Yes, I know about the earned run average. When you look at a 3.90 ERA, you probably don’t think Cooperstown. If you don’t want Jack Morris in the Hall of Fame, those are the only three numbers you need. I’ve voted for Morris 14 times now, and will again when the 2014 ballot arrives in the mail.

Dioner Navarro posted career numbers last season as the Cubs’ backup catcher, but he is now a free agent and the team decided to go a different direction, acquiring George Kottaras from the Royals for a cash consideration.

The Yankees met with the representatives for free-agent second baseman Robinson Cano on Tuesday, but a large gap remains between the two sides, according to multiple reports.

Former Braves teammates and 300-game winners Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine are on a Hall of Fame ballot that also includes fellow first-timers Frank Thomas, Mike Mussina and Jeff Kent, and holdovers such as Craig Biggio, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.

In the latest Cardinals Inbox, fans ask if Matt Carpenter will replace David Freese at third base, if the club will pursue Robinson Cano, whether Oscar Taveras is likely to earn the nod in center and more.

Though the Tigers opened up an infield spot last week with the Prince Fielder trade to Texas, team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski said it ultimately didn’t change their mindset on letting Jhonny Peralta go without a push to re-sign him. Though he played third base for Detroit in 2010, that wasn’t an option this time around.

The Marlins have made another addition to their restructured front office, hiring personnel evaluator Mike Berger, who spent the past five seasons with the D-backs.

It is difficult to make the argument that a team that won 97 games during the regular season and then reached the World Series is getting better. But this is what the evidence that the Cardinals present us says. The Cards have wrapped up their two most pressing needs and they have done so mere weeks into the 2013-14 offseason.

There are signs emanating from both the Dodgers and Angels that the free-spending ways of the past few years will not be matched this time around. The focus appears to have shifted to filling holes rather than dominating the headlines and airwaves with superstar free-agent additions.

Seeing a couple of top catchers leave the market in the early days of free agency, Red Sox GM Ben Cherington continues searching for a backstop to share duties with David Ross, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia remains in the conversation.

Less than a month after winning the World Series, the Red Sox got the red-carpet treatment on Monday night at the Wang Theater for the premiere of the 2013 World Series film.

Outfielders Marcell Ozuna of the Marlins and Billy Hamilton of the Reds were among the stars in Winter League play on Monday.

The Rangers officially introduced Prince Fielder on Monday, five days after acquiring the slugging first baseman from the Tigers for Ian Kinsler. The move likely doesn’t signify the end of the club’s offseason maneuvering, however.

The Dodgers confirmed the signing of free-agent right-hander Dan Haren to a one-year contract on Monday, adding the former All-Star to a starting rotation full of them.

Chuck Armstrong, who has been the president of the Mariners for 28 of the franchise’s 37 seasons, announced his retirement on Monday.

Heading into the offseason, D-backs general manager Kevin Towers figured it would be more likely that he would fill his team’s needs through trades rather than free agency. After seeing what free agents thus far have signed for, Towers seems more convinced.

The Braves hired former Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee to be their Minor League pitching coordinator, one of four hires the club announced on Monday.