In a slamming 2011 Taiwan All-Star Series debut, Yankees center fielder Curtis Granderson hit a ball out of Xinzhuang Stadium for a grand slam that paced the Major Leaguers to a 7-0 rain-shortened victory over Chinese Taipei in Tuesday night's opener before a packed house.

C.J. Wilson isn't sure what will transpire over the next few months. All he knows right now is he is a free agent, and by Friday, he will be able to sign with any team.

FREE AGENTSThere are no big league games played during the Hot Stove season, but that doesn't stop the rush to determine winners and losers.

Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, C.J. Wilson and Jose Reyes will dominate much of the speculation during the free agency period, but general managers will also be tasked with decisions that go beyond the top one percent.

Saying that he never wanted to cruise the market as a free agent, CC Sabathia instead inked a one-year, $25 million contract extension that includes a $5 million buyout. The deal could keep him in pinstripes through 2017.

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said he expects both his premier free agents, David Ortiz and Jonathan Papelbon, to reach free agency.

There could be no more fitting circumstance for Tony La Russa's retirement, which he announced on Monday, than the triumph of this year's St. Louis Cardinals.

The Padres introduced Josh Byrnes as their third general manager in two-plus years Monday, and from the looks of it, the 41-year-old, well-traveled executive will hold the job for many years.

The Mets on Monday announced drastic plans to alter Citi Field's dimensions, lowering some walls, moving in others and painting the entire outfield fence blue. The new layout will add roughly 140 seats to Citi's capacity and result in more homers.

The Indians added a veteran presence to their rotation by acquiring Derek Lowe from the Braves in exchange for Class A left-hander Chris Jones.

Major League Baseball's Urban Youth Academy (UYA) in Compton, Calif., will be hosting its sixth Celebrity Golf Classic at the Pacific Palms Resort on Friday.

New manager Robin Ventura completed his first White Sox staff with Monday's hirings of Jeff Manto as the team's hitting coach, Joe McEwing as third-base coach and Mark Parent as bench coach.

The Pirates announced on Monday that they have declined to exercise 2012 club options on shortstop Ronny Cedeno, left-hander Paul Maholm and catchers Ryan Doumit and Chris Snyder. As a result, all four players become free agents.

Oh, how things have changed since Jose Cano played in Taiwan. Back then, there weren't even clubhouses at Xinzhuang Stadium in New Taipei City. Indeed, it's a whole new ballgame for Jose's son, Yankees slugger Robinson Cano, and the rest of the Major League Baseball All-Star team that is in the country to take on the Chinese Taipei National Team in a five-game tour that begins in Xinzhuang on Tuesday.

The Nationals announced on Monday that they have exercised manager Davey Johnson's option for the 2012 season.

Tony La Russa, the third-winningest manager in Major League history and most assuredly a future Hall of Famer, announced his retirement as a manager on Monday, fewer than three days after winning a World Series for the third time in his 33-year career, the past 16 of them with the Cardinals.

The Rays will begin building their roster for 2012, but first the club must decide whether to pick up the options on James Shields, Kyle Farnsworth and Kelly Shoppach.