Major League Baseball owners and the Players Association reach a tentative deal on a new five-year collective bargaining agreement. The agreement signed in Rosemont, IL near Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, includes a ceiling for bonuses paid to picks in the amateur draft and international free agents. It also provides for testing for human growth hormone and a raise in the minimum salary to $480,000. The agreement will be finalized on November 22nd.

ByBaseball

Major League Baseball owners and the Players Association reach a tentative deal on a new five-year collective bargaining agreement. The agreement signed in Rosemont, IL near Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, includes a ceiling for bonuses paid to picks in the amateur draft and international free agents. It also provides for testing for human growth hormone and a raise in the minimum salary to $480,000. The agreement will be finalized on November 22nd.

Coming off an outstanding season, Dodgers OF Matt Kemp cashes in with a contact extension worth $160 million until 2019. It is the largest contract in team history, breaking the record set by Kevin Brown’s $105 million deal in 1998. Kemp hit .324 with 39 homers and 126 RBI in a breakout season in 2011.

ByBaseball

Coming off an outstanding season, Dodgers OF Matt Kemp cashes in with a contact extension worth $160 million until 2019. It is the largest contract in team history, breaking the record set by Kevin Brown’s $105 million deal in 1998. Kemp hit .324 with 39 homers and 126 RBI in a breakout season in 2011.

The baseball owners unanimously approve the long-delayed sale of the Astros from Drayton McLane to Jim Crane. The deal was dependent on the new owner’s acceptance of the franchise being switched from the NL Central to the AL West in 2013, a move that reportedly lowered the sale price from $680 million to $615 million.

ByTom

The baseball owners unanimously approve the long-delayed sale of the Astros from Drayton McLane to Jim Crane. The deal was dependent on the new owner’s acceptance of the franchise being switched from the NL Central to the AL West in 2013, a move that reportedly lowered the sale price from $680 million to $615 million.

Clayton Kershaw is named by the BBWAA as the National League’s Cy Young Award recipient

ByThis Day in Baseball

Clayton Kershaw is named by the BBWAA as the National League’s Cy Young Award recipient, easily outpointing Philadelphia’s Roy Halladay, who had won the prestigious pitching prize last year. The 23 year-old southpaw earned the NL’s triple crown by posting a 2.28 ERA, striking out 248 opponents, and notching the most victories in the circuit, along with Arizona’s Ian Kennedy, with a record of 21-5.

Major League Baseball announces major structural changes for 2013 as a result of its approval of the sale of the Houston Astros to a group headed by Jim Crane. The Astros will move from the NL Central to the AL West, giving both leagues 15 teams split into three five-team divisions. As a result, teams will play a more balanced schedule and there will be interleague play during the entire season to accommodate the odd number of teams in each circuit. There will also be two additional playoff teams, but the new postseason format will be announced at a later date as it is tied to current negotiations with the Players Association regarding the new collective bargaining agreement.

ByBaseball

Major League Baseball announces major structural changes for 2013 as a result of its approval of the sale of the Houston Astros to a group headed by Jim Crane. The Astros will move from the NL Central to the AL West, giving both leagues 15 teams split into three five-team divisions. As a result, teams will play a more balanced schedule and there will be interleague play during the entire season to accommodate the odd number of teams in each circuit. There will also be two additional playoff teams, but the new postseason format will be announced at a later date as it is tied to current negotiations with the Players Association regarding the new collective bargaining agreement.

The Chicago Cubs announce they have hired Dale Sveum as their new manager, replacing Mike Quade. Sveum managed the Milwaukee Brewers at the tail end of the 2008 season, ending a swoon and leading them through their first playoff appearance since the 1982 World Series, but has not managed since.

ByBaseball

The Chicago Cubs announce they have hired Dale Sveum as their new manager, replacing Mike Quade. Sveum managed the Milwaukee Brewers at the tail end of the 2008 season, ending a swoon and leading them through their first playoff appearance since the 1982 World Series, but has not managed since.

In his first full season as a skipper, Kirk Gibson is named the National League’s manager of the year. The 54 year-old field boss, who received 28 of the 32 first-place votes from the writers, led the Diamondbacks to a run-away NL Western Division title with a 94-68 record.

ByTom

In his first full season as a skipper, Kirk Gibson is named the National League’s manager of the year. The 54 year-old field boss, who received 28 of the 32 first-place votes from the writers, led the Diamondbacks to a run-away NL Western Division title with a 94-68 record.

Joe Maddon wins the American League Manager of the Year Award for the second time after guiding the Rays to a 91-71 record. Thanks to Boston’s late-season collapse, Tampa Bay overcame a nine-game deficit at the beginning of September to win the American League Wild Card.

ByBaseball

Joe Maddon wins the American League Manager of the Year Award for the second time after guiding the Rays to a 91-71 record. Thanks to Boston’s late-season collapse, Tampa Bay overcame a nine-game deficit at the beginning of September to win the American League Wild Card.

Two back-up outfielders sign with new teams for 2012: Mark Kotsay agrees to a one-year deal with San Diego and Jason Pridie moves to Oakland.

ByBaseball

Two back-up outfielders sign with new teams for 2012: Mark Kotsay agrees to a one-year deal with San Diego and Jason Pridie moves to Oakland.

The BBWAA selects Justin Verlander as the unanimous winner of the American League Cy Young award

The BBWAA selects Justin Verlander as the unanimous winner of the American League Cy Young award

ByBaseball

The BBWAA selects Justin Verlander (24-5, 2.40) as the unanimous winner of the American League Cy Young award. The 28 year-old Tiger right-hander, who captured the circuit’s pitching triple crown, leading the AL in victories, earned run average, and strikeouts, easily outdistance runners-up that include L.A.’s Jered Weaver, Tampa Bay’s James Shields, and New York’s CC Sabathia.