After leading the Pirates to their first postseason appearance since 1992, Andrew McCutchen (.317, 21, 84) is named the National League’s Most Valuable Player. The Pittsburgh outfielder garners 28 of the writers’ 30 first-place votes, easily outdistancing runners-up Diamondback first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and Cardinal catcher Yadier Molina for the MVP honor.

The Athletics sign utility infielder Nick Punto to a one-year contract.

The Phillies announce the team has reached a two-year, $16 million deal with Marlon Byrd, who helped the Pirates reach the postseason for the first since 1992 by hitting .318 after being traded by the Mets to the Bucs at the end of August. Last offseason, the 36 year-old outfielder signed a minor league contract with New York, emerging as one of the team’s few offensive assets before being dealt to Pittsburgh along with John Buck for two minor league prospects.

The Phillies sign OF Marlon Byrd to a two-year contract worth $16 million.

Terry Francona, who never received a first-place vote for the award after guiding Boston to two World Championships in his eight seasons with the club, is named the American League’s Manager of the Year by the BBWAA. The Indian skipper, who helped the much-improved Wild Card Tribe reach the playoffs for the first time in six years, receives 15 of the 30 writers’ first-place votes, with John Farrell of the Red Sox finishing second, having his name on the top of a dozen ballots.

Clint Hurdle becomes the second Buc skipper, joining Jim Leyland (1990, ’92), to be selected as the National League Manager of the Year by the BBWAA, after guiding the 94-68 Pirates to the Wild Card and their first winning season since 1992. The Pittsburgh pilot was named first on 25 of 30 writers’ ballots, easily out-distancing runner-ups Don Mattingly of the Dodgers and the Braves’ Fredi Gonzalez for the award.

The Braves announce the franchise will be leaving Turner Field, a ballpark that is newer than 13 of the other 29 major league stadiums when their initial 20-year lease expires after the 2016 season. Team executives, disappointed with Atlanta’s inability to support needed renovations for the venue, cite their fan base is unwilling to attend games because of the city’s crippling downtown traffic congestion and the lack of adequate parking around the stadium.

Jose Fernandez (12-6, 2.19) receives 26 of 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America to easily win the National League’s Rookie of the Year award. The 21 year-old right-hander, who defected from Cuba with his mother and sister in 2008, becomes the fourth Marlin player in the last 11 years to cop the freshman honor, joining Chris Coghlan (2009), Hanley Ramirez (2006) and Dontrelle Willis (2003).

The Twins announce Joe Mauer, who missed the last six weeks of the season, will move from catcher to first base on a full-time basis next season. A concussion the 30 year-old sustained when he took a foul tip off the mask in mid-August prompted the team’s decision to change All-Star backstop’s position.