Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow says his team is well-equipped to cover the eighth and ninth innings without traded closer Mark Melancon.

Forgettable as 2011 may have been, Pedro Alvarez intends to remember it all. The offensive skids. The injuries. The mental strains. The unfulfilled expectations and untapped potential. Yep, every bit of it.

In addition to his physical skills, Derek Jeter's intelligence and personality have helped him to become an iconic star. Those traits would enable him to be a great owner, too.

Neil Solondz has been named the Rays' pregame and postgame radio host.

The Cardinals added another honor to their memorable 2011 on Friday by being named "Organization of the Year" by Baseball America.

The Marlins New Ballpark may not exactly be the House that Jose Reyes built. But with its spacious outfield, the state-of-the-art stadium promises to be a place to watch Reyes run.

Barry Bonds has been sentenced to two years probation and 30 days house arrest for his conviction on one count of obstruction of justice.

Tigers reliever Al Alburquerque underwent surgery to repair a stress fracture in his right elbow this week, and Detroit expects to be without the young right-hander until at least the All-Star break of the 2012 season, the club announced Friday.

Bench coach Jamie Quirk, pitching coach Chris Bosio and first-base coach Dave McKay will join Cubs manager Dale Sveum's coaching staff, the team announced Friday.

D-backs employees and volunteers made their way to the Boys & Girls Club of Metropolitan Phoenix to spread good tidings by hosting a holiday party for 300 kids on Thursday.

Manager Dale Sveum has made it no secret about how much he likes Prince Fielder, but Sveum said Friday the Cubs have not reached out to the free-agent slugger.

Question of the Day: Starter of the Year?

Former Twins general manager Bill Smith is remaining with the club as assistant to the president and general manager, the club announced Friday.

So much praise has been heaped on Reds shortstop prospect Billy Hamilton that fans often mistakenly ask or wonder if he's on the verge of a big league callup. Hamilton, who spent 2011 at the lower Class A level in Dayton, still has a ways to go developmentally in his baseball career. But he's going in the right direction, and fast.

The Rockies are putting the final touches on a three-year, $31.5 million contract with outfielder Michael Cuddyer, a Major League source confirmed to MLB.com on Friday morning.

Thanks to a baseball field in Austin, Texas, 120 youngsters are playing a sport they'd never thought much about, and hundreds more have attended weekend clinics.

The one-team wonder, while increasingly rare, isn't extinct. There remain several longtime club fixtures who never played anywhere else in the Majors, led by Atlanta's Chipper Jones with 18 years and 24 days of Major League service time solely with the club that drafted him as the No. 1 pick overall in 1990.