The Astros acquire Clint Barmes from Colorado for P Felipe Paulino. Barmes is slated to be Houston’s starting SS next year, after playing 2B with the Rockies last season.
Ron Gardenhire, a day after being selected as the American League Manager of the Year, accepts a two-year extension through the 2013 season from the Twins. The 53 year-old skipper has compiled a record of 803-656 (.550) record en route to winning six division during his nine-year tenure in Minnesota.
Free-agent backstop John Buck signs a three-year, $18 million contract to catch for the Marlins, the team that sought his services a minute after free agency opened. The signing of the 30 year-old catcher, who enjoyed a career year with the Blue Jays, hitting .281 with 20 home runs, continues Florida’s active participation in the early off-season, that also includes the acquisition of four relievers and an infielder.
Despite an unspectacular 13-12 record, Felix Hernandez is named the American League Cy Young Award winner ahead of Tampa Bay’s David Price (19-6) and New York’s CC Sabathia (21-7). King Felix’s league-leading 2.27 ERA and the lack of run support provided by the last-place Mariners made the Seattle ace an easy choice for the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, who placed him first on 21 of the 28 ballots cast.
Commissioner Bud Selig states that Major League Baseball is considering expanding the postseason by two teams, by adding a second wild card in each league. The two wild card winners would face each other in a best-of-three series to open the postseason, with the three division winners getting a bye. The proposal will now be discussed at the December Winter Meetings and will need to be accepted by the Players Association. A slightly modified version of the proposal will come into effect in 2012.
In the second trade of the general managers’ meetings, the A’s trade Rajai Davis to the Blue Jays for a pair of right-handed minor leaguers, Trystan Magnuson and Daniel Farquhar. Last week, Oakland acquired outfielder David DeJesus from the Royals, making their former fleet outfielder expendable.
Bud Black edges Cincinnati skipper Dusty Baker by one point for the National League Manager of the Year honors. The Padres manager kept his underdog team in the playoff race until the last day of the season when they were knocked out of contention by San Francisco, the eventual World Champions.
After being the runner-up five times, Ron Gardenhire is finally named the American League’s Manager of the Year. The Twins skipper, the only AL field boss listed on all 28 ballots, led his team to its sixth Central Division title in nine seasons.
The Tigers sign free agent reliever Joaquin Benoit, coming off a sensational year with Tampa Bay, to a three-year deal worth $16.5 million.
The Blue Jays acquire OF Rajai Davis from Oakland in return for P Trystan Magnuson and Danny Farquhar.
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