The Rangers announced the signing of free-agent outfielder Shin-Soo Choo at an introductory news conference at the Ballpark in Arlington on Friday.

The Rangers announced the signing of free-agent outfielder Shin-Soo Choo at an introductory news conference at the Ballpark in Arlington on Friday.

New Reds utility man Skip Schumaker talked to MLB.com’s Meggie Zahneis about his life away from the field.

Call it a cold-and-dry run for the Super Bowl. New York and New Jersey, hosts of the ultimate game in pro football this season, will also stage the fourth annual Pinstripe Bowl, which pits Jersey-based Rutgers against national behemoth Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.

Even though Mike Moustakas is entrenched as the Royals’ third baseman, he sacrificed some of his “me” time this December for something a little less glamorous — winter ball, that is.

On Friday, the Cubs announced they have signed right-hander Jose Veras to a one-year, $3.85 million contract with a club option for 2015. There is a $150,000 buyout for 2015.

Now Masahiro Tanaka is the latest Roy Hobbs wannabe. Actually, if you go by his otherworldly credentials as a pitcher in Japan, the man they call “Ma-kun” is sprinkled with more pixie dust than that.

The Twins announced their Minor League managerial and coaching staff on Friday, with only one major change from last season.

Paul Blair, a critical cog during the Orioles’ and Yankees’ championship seasons in the ’60s and ’70s, died Thursday outside Baltimore.

Paul Blair, a critical cog during the Orioles’ and Yankees’ championship seasons in the ’60s and ’70s, died Thursday outside Baltimore.

After another run to the ALCS in 2013, the goal in Detroit now is to ensure the door doesn’t close on this era of great Tigers teams before it can achieve its greatest goal — a World Series title.

Who were the top five pitchers to make their Major League debuts last season, in terms of career potential? What’s the general consensus on Giants prospect Andrew Susac? Jim Callis tackles those topics and more in the latest edition of the Pipeline Inbox.

The Nationals have made significant improvements this offseason, adding Doug Fister, Jerry Blevins and Nate McLouth. They also face 2014 with a new manager at the helm.

Major League Baseball’s pursuit of Masahiro Tanaka came into greater focus on Christmas Day. Reports indicated that Tanaka has hired an agent and his posting is to begin Thursday morning.

Right-hander Guillermo Moscoso has elected to continue his career in Japan, agreeing on Thursday to sign with Nippon Professional Baseball’s Yokohama Bay Stars, according to Nikkan Sports.

Even in this offseason of wild spending, the bidding for Masahiro Tanaka may make all those other deals look like warmup acts. That’s because there has seldom been a 25-year-old pitcher with top-of-the-rotation stuff enter free agency.

Terry Francona may have been honored as the 2013 American League Manager of the Year, but any awards were secondary to the Indians’ remarkable journey. Cleveland came a long way in 2013, and it started with a manager getting a team to embrace its potential.