The Astros finalized their 40-man roster Friday ahead of next month's Rule 5 Draft by purchasing the contract of right-handed pitcher Paul Clemens, who was acquired by Houston from the Braves in last summer's Michael Bourn trade.

One game won't really give us the time to enjoy the expanded playoff picture, and it will lead to the short sample size and sheer randomness that really has no place in a game like baseball.

For the last six seasons, Dale Sveum has seen the Cubs from the visitors' dugout at least 15 times a year during Cubs-Brewers games. The new Cubs manager has a few opinions on his new players.

The Blue Jays dipped into their past when looking for inspiration on the club's new logo that was revealed at Rogers Centre on Friday afternoon. The new look is a modernized version of the franchise's first logo that was used from 1977-97.

Shortstop Brandon Crawford's stint with Scottsdale in the Arizona Fall League apparently helped his chances of securing a regular spot in the Giants' lineup next season.

The Yankees added five players to their 40-man roster prior to Friday's deadline, thereby protecting them from next month's Rule 5 Draft.

Wilson Ramos walked through the hallways of Nationals Park into the office of general manager Mike Rizzo on Friday morning with the same smile and sense of humor the 24-year-old catcher has always had.

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have agreed to a new labor deal, according to The Associated Press. An announcement of the new Basic Agreement is expected to come on Tuesday. The current deal expires on Dec. 11.

Vernon Wells plunged to career lows across the board in his debut season on the West Coast, but the veteran is eager to rebound with the Angels in 2012.

Whoever was the Cubs' closer did his job. The team held a news conference at Wrigley Field on Friday morning, during which it named Dale Sveum the next manager.

There have been thousands of words written and countless bold proclamations made about Yoenis Cespedes since he burst onto the big league baseball scene earlier this month, but by most accounts, he is a man who speaks softly. Some call the Cuban star quiet. Others describe the outfielder as reserved.

Almost a decade later, the ripple effect brought on by the "Moneyball" concept could be coming full circle, as some teams are looking toward veteran baseball minds to help lead their organizations.

The Dodgers are expected to announce an eight-year, $160 million contract extension with Matt Kemp on Friday at Dodger Stadium, where a news conference has been called with the All-Star center fielder at 11 a.m. PT.

Brian Cashman nearly never met Kevin Ryan. And if that were the case, Cashman wouldn't have been sleeping on the street in New York on Thursday night.

Hitting coach Rick Eckstein, pitching coach Steve McCatty, third-base coach Bo Porter, first-base coach Trent Jewett and bullpen coach Jim Lett will return for the 2012 season, the Nationals announced on Thursday. The club also announced that Randy Knorr will join the staff as bench coach.

News of the Astros' impending move to the American League West — which could take place as early as the 2013 season — certainly didn't catch the players by surprise, most of whom had been anticipating a league switch upon the sale of the team.

Ian Kennedy finished fourth in balloting for the National League Cy Young Award, but the D-backs right-hander was happy to even be in the discussion.