Astros owner Jim Crane told a Houston television station that he met last week with free-agent first baseman Lance Berkman in Houston to discuss the slugger’s future.

Astros owner Jim Crane told a Houston television station that he met last week with free-agent first baseman Lance Berkman in Houston to discuss the slugger’s future.

This might be an easygoing league, but in the one-game, winter-takes-all format of the finale, the desire to be crowned champion will be clearly evident, as the Salt River Rafters take on the Peoria Javelinas for the Arizona Fall League title on Saturday.

This might be an easygoing league, but in the one-game, winter-takes-all format of the finale, the desire to be crowned champion will be clearly evident, as the Salt River Rafters take on the Peoria Javelinas for the Arizona Fall League title on Saturday.

Of the seven Pirates prospects who participated in the 2012 Arizona Fall League, three, including righty Vic Black, are not on the 40-man roster.

Of the seven Pirates prospects who participated in the 2012 Arizona Fall League, three, including righty Vic Black, are not on the 40-man roster.

Mariano Rivera, Major League Baseball’s all-time saves leader, can now be seen back on a mound for the first time since tearing the ACL in his right knee last May in Kansas City. He is firing baseballs at a fancy camera rather than at Russell Martin’s mitt.

Mariano Rivera, Major League Baseball’s all-time saves leader, can now be seen back on a mound for the first time since tearing the ACL in his right knee last May in Kansas City. He is firing baseballs at a fancy camera rather than at Russell Martin’s mitt.

The Blue Jays were nearing completion Friday on a two-year contract with free-agent outfielder Melky Cabrera, according to a source.

The Blue Jays were nearing completion Friday on a two-year contract with free-agent outfielder Melky Cabrera, according to a source.

The A’s and Padres completed a trade Friday morning, with Oakland sending righty Tyson Ross and Minor Leaguer A.J. Kirby-Jones to San Diego in exchange for infielder Andy Parrino and lefty Andrew Werner.

During his first big league season as a starter, White Sox left-hander Chris Sale soaked up every piece of knowledge he could find during the course of the year.

Former big league All-Star Edgar Renteria will make his Colombia debut when his home country takes on Nicaragua in the World Baseball Classic qualifier in Panama City.

Former big league All-Star Edgar Renteria will make his Colombia debut when his home country takes on Nicaragua in the World Baseball Classic qualifier in Panama City.

Have a few days? That’s about how long it would take to run down the accolades and awards that have been bestowed on Anthony Rendon. Included in that is an incredible career at Rice University.

Have a few days? That’s about how long it would take to run down the accolades and awards that have been bestowed on Anthony Rendon. Included in that is an incredible career at Rice University.

One year after breaking his left leg and ankle in a collision at the plate, Buster Posey rebounded to win the NL MVP and Comeback Player of the Year Awards in 2012.