AWARDS
NL Rookie of the Year: Jacob deGrom (Mets)
AL Rookie of the Year: Jose Abreu (White Sox)
NL Manager of the Year: Matt Williams (Nationals)
AL Manager of the Year: Buck Showalter (Orioles)
NL Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers)
AL Cy Young: Corey Kluber (Indians)
NL MVP: Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers)
AL MVP: Mike Trout (Angels)
Arizona Fall League (AFL)
The Salt River Rafters had the best record (17-11-4) during the season and finished the season off by beating the Peoria Javelinas 14-7 to win the AFL Championship.
Greg Bird of the Yankees won the AFL MVP. He batted .313 with 6 HR’s and 21 RBI’s.
Patrick Kivlehan of the Mariners won the Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award which is voted on by the field staff. Kivlehan also the AFL with 22 RBI’s.
NEWS
The Tampa Bay Rays added Barry Larkin and Doug Glanville to the list of candidates they are considering for their next manager.
The San Diego Padres had the winning bid of $2 million on Korean pitcher Kwang-Hyun Kim. SK Wyverns will accept the bid and the Padres will have a 30 day window to negotiate a contract with Kim.
Barry Zito is looking to make a comeback in 2015 after sitting out the 2014 season. He will turn 37 next May.
The Texas Rangers extended the contracts of President of Baseball Operations & General Manager Jon Daniels and Assistant General Manager Thad Levine.
Robinson Cano of the Mariners fractured his toe while playing in Japan. He will be out three to four weeks and should be ready for the start of Spring Training.
Cuban INF prospect Yoan Moncada has been declared a free agent by the MLB. He is only 19 years old. He still needs to be cleared by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control before he is free to sign with a team.
TRANSACTIONS
The Braves signed RHP Chien-Ming Wang to a minor league deal with a Spring Training invite. They also signed OF Zoilo Almonte to a 1 year major league deal.
The Mets signed OF Michael Cuddyer to a 2 year/$21 million contract. The Mets gave up the 15th overall pick in next year’s draft to sign Cuddyer.
The Tigers re-signed DH/1B Victor Martinez to a 4 year/$68 million.
The Pirates have acquired C Francisco Cervelli from the Yankees. The Yankees will receive LHR Justin Wilson.
The Tigers have acquired OF Anthony Gose from the Blue Jays. The Blue Jays will receive prospect 2B Devon Travis. Travis was the Tigers 4th rated prospect.
The Pirates sign RHP A.J. Burnett to a 1 year/$8.5 million contract. Burnett pitched for Pittsburgh in 2012-13.
The Diamondbacks have acquired RHP Jeremy Hellickson from the Rays. The Rays will receive 2 of the D-Backs top 20 prospects, SS Andrew Velazquez and OF Justin Williams.
The Cubs have acquired 2B Tommy La Stella from the Braves. The Braves will receive RHP Arodys Vizcaino. The teams also traded 2014-15 international bonus slots. The Braves will net $832K in the trade of the bonus slots.
RUMORS
The Mariners are showing interest in SS Hanley Ramirez.
The Braves are shopping C Evan Gattis.
There is mutual interest between the Royals and RHP Ervin Santana to return to Kansas City. Santana played there in 2013.
The A’s are looking into SS’s Asdrubal Cabrera and Stephen Drew.
The Yankees are reportedly looking at SS Elvis Andrus as a replacement for Jeter.
The Red Sox have made calls to RHP Justin Masterson and RHP Luke Gregerson.
The Cubs and White Sox are among the teams interested in RHP Andrew Miller as a closer.
The Red Sox are apparently “all in” on signing 3B Pablo Sandoval.
The Orioles are exploring the trade market on RHP Ubaldo Jimenez.
There is a report that Billy Butler had a 3 year/$30 million offer on the table.
Cuban OF Yasmani Tomas is scheduled to fly to US this week to meet with agent. Deal could be coming soon.
The Marlins and Giancarlo Stanton are discussing a deal in the $300 million range.
The Astros could make a run at one of the top closers on the market.
The Royals have spoken with LHP Jon Lester’s agents.
The Mariners have had conversations with OF/DH Nelson Cruz since the start of the offseason.
The Twins have inquired about RHP Justin Masterson.
The Cubs appear to be the front runner to land C Russell Martin.