The New York Mets announce the hiring of Terry Collins as their new manager, replacing Jerry Manuel. Collins last managed in the major leagues with the Anaheim Angels from 1997 to 1999. He has since spent time in Japan and China and last season was the Mets’ minor league field coordinator.

Eleven years after resigning from his last managerial position, former Houston (1994-96) and Anaheim (1997-99) manager Terry Collins is selected to replace Jerry Manuel, the team’s former manager fired a day after the season ended. The 61 year-old new skipper, known in the past for alienating some of his players due to his old school approach, compiled a 444-434 won-loss record, finishing second five of his six years in the dugout.

2010 – The Los Angeles Dodgers announce the signing of two amateur players from Japan, high school P Kazuya Takano and college P Kazuki Nishijima. The Dodgers have been pioneers in signing Japanese players, starting with Hideo Nomo in 1995, and recently re-signed P Hiroki Kuroda.

The Pirates clean house, releasing three veteran players in one fell swoop – OF Delwyn Young, P Zach Duke and 3B Andy LaRoche. At the same time, the Pirates add five youngsters to their major league roster, illustrating the direction the team intends to take to attempt to end its multi-season losing streak.

The Rangers sign P Barret Loux as an amateur free agent. Loux was selected 6th overall in the first round of the most recent amateur draft by the Diamondbacks, but was not offered a contract after failing a physical due to shoulder and elbow issues. Commissioner Bud Selig declared Loux a free agent, while the D-Backs received an additional pick in the 2011 amateur draft as compensation.

At a news conference at Minute Maid Park, Astros owner Drayton McLane announces he is putting the club up for sale. The 74 year-old entrepreneur, who purchased the franchise for about $117 million in 1992, tells the gathering, “it’s time to change and move forward.”

The Tigers finalize a $16.5 million, three-year deal with reliever Joaquin Benoit, with the 33 year-old right-hander getting $5.5 million a year. The contract for the former Tampa Bay setup man is similar to the one given to Brandon Lyon, who filled the same role for Detroit before going to Houston in the 2009 offseason.

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.