The Royals on Monday requested unconditional release waivers for Irving Falu — who was designated for assignment on Nov. 20 — clearing the way for Falu to become a free agent and get a fresh start with another club.

In discussing the makeup of his lineup next season, Rangers manager Ron Washington prefaced his comments on Monday with “right now” because the club’s offseason is far from finished. Acquiring Prince Fielder from the Tigers was only the first major step in improving a ballclub that won 90 games but was knocked out when it lost a tiebreaker game to the Rays.

It will not be easy for the Braves to compensate for all that they received from Brian McCann, who earned seven All-Star selections and won five Silver Slugger Awards since becoming Atlanta’s starting catcher in 2006. But as McCann missed this past season’s first six weeks recovering from shoulder surgery, Evan Gattis provided indication that he is prepared for his likely assignment to begin next year as the starting catcher.

The A’s will continue to call the Oakland Coliseum home through at least 2015, as stated under a lease extension approved by stadium officials, 7-1, at a morning meeting.

As Detroit continues its quest for its first title since 1984, Ian Kinsler is confident that he can return to that big stage with his new club and, together, take home that coveted World Series trophy.

Prince Fielder is officially with the Rangers and his jersey — No. 84 — is now on sale at the Ballpark in Arlington after his introductory news conference on Monday afternoon.

There is no doubt that several teams — the known and unknown — pursuing free-agent outfielder Shin-Soo Choo are finding out what the Reds learned last year during their due diligence. There is no leadoff hitter who reaches base better than Choo. And that could very well be the reason he floats above the Reds’ price threshold.

Molson Coors has ended its 22-year run as an equity owner of the Rockies, selling the company’s 14.5 percent stake to Arizona developer Jay Stein.

On Monday morning, the Indians announced that they have signed free-agent outfielder David Murphy to a two-year contract to assume the role as their regular right fielder. Of course, the deal with Murphy has been old news for a Dallas-area daycare for nearly a week.

Seven and a half weeks after throwing his last pitch, A.J. Burnett still hasn’t decided if he’ll throw another. But in continuing to contemplate retirement, if he has begun to listen to more than just his family — to what the market is telling him — his next pitch would likely have to come somewhere other than Pittsburgh.

From rookie entrances to a veteran’s departure and some fantastic postseason races, it was truly a year to remember. There are seven fantastic nominees for this year’s GIBBY award for Storyline of the Year, which features the season’s most compelling angles.

Even if your only big plan for the next seven days is to kick back, watch TV, soak in the smells coming from the kitchen and jack your prescribed calorie allotment into overdrive heading into Friday morning, there should be plenty to chew on in the Hot Stove world of baseball.

The Yankees’ signing of catcher Brian McCann sends a message that the other 29 Major League franchises do not necessarily want to hear. The Yankees’ oft-stated desire to keep their payroll below the $189 million luxury-tax threshold notwithstanding, they are going to do what is necessary to regain Yankee-like status in 2014.

Twins outfielder Oswaldo Arcia hammered a walk-off solo shot for Aragua in the first game of a doubleheader against Margarita in the Venezuelan Winter League. Arcia also hit a grand slam in the nightcap.

Boston prospect Matt Barnes, a native of nearby Bethel, Conn., brought a contingent of players and coaches to the Newtown Youth Academy for a free instructional clinic on Sunday.

It was relatively quiet Sunday after a busy Saturday for the Hot Stove season. The biggest news was the report of the Dodgers reaching a one-year deal with right-hander Dan Haren.

The Dodgers have reached a one-year deal with free-agent right-hander Dan Haren, according to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal. The deal is for $10 million with a 2015 option that vests if Haren throws 180 innings.