New Houston Astros owner Jim Crane decides to clean house in the front office with the team coming off the worst season in franchise history. Both team President Tal Smith and GM Ed Wade get the axe. The new President is George Postolos, while assistant GM Dave Gottfried takes over for Wade on an interim basis while a search for a permanent replacement begins.

ByTom

New Houston Astros owner Jim Crane decides to clean house in the front office with the team coming off the worst season in franchise history. Both team President Tal Smith and GM Ed Wade get the axe. The new President is George Postolos, while assistant GM Dave Gottfried takes over for Wade on an interim basis while a search for a permanent replacement begins.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.