The New York Yankees are focused on their starting pitching right now, but they do plan to upgrade at center...

If Pat Burrell can't come to a contract agreement with the Philadelphia Phillies and departs via free agency,...

Citing an unnamed person familiar with the talks, the Newark (N.J.) Star Ledger reported the San Francisco...

With Coco Crisp sent packing to the Kansas City Royals , the Boston Red Sox now have a hole in their outfield...

Darren Oliver now has interest from 10 teams, according to agent Mike McCann. That group includes the Detroit...

Raul Ibanez is the latest player linked to the Philadelphia Phillies as a possible target, per a report in New...

Wednesday's deal that brought reliever Ramon Ramírez to the Boston Red Sox from the Kansas City Royals...

It has been reported several times that the Washington Nationals have interest in signing free-agent first...

The silence, according to the Boston Globe, is a sure sign the Boston Red Sox are quietly chasing Mark...

The San Diego Padres say the Cubs are still interested in trading for right-hander Jake Peavy.

Boston Red Sox GM Theo Epstein can put a check on his to-do list next to "Trade Crisp." Julio Lugo...

Nov. 19: Local car dealers have been entrenched in their local communities for close to a century, and the third-generation owners of Wolf Chevrolet in Belvadere, Ill., exemplify the role they play beyond selling cars. NBC's Lee Cowan reports.

Oakland opened the offseason with a splash, acquiring LF Matt Holliday and his big bat (and expiring contract) from the Rockies. Of course, with GM Billy Beane on the job, Holliday's stay in Oakland might not last a full year. BIGGEST NEEDS: Oakland's need for offense is such that a left-handed hitter with some pop might be needed to complement Holliday.

--RHP Chris Schroder, who spent parts of the past three seasons with the Nationals, signed a major league contract with the A's. The 30-year-old made just four big-league appearances this year, allowing three runs in five innings. In 43 relief outings for Class AAA Columbus, Schroder went 5-4 with eight saves and a 3.97 ERA. --RHP Ryan Webb, 22, was added to the A's 40-man roster. He spent the season with Class AA Midland, going 9-8 with a 5.19 ERA in 25 games (22 starts).

A's general manager Billy Beane said he planned to add a big bat to the lineup this winter, and he wound up doing so in splashy fashion early in the offseason. Beane acquired three-time All-Star outfielder Matt Holliday in exchange for right-handed reliever Huston Street, left-handed starter Greg Smith and highly regarded young outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, who spent much of 2008 in the big leagues with Oakland.

The Angels thought they had put together a team capable of winning the team's second championship. It didn't work out that way, and now they are faced with some difficult contract decisions. While the roster that won 100 games for the first time in franchise history might be worth keeping together for another run at the World Series, financial pressures make that all but impossible.

--The Angels have informed season-ticket holders that prices will increase for the 2009 season. According to a team official, the hikes are primarily confined to "premium" seating areas (field level, between the baselines, front rows). The Angels ranked 19th in MLB with an average ticket price of $20.78 in 2008. That average is expected to remain under $22 even with the increases for 2009. --The Angels could have interest in Japanese free agent Koji Uehara.

The Angels have given no indication that they are interested in re-signing right-hander Jon Garland this winter. Garland, 29, is a free agent after going 14-8 with a 4.90 ERA in his first season with the Angels. Los Angeles GM Tony Reagins said he told Garland's agent, Craig Landis, "There are other things we are considering doing, and we're going to see how that plays out.

The Astros remained in postseason contention until Sept. 26 despite playing in the NL Central with the league-leading Cubs and wild-card-winning Brewers. They were optimistic and are only three players or so away from serious contention. BIGGEST NEEDS: The Astros need another quality starting pitcher, and Cecil Cooper and Ed Wade made clear they will go after one this winter. FREE AGENTS: INF Mark Loretta, LHP Randy Wolf, C Brad Ausmus, RHP Doug Brocail.

Six of the Astros' scouts, including assistant general manager Bobby Heck, were in attendance in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic, recently to watch infielder Dayan Viciedo, a Cuban defector. Latin American scouting director Felix Francisco, East Coast supervisor Clarence Johns, professional scout Jeff McAvoy and two Dominican-based scouts represented the Astros in a workout that was attended by over 100 scouts representing each club in the majors.