The Houston Astros hire Jeff Luhnow to be their new General Manager, one week after Ed Wade was fired. Luhnow was a Vice-President with the St. Louis Cardinals, responsible for overseing their drafting and for player development in Latin America.

ByTom

The Houston Astros hire Jeff Luhnow to be their new General Manager, one week after Ed Wade was fired. Luhnow was a Vice-President with the St. Louis Cardinals, responsible for overseing their drafting and for player development in Latin America.

The Marlins continue their free agent signing binge, adding P Mark Buehrle with a four-year, $48 million deal days after signing two other top players, closer Heath Bell and SS Jose Reyes. Buehrle will rejoin manager Ozzie Guillen, who was his manager with the Chicago White Sox since 2004. Meanwhile, the Padres acquire closer Huston Street from the Rockies to take over for Bell.

ByTom

The Marlins continue their free agent signing binge, adding P Mark Buehrle with a four-year, $48 million deal days after signing two other top players, closer Heath Bell and SS Jose Reyes. Buehrle will rejoin manager Ozzie Guillen, who was his manager with the Chicago White Sox since 2004. Meanwhile, the Padres acquire closer Huston Street from the Rockies to take over for Bell.

The Yankees win the posting for SS Hiroyuki Nakajima from the Seibu Lions, and now have 30 days to reach a contract agreement. Nakajima is being considered as a back-up infielder in New York but the two sides will fail to come to an agreement on contract terms.

ByTom

The Yankees win the posting for SS Hiroyuki Nakajima from the Seibu Lions, and now have 30 days to reach a contract agreement. Nakajima is being considered as a back-up infielder in New York but the two sides will fail to come to an agreement on contract terms.

Tim McCarver is named the recipient of the Hall of Fame’s Ford Frick Award for 2012 in recognition of his three decades as a national broadcaster following his playing career.

ByTom

Tim McCarver is named the recipient of the Hall of Fame’s Ford Frick Award for 2012 in recognition of his three decades as a national broadcaster following his playing career.

During baseball’s Winter Meetings, the White Sox trade their closer Sergio Santos to the Blue Jays in exchange for Nestor Molina, a 22 year-old right-handed prospect with a 27-7 minor league won-loss record and a 2.21 ERA overall. Toronto’s new reliever, who recorded 30 saves in 36 opportunities with Chicago last season, will be an upgrade for the club, whose top closer in 2011 recorded only 17 saves.

ByTom

During baseball’s Winter Meetings, the White Sox trade their closer Sergio Santos to the Blue Jays in exchange for Nestor Molina, a 22 year-old right-handed prospect with a 27-7 minor league won-loss record and a 2.21 ERA overall. Toronto’s new reliever, who recorded 30 saves in 36 opportunities with Chicago last season, will be an upgrade for the club, whose top closer in 2011 recorded only 17 saves.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jays fill some of the hole in their bullpen by trading for hard-throwing reliever Sergio Santos from the White Sox, giving up top pitching prospect Nestor Molina in return.

ByTom

Meanwhile, the Blue Jays fill some of the hole in their bullpen by trading for hard-throwing reliever Sergio Santos from the White Sox, giving up top pitching prospect Nestor Molina in return.

The Mets announce a number of moves at the annual Winter Meetings, held in Dallas, TX. First, they sign relievers Jon Rauch and Frank Francisco to free agent deals; the two were teammates in Toronto last season. Then, they trade OF Angel Pagan to San Francisco in return for yet another reliever – Ramon Ramirez – and OF Andres Torres­.

ByTom

The Mets announce a number of moves at the annual Winter Meetings, held in Dallas, TX. First, they sign relievers Jon Rauch and Frank Francisco to free agent deals; the two were teammates in Toronto last season. Then, they trade OF Angel Pagan to San Francisco in return for yet another reliever – Ramon Ramirez – and OF Andres Torres­.

The Twins trade SP Kevin Slowey to Colorado for a player to be named. Slowey was 0-8, 6.67 in 2011 and did not figure in the Twins’ plans for next season.

ByTom

The Twins trade SP Kevin Slowey to Colorado for a player to be named. Slowey was 0-8, 6.67 in 2011 and did not figure in the Twins’ plans for next season.

Ron Santo is the lone player elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee

Ron Santo is the lone player elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee

ByThis Day in Baseball

2011 – Ron Santo, former Chicago Cubs third baseman in the 1960s, who died last year, is the lone player elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. He receives 15 of 16 votes from members of the “Golden Era” Committee.