The Tigers and Joe Nathan may have been the most predictable pairing of the offseason. It's no secret that Detroit needed a closer, and Nathan was the top guy on the free agent market. At 39, the right-hander wants to win a World Series championship and figures to have a strong chance with the Tigers.  […]

What are the Tigers thinking? That was the universal reaction to the Monday night deal that sent Doug Fister to the Nationals in exchange for a seemingly underwhelming package of reliever Ian Krol, Double-A pitcher Robbie Ray and utilityman Steve Lombardozzi.  If a team was in cost-cutting mode, this trade might make some sense. Fister […]

Last January, the Diamondbacks let it be known that they wanted "gritty" players, who played the way manager Kirk Gibson did. Ten months later, after a season during which the D-Backs went 81-81 for the second straight season and finished 11 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West, Gibson wants people to know that […]

Is there such a thing as cheering too loudly at a baseball game? Evidently one Cubs fan thinks so, and is picking on an 11-year-old girl to make his point.  Natalie Adorno has become well-known for her enthusiasm during Cubs games, leading Section 527 with cheers of "Let's Go Cubbies!" According to Natalie's father, stadium […]

Some guys just have a knack for doing their job really well. Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski has always somehow pulled off the bold, splashy move that makes his team better.  The surprising blockbuster trade that Dombrowski arranged, sending Prince Fielder to the Rangers in exchange for Ian Kinsler, is just the latest […]

One of the more intriguing pitchers on the free agent market this offseason was Josh Johnson. The 6-foot-7 right-hander has the profile of an ace and when healthy, he's pitched like a No. 1 starter. But that's the caveat: Can Johnson stay healthy through a full MLB season? That question reduced his market value, but […]

The Cleveland Indians and outfielder David Murphy have agreed to terms on a two-year contract, pending a physical. According to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, the deal is expected to be worth more than $10 million. [UPDATE:

In the two weeks since free agency for the 2014 season opened, one question has developed as MLB teams, players, agents and executives make their moves and follow through on their offseason plans. What the hell is Ruben Amaro Jr. doing? The Phillies general manager has been aggressive since the free agent market opened, presumably […]

With the best record in the National League (tied for the top mark in MLB) and two games away from their second World Series championship in the past three seasons (and third in 10 years), there's not much the Cardinals have to do to improve on for next season. St. Louis probably can't be seen […]

Much was expected for the Reds after making an "all-in" type of deal last winter to get Shin-Soo Choo, who could become a free agent after the season. Cincinnati ultimately finished third in the AL Central, and losing their last five games meant they had to play the one-game wild-card playoff on the road at […]

A third-place finish in the NL West and a 76-86 record was hardly what Giants general manager Brian Sabean had in mind when he devoted last offseason to keeping his World Series championship team together. But injuries to Matt Cain and Ryan Vogelsong contributed to the Giants' starting rotation performing far below expectations, negating a […]

The Padres presumably eyed contending in the NL West when the decision was made to keep veterans like Carlos Quentin and Huston Street and sign them to contract extensions. San Diego was in the mix as of mid-June when the division was a cluster of underachievers, but a 10-game losing streak (which became 14 losses […]

If Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski wanted to make a bold departure from Jim Leyland's eight-year tenure as the team's field manager, mission accomplished.  According to reports, Brad Ausmus will become Detroit's next manager.

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington will take his victory lap this offseason, building a seemingly improbable World Series champion one year after finishing last in the AL East and overhauling his roster through trades and less expensive free agent signings. With most of the team set to return in 2014, Boston should be viewed […]