• Girardi: Yankees expect pitcher Mussina to retire 11/19/2008, 9:41 p.m. EST
NEW YORK (AP) — Desperate for starting pitchers, the New York Yankees expect to enter next season without 20-game winner Mike Mussina. FoxSports.com reported Wednesday that Mussina intends to retire and will make the move official this week. In the report, the Web site cited unidentified major league sources.

• Red Sox trade Coco Crisp to Royals for reliever 11/19/2008, 9:02 p.m. EST
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals picked up the leadoff hitter they had been seeking, acquiring center fielder Coco Crisp from the Boston Red Sox for reliever Ramon Ramirez on Wednesday. Kansas City was 12th among 14 AL teams in runs last season and added power last month, obtaining first baseman Mike Jacobs from Florida.

• Wakamatsu hired to manage Mariners 11/19/2008, 8:59 p.m. EST
SEATTLE (AP) — Don Wakamatsu is proud to be the first Asian-American manager in major league history. He's also keenly aware of what his grandparents endured, generations before he took over the Seattle Mariners.

• MLB says Tribune set Dec 1 deadline for Cubs bids 11/19/2008, 7:37 p.m. EST
NEW YORK (AP) — Bidders for the Chicago Cubs have until Dec. 1 to submit offers, Major League Baseball said Wednesday after a meeting of its ownership committee.

• Red Sox trade Crisp to Royals for reliever 11/19/2008, 6:38 p.m. EST
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals picked up the leadoff hitter they had been seeking, acquiring center fielder Coco Crisp from the Boston Red Sox for reliever Ramon Ramirez on Wednesday.

• MLB says deadline for Chicago Cubs bids is Dec. 1 11/19/2008, 6:36 p.m. EST
NEW YORK (AP) — Bidders for the Chicago Cubs have until Dec. 1 to submit offers, Major League Baseball said Wednesday after a meeting of its ownership committee.

• Wakamatsu hired by Seattle 11/19/2008, 1:21 p.m. EST
SEATTLE (AP) — Don Wakamatsu became the first Asian-American manager in major league baseball history when he was hired Wednesday by the Seattle Mariners.

• Seattle Mariners name Don Wakamatsu as manager 11/19/2008, 1:21 p.m. EST
SEATTLE (AP) — Don Wakamatsu became the first Asian-American manager in major league baseball history when he was hired Wednesday by the Seattle Mariners.

• Oakland owner: Make 1st round of playoffs 1 game 11/19/2008, 11:23 a.m. EST
NEW YORK (AP) — Lew Wolff has a way to shorten baseball's postseason: Make the first round best-of-one.

• Source: Don Wakamatsu is new Mariners manager 11/18/2008, 11:16 p.m. EST
SEATTLE (AP) — Don Wakamatsu has his first job as a major league manager, and it's not exactly an easy one.

• Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia easily wins AL MVP award 11/18/2008, 8:22 p.m. EST
NEW YORK (AP) — Dustin Pedroia could easily be mistaken for a mechanic, carpenter or plumber, most anything except a major leaguer. "I'm not the biggest guy in the world. I don't have that many tools," he said. "If you saw me walking down the street, you wouldn't think I'm a baseball player." Well, not unless he was carrying his AL MVP award.

• Dempster, Cubs agree to $52 million, 4-year deal 11/18/2008, 7:25 p.m. EST
CHICAGO (AP) — Ryan Dempster made the successful switch from closer to starter this season, winning 17 games and helping the Chicago Cubs compile the best record in the National League.

• Griffey becomes American Public Diplomacy Envoy 11/18/2008, 7:05 p.m. EST
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ken Griffey Jr. has joined a new team.

• Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia wins AL MVP 11/18/2008, 3:33 p.m. EST
NEW YORK (AP) — Boston little man Dustin Pedroia won the AL MVP award Tuesday, becoming the first second baseman to earn the honor in nearly a half-century.

• Red Sox 2nd baseman Dustin Pedroia wins AL MVP 11/18/2008, 2:07 p.m. EST
NEW YORK (AP) — Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia has won the American League Most Valuable Player award.

• AP source: Dempster, Cubs near 4-year deal 11/18/2008, 1:34 p.m. EST
CHICAGO (AP) — Pitcher Ryan Dempster and the Chicago Cubs are close to agreement on a four-year contract worth about $52 million, according to a baseball official.

• Pujols wins NL MVP award, Howard finishes second 11/18/2008, 12:26 a.m. EST
NEW YORK (AP) — Albert Pujols views MVP voting a little differently these days. "You have to consider everything. You have to put all the numbers together," the St. Louis star said Monday after powering past Philadelphia slugger Ryan Howard to win the award for the second time.

• Japanese schoolgirl drafted by pro team 11/17/2008, 10:43 p.m. EST
TOKYO (AP) — A 16-year-old schoolgirl is making a unique pitch to become the first woman to play professional baseball in Japan.

• Giants add LHP Jeremy Affeldt to bullpen 11/17/2008, 9:45 p.m. EST
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jeremy Affeldt had considered looking for a job as a closer this offseason. Then San Francisco offered a contract the reliever couldn't pass up.

• Hall of Fame schedules replacement game for 2009 11/17/2008, 8:40 p.m. EST
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) — Baseball's legends and old-timers will play in a new Hall of Fame Classic, a creation deemed insufficient by the group opposed to the elimination of the annual exhibition between major league teams.

• Pujols wins NL MVP award, Howard finishes second 11/17/2008, 5:52 p.m. EST
NEW YORK (AP) — Albert Pujols views MVP voting a little differently these days. "You have to consider everything. You have to put all the numbers together," the St. Louis star said Monday after powering past Philadelphia slugger Ryan Howard to win the award for the second time.

• Hall of Fame schedules replacement game for 2009 11/17/2008, 2:08 p.m. EST
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) — Baseball's legends and old-timers will play in a new Hall of Fame Classic game beginning in 2009.

• Japanese schoolgirl drafted by pro team 11/17/2008, 12:32 p.m. EST
TOKYO (AP) — A 16-year-old schoolgirl is making a pitch to become the first woman to play professional baseball in Japan.

• Steinbrenner: Yanks make offer to CC Sabathia 11/14/2008, 9:53 p.m. EST
NEW YORK (AP) — Joe Girardi said this week he'd enjoy showing free agents around the new Yankee Stadium. CC Sabathia is one of the players the New York manager has in mind for a tour of the spacious clubhouse, players lounge, indoor batting cage and underground hot tub.

• Source: Yankees to make CC Sabathia big offer 11/14/2008, 6:35 p.m. EST
NEW YORK (AP) — Free-agent season opened Friday with the New York Yankees planning to give CC Sabathia a record offer for a pitcher.