Martinez hits his way into the mix with Cards  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.  • While Cardinals Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. awaits updates from top executives John Mozeliak and Michael Girsch on how they feel to best improve his club, he has an open mind on some of his current players.

Indians' Corey Kluber wins 2nd Cy Young in 4 seasons  —  Corey Kluber of the Indians, who also was honored in 2014, became the 19th pitcher to win multiple Cy Young Awards.  —  He joins seven-time winner Roger Clemens; five-time winner Randy Johnson; four-time winners Steve Carlton and Greg Maddux …

Rumor Central: Cubs, Alex Cobb share mutual interest?  —  There are plenty of connections between the Chicago Cubs and pitcher Alex Cobb.  —  The right-hander has spent all six years of his career with the Tampa Bay Rays, a team that current Cubs manager Joe Maddon ran for the first half of that time period.

Wally Backman hired as new manager of the independent league New Britain Bees  —  Wally Backman is running as an independent in his bid to get back to the major leagues.  —  The former Mets infielder and minor-league manager was hired Thursday as the new skipper of the New Britain Bees in the independent Atlantic League.

Mariners Acquire Infielder Ryon Healy from Oakland  —  Mariners General Manager Jerry Dipoto announced today from the MLB General Manager Meetings that the Mariners have acquired infielder Ryon Healy from Oakland in exchange for right-handed pitcher Emilio Pagan and minor league infielder Alexander Campos.

Column: Cubs leave GM meetings satisfied they laid the groundwork for 2018  —  Will these Cubs players be back on the team next season?  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Major League Baseball executives wheeled their luggage through the lobby of the Waldorf Astoria on Wednesday morning after three days …

Heyman |  Union challenge means Otani status on hold  —  ORLANDO, Fla. - One week after MLB and Nippon Professional Baseball worked out a “tentative agreement” on a $20 million posting system for Japanese two-way megastar Shohei Otani, the players union balked at the arrangement on Wednesday …

Yankees in surprising push for once-celebrated prospect … ORLANDO, Fla. — The Yankees are still trying to make a trade or two before the Monday deadline to freeze 40-man rosters for December's Rule 5 draft, and one player who has surprisingly caught their attention is Texas' Jurickson Profar.

New Mets manager Mickey Callaway assembles first coaching staff  —  The Mets officially announced Wednesday the first staff to work with new manager Mickey Callaway.  Here's a look at the staff that Callaway assembled:  —  Bench: Gary DiSarcina  —  DiSarcina joins the Mets after serving …

Rangers planning to offer contract extension to Daniels  —  Jon Daniels said last month that he wasn't worried about entering the final year of his contract as Texas Rangers general manager.  He must have known something and chosen to keep it to himself.  —  Sources said that Daniels …

Rangers expect agreement with Round Rock to end  —  The assumption among Texas Rangers executives is that the Houston Astros will sign a player development contract with Round Rock after the 2018 season, leaving the Rangers to scramble for a new Triple A affiliate.