Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche and left-hander Sean Burnett declined their respective mutual options and have become free agents, general manager Mike Rizzo said in a text message on Thursday.

Former Major League pitcher Pascual Perez was killed during a robbery at his home in the Dominican Republic, multiple news outlets reported Thursday. He was 55.

Toby Harrah, the Tigers’ Minor League hitting coordinator to start the 2012 season, is now a member of the Major League staff as assistant hitting coach. On Thursday, Detroit named his replacement: former Tigers player and big league staffer, Bruce Fields.

The Marlins’ search for a new manager ended where it started, with the hiring of Mike Redmond. A catcher with the Marlins from 1998-2004, Redmond was Ivan Rodriguez’s backup on the 2003 World Series championship team.

The Marlins understand the importance of solidifying their rotation if they are to again become a winning franchise.

Don Zimmer will be back with the Rays in 2013 to again serve the team as a senior baseball advisor. Zimmer’s 10th season with the Rays will mark his 65th in professional baseball as a player, coach or manager.

The Tigers got swept out of the World Series? With all that talent? Despite facing the Giants as heavily favorites? Maybe they do rival the 1996 Braves.

The Rangers are determined to put Alexi Ogando back into the rotation in 2013. That would leave one spot to be filled, and the Rangers are seriously considering going after free agent Zack Greinke.

With the beginning of both November and the free-agent signing period, attention is drawn unavoidably to Josh Hamilton, the best position player available on the current market. On a given day, he can be the best player in the game.
But he is human, probably a bit more human than the average talent-hunting GM would like.

MLB.com columnist Michael Bauman discusses how slugging outfielder Josh Hamilton’s free agency epitomizes a risk-vs.-reward scenario.

The Arizona Fall League chose Cardinals prospects Kolten Wong and Sam Freeman for its upcoming Rising Stars Game, but mild tendinitis in his left biceps will keep Freeman from participating and will likely sideline him from returning for the rest of the AFL season.

The biggest project at the Arizona Fall League for Red Sox prospect Bryce Brentz is overcoming a mental hurdle.

Second baseman Marco Scutaro, center fielder Angel Pagan and left-hander Jeremy Affeldt, the Giants’ top potential free agents, all expressed desire Wednesday to rejoin the club.

Jose Veras and the Brewers are poised to part ways after the Brewers notified the reliever that they intend to outright him from the 40-man roster, a move that would end his yearlong tenure with a team that is in the process of rebuilding its bullpen.

The Tigers have the stars, and they have the middle of their order set. Now, they’re looking to fill around it. The question is how.

Throughout the regular season and postseason, not many people expected much from the Giants, but the team believed in their collective ability to win and do something special.

First baseman Jonathan Singleton, at 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds, and George Springer, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound center fielder, have the physical attributes and the right sort of mindsets to give Houston a boost moving forward.