The Rockies are among the teams gathering medical information on outfielder Grady Sizemore, a three-time All-Star with the Indians before he was slowed by injuries.

Brett Gardner was back up from his small hometown in South Carolina for the day, and he was immersed in a book that he was reading to wide-eyed children in the Bronx.

In the end, the only question about the American League Cy Young Award was Justin Verlander's margin of victory. The result was inevitable once Verlander captured the league's pitching Triple Crown. Tuesday was the coronation.

The Mets on Tuesday introduced a handful of new ticket plans for the 2012 season that will offer fans more choices when choosing games, seats and price points.

With franchise slugger Matt Kemp on the verge of being locked up long term and just-signed free agent Mark Ellis officially the new starting second baseman, general manager Ned Colletti on Tuesday said the Dodgers offense is pretty well set, with no Prince Fielder addition expected.

Pirates outfielder Xavier Paul has become caught in the middle of an identity hoax that had officials with the Australian Baseball League expecting Paul's arrival at the start of their season, which began earlier this month.

On Tuesday, which marks National Recycling Day, a nationwide celebration of waste reduction and conservation that is headed by the Natural Resources Defense Council, Cleveland took the opportunity to highlight some of its ongoing green initiatives.

In a schedule change, the Reds' request to move up Opening Day has been granted by Major League Baseball. The 2012 opener against the Miami Marlins will now be played on Thursday, April 5 at 4:10 p.m. ET. The game was originally set for April 6.

Rangers manager Ron Washington, right-hander Chad Gaudin, who pitched for the Nationals in 2011, and a host of others were in New Orleans playing in the inaugural celebrity golf tournament benefiting the Urban Youth Academy on Monday.

The eighth annual Arizona Fall League Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award will be given out in an on-field ceremony at the championship game on Saturday. On Tuesday, the six finalists were announced.

When the Marlins dined with Jose Reyes last week at Joe's Stone Crab on South Beach, they offered the free-agent shortstop more than just lunch. The Marlins presented Reyes with preliminary contract numbers to chew on.

Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. traveled to Japan to convey hope and lift the spirits of youngsters affected by the devastating earthquake and tsunami that ravaged the country on March 11.

Winning takes excellence both on the field and in the dugout. Often those ingredients come together to create a memorable pairing of stars and their managers, which leaves a trail of history throughout the game.

One star's 2011 season was over before it even began. Others had theirs halted abruptly not even two months into it. Yet another's ended painfully the moment his team's season ended in the playoffs. And all are using this offseason to get back to playing at their customary high level in 2012.

Triple-A Omaha manager Mike Jirschele won his 1,000th game and the Pacific Coast League championship this season. Now, he's won something else: Minor League Baseball's Mike Coolbaugh Award.

Several Cardinals have endorsed the move to hire Mike Matheny despite his lack of managing or coaching experience, citing his leadership skills and dedication, and a situation they feel is tailor-made for a rookie manager.

Making his first public appearance since agreeing to sell the Dodgers, owner and chairman Frank McCourt said Monday that he has no second thoughts about the decision.