Joe Nathan, the Twins' all-time saves leader, has agreed to a two-year, $14.5 million deal with the AL champion Texas Rangers.

The Orioles are closing in on signing right-handed reliever Tae-Hyon Chong out of South Korea as the two sides — which were involved in heavy negotiations on Monday — have agreed to terms, according to a baseball source.

Though Minnesota had hoped to re-sign him, closer Joe Nathan, the franchise's all-time saves leader, is leaving for Texas on a two-year deal worth $14.5 million.

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington revealed on Monday night that Craig Shipley, the head of the team's international scouting department for several seasons, is all but certain to leave the organization in the coming days.

After interviewing on Nov. 12, Gene Lamont will soon have a followup interview with Red Sox ownership. Torey Lovullo is also in play, but Sandy Alomar Jr. is no longer in the running.

For the writers tasked with casting votes (two from each American League city turned in ballots, listing their top 10 choices in order), this unique season made for difficult decisions from top to bottom. The top, however, is where the biggest debate of all — whether a pitcher should win — came into play.

Even after he finished what was an admittedly exhaustive interview to be the next manager of the Red Sox, and it was time to sit down with the media, Bobby Valentine still possessed the type of charisma and energy that has made him a polarizing figure throughout his many decades in the game.

Angels brass — in the contrasting forms of general manager Jerry Dipoto and manager Mike Scioscia — were reported to be breaking bread on Monday night in Los Angeles with the left-hander who served as Texas' ace this season.

Jacoby Ellsbury's transformation from table-setter to game-changer was dramatic enough that he finished higher than any other position player in the American League's Most Valuable Player Award voting, which was released Monday.

With a no-hitter, an American League pitching Triple Crown and a Tigers division title on his resume, Justin Verlander on Monday became the first starting pitcher in a quarter-century to win the AL Most Valuable Player Award.

It was a normal gray, rainy Monday morning in the Pacific Northwest when members of the Mariners organization awoke to the stunning, sickening news that they had lost Greg Halman.

As Triple Crown winners in their respective leagues, Justin Verlander and Clayton Kershaw were virtual locks as Cy Young Award winners, and they conjured memories of amazing pitching performances from the past.

The Pirates have filled their hole at shortstop, replacing Ronny Cedeno with Clint Barmes, who signed a two-year, $10.5 million deal with Pittsburgh.

Reaching out to the troops has become an annual event for the Marlins. Once again, the organization is sending a contingent of players and team representatives overseas to visit those in the armed services.

Shane Victorino has always had the nickname, and now he has a holiday to go with it. Victorino, the aptly-named "Flyin' Hawaiian" on Philadelphia's roster, learned Monday that Hawaii governor Neil Abercrombie has recognized his achievements by enacting Shane Victorino Day.

Fox and the Dodgers agreed Monday to the appointment of federal mediator Joseph Farnan to help settle their dispute over the club's future broadcasting rights.

Mariners outfielder Greg Halman, who was found stabbed to death in his native Netherlands, had been key to his country's emergence in international baseball.