P James Paxton is named the winner of the Tip O’Neill Award given by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame to the best baseball player from Canada. His win breaks a stranglehold on the award by Joey Votto, who had won it in seven of the previous eight years.

ByTom

P James Paxton is named the winner of the Tip O’Neill Award given by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame to the best baseball player from Canada. His win breaks a stranglehold on the award by Joey Votto, who had won it in seven of the previous eight years.

In what is looking more and more like a fire sale, the Mariners trade another veteran for prospects, sending SS Jean Segura to the Phillies for SS prospect J.P. Crawford and other youngsters. The Mariners also take on the remaining contract of 1B Carlos Santana to even out the costs, and decide to also fork over Ps Juan Nicasio and James Pazos to sweeten the deal.

ByTom

In what is looking more and more like a fire sale, the Mariners trade another veteran for prospects, sending SS Jean Segura to the Phillies for SS prospect J.P. Crawford and other youngsters. The Mariners also take on the remaining contract of 1B Carlos Santana to even out the costs, and decide to also fork over Ps Juan Nicasio and James Pazos to sweeten the deal.

New Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro selects veteran Indians executive Ross Atkins for the team’s general manager position and executive vice-president of baseball operations. The 42 year-old North Carolina native, a close friend of Shapiro from working with him in Cleveland, becomes the seventh GM in franchise history.

ByTom

New Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro selects veteran Indians executive Ross Atkins for the team’s general manager position and executive vice-president of baseball operations. The 42 year-old North Carolina native, a close friend of Shapiro from working with him in Cleveland, becomes the seventh GM in franchise history.

Nick Markakis (276, 14, 50) and the Braves agree on a four-year deal reportedly in the range of $45 million. The Orioles had declined the 31 year-old outfielder’s $17.5 million mutual option for next season, making the two-time Gold Glover available as a free agent.

ByTom

Nick Markakis (276, 14, 50) and the Braves agree on a four-year deal reportedly in the range of $45 million. The Orioles had declined the 31 year-old outfielder’s $17.5 million mutual option for next season, making the two-time Gold Glover available as a free agent.

The Original League field in Williamsport, the birthplace of Little League Baseball, is placed on the National Register. The site is where the youth league’s founder Carl E. Stotz used newspapers as bases to determine the appropriate size of an infield for children, a year before the organization’s first game in 1939.

ByTom

The Original League field in Williamsport, the birthplace of Little League Baseball, is placed on the National Register. The site is where the youth league’s founder Carl E. Stotz used newspapers as bases to determine the appropriate size of an infield for children, a year before the organization’s first game in 1939.

The Braves sign free agent OF Nick Markakis to a four-year, $44 million contract. Markakis has spent all of his career with the Baltimore Orioles and will replace recently traded right fielder Jason Heyward in Atlanta.

ByTom

The Braves sign free agent OF Nick Markakis to a four-year, $44 million contract. Markakis has spent all of his career with the Baltimore Orioles and will replace recently traded right fielder Jason Heyward in Atlanta.

It’s also a day of trades as the Rockies trade OF Dexter Fowler and a player to be named later to Houston for OF Brandon Barnes and P Jordan Lyles; the A’s acquire P Luke Gregerson from San Diego for OF Seth Smith; the Rangers send OF Craig Gentry and P Josh Lindblom to Oakland for prospects Michael Choice and Chris Bostick; and the Rays get C Ryan Hanigan and P Heath Bell in a three-team deal with the Reds and Diamondbacks, with P David Holmberg going from Arizona to Cincinnati and Justin Choate from Tampa to Arizona, while some money also changes hands to even things out.

ByTom

It’s also a day of trades as the Rockies trade OF Dexter Fowler and a player to be named later to Houston for OF Brandon Barnes and P Jordan Lyles; the A’s acquire P Luke Gregerson from San Diego for OF Seth Smith; the Rangers send OF Craig Gentry and P Josh Lindblom to Oakland for prospects Michael Choice and Chris Bostick; and the Rays get C Ryan Hanigan and P Heath Bell in a three-team deal with the Reds and Diamondbacks, with P David Holmberg going from Arizona to Cincinnati and Justin Choate from Tampa to Arizona, while some money also changes hands to even things out.

In a major coup, the Yankees grab American League stolen bases leader Jacoby Ellsbury 

In a major coup, the Yankees grab American League stolen bases leader Jacoby Ellsbury 

ByTom

In a major coup, the Yankees grab American League stolen bases leader Jacoby Ellsbury from their rivals the Red Sox, signing him to a seven-year deal worth $153 million. The Sox lose another starter from last year’s Championship team, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who moves to the Marlins for $21 million over three years, but replace him with veteran backstop A.J. Pierzynski, plucked from the Rangers on a one-year deal. The other big signing is reliever Joe Nathan, who moves to the Tigers on a two-year contract.

On the first day of the Winter Meetings, the Red Sox sign C Mike Napoli to a three-year deal worth $39 million With backstop Jarrod Saltalamacchia already on the roster, the Sox see Napoli as a first baseman and think his power swing is ideally suited for the cozy fences of Fenway Park, but he will fail his physical examination because of a hip injury and have to settle for a one-year deal worth $5 million..

ByTom

On the first day of the Winter Meetings, the Red Sox sign C Mike Napoli to a three-year deal worth $39 million With backstop Jarrod Saltalamacchia already on the roster, the Sox see Napoli as a first baseman and think his power swing is ideally suited for the cozy fences of Fenway Park, but he will fail his physical examination because of a hip injury and have to settle for a one-year deal worth $5 million..