The Naranjeros de Hermosillo win the Mexican Pacific League title with a 1 – 0 victory over Mazatlan in the decisive game of the championship finals. Juan Delgadillo pitches 7 2/3 shutout innings for the win, outdueling Walter Silva, while veteran Vinny Castilla drives in the game’s only run on a 1st-inning sacrifice fly. Hermosillo joins the Leones del Caracas (Venezuelan League), Indios de Mayagüez (Puerto Rican League) and Leones del Escogido (Dominican League) in the 2010 Caribbean Series, set to begin on February 2nd on Margarita Island, off the coast of Venezuela.

ByTom

The Naranjeros de Hermosillo win the Mexican Pacific League title with a 1 – 0 victory over Mazatlan in the decisive game of the championship finals. Juan Delgadillo pitches 7 2/3 shutout innings for the win, outdueling Walter Silva, while veteran Vinny Castilla drives in the game’s only run on a 1st-inning sacrifice fly. Hermosillo joins the Leones del Caracas (Venezuelan League), Indios de Mayagüez (Puerto Rican League) and Leones del Escogido (Dominican League) in the 2010 Caribbean Series, set to begin on February 2nd on Margarita Island, off the coast of Venezuela.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette runs a front-page story that Pittsburgh Penguins owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle made an offer to buy the Pittsburgh Pirates from Bob Nutting in 2009. Pirates sources deny that there was a concrete offer and Nutting also indicates he has no interest in selling the team.

ByTom

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette runs a front-page story that Pittsburgh Penguins owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle made an offer to buy the Pittsburgh Pirates from Bob Nutting in 2009. Pirates sources deny that there was a concrete offer and Nutting also indicates he has no interest in selling the team.

Members of the Florida Marlins are experiencing a different side of life as they visit troops in the field in Iraq. GM Larry Beinfest, manager Fredi Gonzalez, players Chris Coghlan and John Baker and four members of the team’s cheerleading squad make up the touring party which travels by Black Hawk helicopters between bases in Iraq and Kuwait, bringing some cheer to soldiers deployed there.

ByTom

Members of the Florida Marlins are experiencing a different side of life as they visit troops in the field in Iraq. GM Larry Beinfest, manager Fredi Gonzalez, players Chris Coghlan and John Baker and four members of the team’s cheerleading squad make up the touring party which travels by Black Hawk helicopters between bases in Iraq and Kuwait, bringing some cheer to soldiers deployed there.

Four new members are voted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame: Paul Quantrill (the all-time Canadian-born leader with 841 games pitched), former Toronto Blue Jays infielder Roberto Alomar (who just fell short of election to the Baseball Hall of Fame), sabermetrician Allan Roth and owner Calvin Griffith (the latter two being Montreal natives).

ByTom

Four new members are voted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame: Paul Quantrill (the all-time Canadian-born leader with 841 games pitched), former Toronto Blue Jays infielder Roberto Alomar (who just fell short of election to the Baseball Hall of Fame), sabermetrician Allan Roth and owner Calvin Griffith (the latter two being Montreal natives).

OF Jim Edmonds, who last played in 2008 for the Cubs, starts a comeback attempt by signing a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers.

ByThis Day in Baseball

OF Jim Edmonds, who last played in 2008 for the Cubs, starts a comeback attempt by signing a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Phillies sign veteran Cuban P Jose Contreras to a one-year contract. A starter for most of his career, he will start the year in the bullpen.

ByTom

The Phillies sign veteran Cuban P Jose Contreras to a one-year contract. A starter for most of his career, he will start the year in the bullpen.

P Francisco Liriano leads the Leones del Escogido to the Dominican League championship, striking out 10 batters in 5 innings in a 5 – 3 win over the Gigantes del Cibao, in the 9th and decisive game of the finals. Wladimir Balentien hits a solo home run, Joaquin Arias goes 2 for 4 and Santiago Casilla picks up the save for the winners. Gustavo Chacin is the losing pitcher. It is the first time in 15 seasons that a team other than the Águilas Cibaeñas or Tigres del Licey has won the title.

ByTom

P Francisco Liriano leads the Leones del Escogido to the Dominican League championship, striking out 10 batters in 5 innings in a 5 – 3 win over the Gigantes del Cibao, in the 9th and decisive game of the finals. Wladimir Balentien hits a solo home run, Joaquin Arias goes 2 for 4 and Santiago Casilla picks up the save for the winners. Gustavo Chacin is the losing pitcher. It is the first time in 15 seasons that a team other than the Águilas Cibaeñas or Tigres del Licey has won the title.

The Yankees sign free agent Randy Winn to a one-year deal to be their left fielder this season. This move comes as the Yanks’ 2009 starter, Johnny Damon, is still unsigned. However, GM Brian Cashman states that the team has now reached its payroll limit and that Damon is simply too expensive. Damon will end up with Detroit.

ByTom

The Yankees sign free agent Randy Winn to a one-year deal to be their left fielder this season. This move comes as the Yanks’ 2009 starter, Johnny Damon, is still unsigned. However, GM Brian Cashman states that the team has now reached its payroll limit and that Damon is simply too expensive. Damon will end up with Detroit.

Jon Garland and the Padres agree to a $5.3 million, one-year deal that includes a mutual option for $6.75 million in 2011. Along with Chris Young and Kevin Correia, the 30 year-old right-hander, known for his durability, will play a major role in San Diego’s rotation.

ByTom

Jon Garland and the Padres agree to a $5.3 million, one-year deal that includes a mutual option for $6.75 million in 2011. Along with Chris Young and Kevin Correia, the 30 year-old right-hander, known for his durability, will play a major role in San Diego’s rotation.