The A’s deal right-handed starter Gio Gonzalez along with pitching prospect Robert Gilliam to the Nationals for southpaw Tommy Milone, catcher Derek Norris, right-hander Brad Peacock, and minor-league hurler A.J. Cole. Washington’s newest member of the rotation, after agreeing to a five-year, $42 million extension following the trade, will enjoy a spectacular first season in the nation’s capital, going 21-8 with an ERA of 2.89.

ByTom

The A’s deal right-handed starter Gio Gonzalez along with pitching prospect Robert Gilliam to the Nationals for southpaw Tommy Milone, catcher Derek Norris, right-hander Brad Peacock, and minor-league hurler A.J. Cole. Washington’s newest member of the rotation, after agreeing to a five-year, $42 million extension following the trade, will enjoy a spectacular first season in the nation’s capital, going 21-8 with an ERA of 2.89.

Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers is voted the winner of the 2011 National League Most Valuable Player Award

ByTom

OF Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers is voted the winner of the 2011 National League Most Valuable Player Award. Braun hit .332 with 33 homers and 111 RBI as the Brewers won the AL Central title for the first time. He outpolls Los Angeles’ Matt Kemp who flirted with a Triple Crown but whose team was left far out of the running for a postseason slot.

According to Dutch police, Mariners outfielder Greg Halman was stabbed to death early this morning in Rotterdam. The 24 year-old Dutch player’s younger brother, Jason, is arrested for the killing but is released from custody, and eventually freed, because of a psychosis that had been induced in part by his use of marijuana was deemed responsible for the singular event with only a remote chance of any reoccurrence.

ByTom

According to Dutch police, Mariners outfielder Greg Halman was stabbed to death early this morning in Rotterdam. The 24 year-old Dutch player’s younger brother, Jason, is arrested for the killing but is released from custody, and eventually freed, because of a psychosis that had been induced in part by his use of marijuana was deemed responsible for the singular event with only a remote chance of any reoccurrence.

All-Star reliever Joe Nathan agrees to a reported two-year deal worth $14.5 million to save games for the Rangers. The signing will give Neftali Feliz, the team’s current closer, the opportunity to be shifted to the reigning American League champion’s starting rotation.

ByTom

All-Star reliever Joe Nathan agrees to a reported two-year deal worth $14.5 million to save games for the Rangers. The signing will give Neftali Feliz, the team’s current closer, the opportunity to be shifted to the reigning American League champion’s starting rotation.

The Pirates sign free agent IF Clint Barmes to a two-year deal, the Orioles ink IF Matt Antonelli and the Rangers add former Twins closer Joe Nathan for two years with an option for a third. That moves means that Neftali Feliz, the Rangers’ closer for the last two seasons, will move to the starting rotation in 2012.

ByBaseball

The Pirates sign free agent IF Clint Barmes to a two-year deal, the Orioles ink IF Matt Antonelli and the Rangers add former Twins closer Joe Nathan for two years with an option for a third. That moves means that Neftali Feliz, the Rangers’ closer for the last two seasons, will move to the starting rotation in 2012.

The Tigers’ Justin Verlander wins the American League Most Valuable Player Award the first starter since Roger Clemens in 1986

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Tigers’ Justin Verlander adds the American League Most Valuable Player Award to the Cy Young Award he won a week ago after a dominating season in which he led Detroit to the AL Central title. He is the first pitcher to win the award in the AL since reliever Dennis Eckersley in 1992, and the first starting pitcher to do so since Roger Clemens in 1986­. He secures 13 of 28 first-place votes to finish ahead of Boston’s Jacoby Ellsbury, Toronto’s Jose Bautista and New York’s Curtis Granderson in a bunched-up vote.

The Phillies acquire utility player Ty Wigginton from the Rockies for future considerations. The move gives Philly some insurance with 1B Ryan Howard recovering from a torn achilles tendon and 3B Placido Polanco also facing off-season surgery.

ByBaseball

The Phillies acquire utility player Ty Wigginton from the Rockies for future considerations. The move gives Philly some insurance with 1B Ryan Howard recovering from a torn achilles tendon and 3B Placido Polanco also facing off-season surgery.

The Twins sign free agent catcher Ryan Doumit to serve as Joe Mauer’s back-up. Doumit is known for his bat, something the Twins are starving for after having to use Drew Butera (.167), Rene Rivera (.144) and Steve Holm (.118) behind the plate while Mauer lost large chunks of playing time to injuries in 2011.

ByBaseball

The Twins sign free agent catcher Ryan Doumit to serve as Joe Mauer’s back-up. Doumit is known for his bat, something the Twins are starving for after having to use Drew Butera (.167), Rene Rivera (.144) and Steve Holm (.118) behind the plate while Mauer lost large chunks of playing time to injuries in 2011.

The Cubs introduce Dale Sveum as the fifth-place team’s new manager, replacing Mike Quade, the former skipper fired by Chicago’s new GM Theo Epstein at the end of the season. The 52nd manager in franchise history, whose managerial experience consists of sixteen games as Milwaukee’s interim skipper in 2008, is considered a no-nonsense baseball lifer who will stress the game’s fundamentals while implementing “high standards of accountability” for the players.

ByBaseball

The Cubs introduce Dale Sveum as the fifth-place team’s new manager, replacing Mike Quade, the former skipper fired by Chicago’s new GM Theo Epstein at the end of the season. The 52nd manager in franchise history, whose managerial experience consists of sixteen games as Milwaukee’s interim skipper in 2008, is considered a no-nonsense baseball lifer who will stress the game’s fundamentals while implementing “high standards of accountability” for the players.