The average salary for a Major Leaguer made its largest jump since 2008, increasing 2.7 percent in 2011 to almost $3.1 million.

The division-rival Rockies claimed outfielder Jamie Hoffmann off waivers from the Dodgers on Monday. The 27-year-old Hoffmann has spent most of the last three seasons at Triple-A.

Jeff Santo doesn't plan on a new ending to his movie about his father — called "This Old Cub" — now that Ron Santo is in the Hall of Fame.

The Tigers' first move of the Winter Meetings was a subtraction, not an addition. Detroit outrighted the contract of first baseman Ryan Strieby to Triple-A Toledo, opening up a spot on their 40-man roster.

Ron Santo was elected to the Hall of Fame on Monday, and the overriding question is: "Why did it take so long?"

The Phillies are preparing for life without Jimmy Rollins. Sources confirmed Monday they are seriously pursuing free-agent third baseman Aramis Ramirez.

The American League certainly has its share of comeback candidates for 2012. Last season, injuries claimed playing time from a number of star players. For others, poor performance during their transition from one team to another resulted in steep declines. Adam Dunn and Carl Crawford are among several players that are hoping to return to stardom next season.

When Bryan LaHair comes to the plate in Venezuela, the fans chant, "Home run, home run." He's hoping to hear that at Wrigley Field next year.

The winners are all announced, and now fans can purchase tickets to honor them at the 2011 Royals Awards Luncheon at noon CT on Wednesday, Jan. 11, at the Overland Park Convention Center.

Legendary Cubs third baseman and broadcaster Ron Santo was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by a 16-member Golden Era Committee, which revealed the results of its balloting on Monday at the Winter Meetings.

Ron Santo is clicking his heels in heaven. Santo, the enthusiastic, popular and very resilient former Cubs third baseman, was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Monday by a Veterans Committee.

It was hard for White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf to mask his complete disappointment after Minnie Minoso came up short of being elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, as announced during a Monday news conference at baseball's annual Winter Meetings.

Free-agent outfielder Laynce Nix and the Phillies have reached provisional agreement on a two-year Major League contract. The agreement, first reported by CSNPhilly.com, is pending results of an upcoming physical.

When Meggie Zahneis woke up last Thursday, it was the day that her status as an MLB.com youth reporter would become official.

Free-agent reliever Todd Coffey said Sunday he is not sure where he will pitch next year. This past season, he had a respectable 3.62 ERA in 69 games for the Nationals.

Dodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw did what Roger Clemens could not in 1986, striking out more batters in his league than anyone else to capture all three parts of the pitching Triple Crown.

The application process is under way for the 2012 MLB Fan Cave experience, which returns to its same Manhattan location with a new approach featuring a season-long elimination of contestants to crown one winning fan before the 108th World Series is clinched.