Call it a win for the Win if you want, but Max Scherzer had a case for the American League Cy Young Award well beyond his 21-3 record. In the end, voting members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America largely agreed.

As if Clayton Kershaw’s 2013 resume wasn’t dazzling enough, the Dodgers left-hander capped his remarkable season by winning the second National League Cy Young Award of his young career on Wednesday.

With three of the top free agents on his list of clients, this figures to be a busy offseason for Scott Boras. But the high-profile agent said this week has more or less been business as usual.

The BBWAA’s voting process for the Cy Young Awards in both leagues was fairly uncomplicated in 2013. Dodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw dominated with a sub-2.00 ERA and Tigers ace Max Scherzer had the stats to back a mighty win total.

Marlon Byrd cashed in on his bounce-back 2013 season this week by signing a two-year, $16 million contract with the Phillies.

If Chris Owings and Didi Gregorius are both still D-backs after the offseason, general manager Kevin Towers said he expects there to be a spirited Spring Training battle for the starting-shortstop slot.

Despite making the playoffs in three of the past four seasons, the Reds hired new manager Bryan Price in an attempt to find the edge that has been missing for a championship contender. They may still be good enough to win a championship in 2014, but general manager Walt Jocketty has some work to do and some decisions to make.

The Yankees have seen plenty of Jay-Z over the last few seasons, but the next time they greet the rap star, it may be in a much different arena.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman is in the market to acquire relief pitching, but he learned from agent Dan Lozano on Wednesday that making an offer to Brian Wilson this offseason would just be a waste of time: The right-hander does not plan on shaving his beard.

Dustin Pedroia had the less complicated of the two possible surgeries to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb on Wednesday morning in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Carlos Beltran has considered rejoining the Royals, who drafted him in 1995, although his free agency has also attracted the interest of the Cardinals, the Red Sox and the Yankees.

Buster Posey will not follow Joe Mauer’s career path, at least for the near future. Speaking at baseball’s General Managers Meetings in Orlando, Fla., Giants GM Brian Sabean affirmed that Posey, the club’s prized catcher, will remain behind the plate indefinitely and perhaps for as long as he plays with San Francisco.

Much of the Braves-related chatter surrounding this year’s General Managers Meetings has focused on the club’s intention to move to a new suburban stadium for the start of the 2017 season. But this plan does not necessarily impact what will be done over the next few weeks and months.

The Orioles’ top priority remains upgrading their pitching staff, and one of the names drawing the most outside interest in a trade is shortstop J.J. Hardy, whose name surfaced in a potential deal rejected by the Cardinals on Wednesday.

Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner said that while there are concerns about Derek Jeter’s ability to reclaim the shortstop position, the club believes that the captain can return to his pre-injury form.

The Phillies believe they found a right-handed bat on Tuesday, when, a source confirmed, they agreed to a two-year, $16 million contract with free-agent outfielder Marlon Byrd.

The Rangers have hired former Major League catcher Bengie Molina as their first-base coach. Molina, who won two Gold Gloves during his 13-year Major League career, will also instruct the catchers.