Major League Baseball announces major structural changes for 2013 as a result of its approval of the sale of the Houston Astros to a group headed by Jim Crane. The Astros will move from the NL Central to the AL West, giving both leagues 15 teams split into three five-team divisions. As a result, teams will play a more balanced schedule and there will be interleague play during the entire season to accommodate the odd number of teams in each circuit. There will also be two additional playoff teams, but the new postseason format will be announced at a later date as it is tied to current negotiations with the Players Association regarding the new collective bargaining agreement.

ByBaseball

Major League Baseball announces major structural changes for 2013 as a result of its approval of the sale of the Houston Astros to a group headed by Jim Crane. The Astros will move from the NL Central to the AL West, giving both leagues 15 teams split into three five-team divisions. As a result, teams will play a more balanced schedule and there will be interleague play during the entire season to accommodate the odd number of teams in each circuit. There will also be two additional playoff teams, but the new postseason format will be announced at a later date as it is tied to current negotiations with the Players Association regarding the new collective bargaining agreement.

The baseball owners unanimously approve the long-delayed sale of the Astros from Drayton McLane to Jim Crane. The deal was dependent on the new owner’s acceptance of the franchise being switched from the NL Central to the AL West in 2013, a move that reportedly lowered the sale price from $680 million to $615 million.

ByTom

The baseball owners unanimously approve the long-delayed sale of the Astros from Drayton McLane to Jim Crane. The deal was dependent on the new owner’s acceptance of the franchise being switched from the NL Central to the AL West in 2013, a move that reportedly lowered the sale price from $680 million to $615 million.

Clayton Kershaw is named by the BBWAA as the National League’s Cy Young Award recipient

ByThis Day in Baseball

Clayton Kershaw is named by the BBWAA as the National League’s Cy Young Award recipient, easily outpointing Philadelphia’s Roy Halladay, who had won the prestigious pitching prize last year. The 23 year-old southpaw earned the NL’s triple crown by posting a 2.28 ERA, striking out 248 opponents, and notching the most victories in the circuit, along with Arizona’s Ian Kennedy, with a record of 21-5.

The Tigers sign free agent reliever Joaquin Benoit, coming off a sensational year with Tampa Bay, to a three-year deal worth $16.5 million.

ByBaseball

The Tigers sign free agent reliever Joaquin Benoit, coming off a sensational year with Tampa Bay, to a three-year deal worth $16.5 million.

In the second trade of the general managers’ meetings, the A’s trade Rajai Davis to the Blue Jays for a pair of right-handed minor leaguers, Trystan Magnuson and Daniel Farquhar. Last week, Oakland acquired outfielder David DeJesus from the Royals, making their former fleet outfielder expendable.

ByTom

In the second trade of the general managers’ meetings, the A’s trade Rajai Davis to the Blue Jays for a pair of right-handed minor leaguers, Trystan Magnuson and Daniel Farquhar. Last week, Oakland acquired outfielder David DeJesus from the Royals, making their former fleet outfielder expendable.

After being the runner-up five times, Ron Gardenhire is finally named the American League’s Manager of the Year. The Twins skipper, the only AL field boss listed on all 28 ballots, led his team to its sixth Central Division title in nine seasons.

ByTom

After being the runner-up five times, Ron Gardenhire is finally named the American League’s Manager of the Year. The Twins skipper, the only AL field boss listed on all 28 ballots, led his team to its sixth Central Division title in nine seasons.

Bud Black edges Cincinnati skipper Dusty Baker by one point for the National League Manager of the Year honors.

ByTom

Bud Black edges Cincinnati skipper Dusty Baker by one point for the National League Manager of the Year honors. The Padres manager kept his underdog team in the playoff race until the last day of the season when they were knocked out of contention by San Francisco, the eventual World Champions.

Zack Greinke (16-8, 2.16), with 25 of the 28 first-place votes cast by the writers, easily outdistances Seattle’s Felix Hernandez to win the American League Cy Young Award to join Steve Carlton (1972 Phillies) as the only hurlers to win the prestigious pitching prize while toiling for a last-place club. The Royals’ right-hander will have another big day this Saturday when he marries his high school sweetheart Emily Kuchar, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Zack Greinke (16-8, 2.16), with 25 of the 28 first-place votes cast by the writers, easily outdistances Seattle’s Felix Hernandez to win the American League Cy Young Award to join Steve Carlton (1972 Phillies) as the only hurlers to win the prestigious pitching prize while toiling for a last-place club. The Royals’ right-hander will have another big day this Saturday when he marries his high school sweetheart Emily Kuchar, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.

Albert Pujols wins his second Most Valuable Player award of his eight-year major league career

ByTom

Despite nursing a sore elbow during the season, Albert Pujols (.357, 37, 116) wins his second Most Valuable Player award of his eight-year major league career. The 28 year-old All-Star first baseman of the fourth-place Cardinals, the only player listed on every ballot, receives 18 of the 32 first-place votes cast by the BBWAA to outpoint runner-up Ryan Howard of the World Champions Phillies, 369-308.