Hiroyuki Nakajima made an impression on the gathered crowd at his introductory news conference Tuesday at the Oakland Coliseum after making two prepared statements in English, one at the beginning and one in closing.

The Philadelphia Phillies introduced new third baseman Michael Young at a Tuesday afternoon news conference at Citizens Bank Park.

The Rangers spent Tuesday addressing their catching situation by talking with free agent A.J. Pierzynski and his representatives about the possibility of playing in Arlington.

The owners are all in, the roster is loaded, the bar is set sky high. Now, can the Dodgers get it done between the lines?

Bringing Ohio State University product Nick Swisher to Cleveland to suit up for the Indians tugs at the sentimental heartstrings, but the purse strings remain undoubtedly important.

The Phillies announced on Tuesday that left-hander John Lannan passed his physical and agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million contract.

It was a day born out of one of the best baseball has ever had. That day was Sept. 28, 2011. That day was so much fun that Major League Baseball decided to see if it could be replicated, sort of.

Josh Hamilton has read all about the potential dangers that lurk for him in this part of the country, which is mainly identified by a G-rated cartoon mouse but is also a 45-minute drive away — depending on traffic — from the glitz and bustle and temptations of Los Angeles. Hamilton scoffs at it.

R.A. Dickey put his Mets tenure behind him Tuesday, when he joined a conference call with the media to discuss his recent trade and contract extension with the Blue Jays.

Nobody could have perfectly predicted all of the magical moments that Chipper Jones experienced during the final season of his storied career. But those who understood Jones’ stubbornness knew that he was not going to start this final journey with a Minor League rehab stint.

The audience at Yankee Stadium was thinning for the late innings of a postseason game, an unthinkable scene for anyone who witnessed the dynasty seasons, but perhaps understandable considering the more recent punchless showings by the home lineup.

We throw around the “Hot Stove” term in my line of work because it’s catchy and easily identifiable, but baseball’s offseason is more typically a slow burn. A deal here, a deal there, a preseason picture gradually, but surely, coming into focus and fruition. But it’s no exaggeration to say that, in recent days, there’s been a flurry of activity worthy of the “Hot Stove” label.

The Astros will enter 2013 preparing to play in a new environment in the American League, sporting sharp new blue-and-orange uniforms and with a new manager in Bo Porter. A little change is definitely in the air.

Former Major League pitcher Frank Pastore, 55, died on Monday night, succumbing to complications from his Nov. 19 motorcycle accident in California. Pastore had been in a coma for four weeks.

Maintaining their strategy of trying to retain the core of their pitching staff, the Giants announced Monday night that right-hander Santiago Casilla had agreed to a three-year contract, pending a physical examination.

Curtis Granderson had watched the news, like everyone else. But until he stepped onto Staten Island, he never could’ve imagined the devastation that people have been living through.

Astros shortstop Jed Lowrie is always on the move, and that’s no different when it comes to the holiday season. Lowrie and his wife, Milessa Muchmore-Lowrie, love to travel and will spend the Christmas season trying to see as many relatives as possible.