via Twitter) that Rasmus has accepted the offer and will return to the club in 2016.  —  NOV. 12: Outfielder Colby Rasmus will become the first player ever to accept a qualifying offer, as Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets …

Autopsy: Teen committed suicide by multiple cobra bites  —  AUSTIN - A Central Texas teenager who died in a SUV earlier this year committed suicide by letting a deadly monocle cobra repeatedly bite him, according to the autopsy report obtained by KVUE's Tony Plohetski.

Reds among teams redefining front office roles  —  BOCA RATON, Fla. — It used to be easy, 30 teams, 30 general managers, 30 chairs as they entered the room for Major League Baseball's General Managers Meetings.  —  As meetings began on Tuesday, the seating caused a little bit of a problem …

Angels Acquire Andrelton Simmons  —  The Angels have officially agreed to acquire shortstop Andrelton Simmons from the Braves, along with catcher Jose Briceno.  Lefty Sean Newcomb and righty Chris Ellis are going to Atlanta in return, along with long-time Halos shortstop Erick Aybar.

M.L.B. Picks Tampa Bay Rays to Play Possible Exhibition in Cuba  —  WASHINGTON — If a major-league baseball team plays a spring training game in Cuba next year, it will be the Tampa Bay Rays.  —  Commissioner Rob Manfred chose the Rays by picking a ball out of a bin at baseball's offices …

Pittsburgh Pirates Top 10 Prospects  —  Want More?  Complete 2015 Top 10 Prospects Rankings  —  Get it all: Subscribe to Baseball America  —  Go 30 deep: Order the 2015 Prospect Handbook!  —  The Pirates went 98-64 in 2015, finished with the second-best record in the major leagues …

Don Mattingly tips his hat to Mets  —  NEW YORK — The last game of Don Mattingly's tenure as Dodgers manager came in a loss against the Mets in the NLDS, and as he takes over as the Marlins manager he's not looking forward to 19 games each season against the Mets and their vaunted pitching rotation.

Scott Boras expects Tigers to spend on pitching  —  BOCA RATON, Fla. - The storm that is Scott Boras hit the general managers meetings just before 4 p.m. on Wednesday, sending baseball writers scurrying as they assembled to hear the biggest agent in baseball.

Still waiting for a tryout, Monte Gaddis meets with Cleveland Browns GM Ray Farmer, supplies team with game tape  —  Monte Gaddis stands outside of the Browns' facility, hoping for a tryout.  (Courtesy of Gaddis' Instagram account, @MonteGaddis)  —  Zack Meisel, cleveland.com By Zack Meisel, cleveland.com

Gary Pinkel to Resign Following 2015 Season Due to Health Issues  —  COLUMBIA, Mo. - University of Missouri Head Football Coach Gary Pinkel will resign his position following the conclusion of the 2015 season, and he will remain as Mizzou's coach through December 31, 2015 …

Baseball getting defensive when it comes to player evaluations  —  Royals' success increases defensive value Improved metrics help clubs measure defense Five Rangers regulars rank below average … BOCA RATON, FLA.  —  Defense has always been an important part in determining a baseball player's value.

Nationals Notes: Strasburg, Zobrist, Ramos, Desmond  —  Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg had a non-cancerous growth surgically removed from his back shortly after the season ended, agent Scott Boras told reporters, including James Wagner of the Washington Post, at today's GM Meetings.