Happy Holidays from the New York Yankees

Everyone knows that New York Yankees co-owner Hank Steinbrenner, general manager Brian Cashman and disgruntled shortstop Derek Jeter all get along swell in real life. In fact, they often dress up as elves and dance around with eachother...

Weighing in on the Derek Jeter Fiasco

It's been over a week since Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees have talked business.

The team offered the All-Star shortstop a fair $45 million, three-year deal, but that wasn't quite good enough for his agent, Casey Close. Apparently, he and Jeter are looking for something in the ballpark of an average $25 million over six seasons.

That would put him around 42 years old when the contract is up, which is too damn old to play up the middle. That's like 100 in shortstop years. And there no way in hell he will ever make a decent designated hitter, despite his .314 lifetime batting average.

Will Fat Elvis Be Athletic?

Lance Berkman could be the man to give the Oakland Athletics the big bat they're searching for this winter.

The 34-year-old switch-hitter, who batted .248 with 14 home runs and 58 RBI last season between the Houston Astros and New York Yankees, became a free agent when the Yankees declined his $15 million contract option. Smart.

However, he was compensated with a $2 million buyout, so everybody wins.

Berkman, who has roamed the outfield over his 12 seasons in the big leagues, is looking to play first base or serve as an American League team's first baseman.

Rangers Give Yorbit Torrealba 2-Year Deal

The Texas Rangers have taken care of a little unfinished offseason business by signing on Yorvit Torrealba as their starting catcher.

Less than a month after their first World Series appearance and what could possibly be the final game for aging backstop Bengie Molina, the American League champions inked Torrealba to a two-year, $6.25 million deal.

Happy Holidays

We hope you have a fantastic Thanksgiving weekend and are able to put down as much food in one day as Pablo Sandoval does during snacktime.

Vladimir Guerrero Wins Best DH Award

Talk about a comeback.

The Commissioner's Office announced Wednesday that Vladimir Guerrero has won the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award. The Texas Rangers' big bat helped his team earn not only their first ever trip to the ALCS, but also the first World Series appearance in the team's 50-year history.

Guerrero, a nine-time All-Star, batted .306 with 25 homers, 106 RBIs and 73 runs in 129 games from the DH spot. The most amazing part of the whole thing: he struck out only 56 times in 523 at-bats.

Tigers Add Victor Martinez to Lineup

The Detroit Tigers have reached a deal with Victor Martinez on a $50 million, four year contract, adding another desperately-needed bat to their lineup.

In 127 games with the Boston Red Sox last season, Martinez batted .302 with 20 homers and 79 RBIs. Although he is primarily a catcher and can also play first base, he'll likely see a significant amount of at bats as the Tigers designated hitter.

Martinez, who turns 32 next month, will definitely beef up Detroit's batting order, which already includes MVP runner-up Miguel Cabrera. After realizing he simply cannot save Motor City all by himself, the All-Star first baseman lobbied for the fellow Venezuelan to join his team.

Though this is a great step in the right direction for Jim Leyland's crew, I wouldn't schedule the parade for next October quite yet.

[FOX Sports] | [Hardball Talk]

Josh Hamilton is Super Valuable

In fact, he is the most valuable player in the entire American League.

Josh Hamilton gets to clear a spot in his trophy case for some hardware today after being named the AL MVP. Despite missing most of the final month of the regular season with two fractured ribs, the Texas Rangers outfielder compiled 358 points from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America after tallying 22 first place votes, four second places and two fourth place tallies... which probably came out of New York.

Hamilton had a big hand in getting the Rangers to their first ever ALCS, where he was named the MVP of that series on the road to the Fall Classic, which they eventually blew. The 29-year-old All-Star led the big leagues with a .359 batting average and a .633 slugging percentage, and finished the 2010 season a .369 hitter with runners in scoring position and .370 with two outs. Clutch.

Joey Votto Crushes NL MVP Voting

After helping the Cincinnati Reds reach the postseason for the first time in 15 years, Joey Votto received 31 of 32 first place votes to earn the 2010 National League MVP honor.

His 443 points awarded by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America topped reigning NL MVP-hog Albert Pujols by a mile.

After winning the MVP in 2005, 2008 and 2009, Pujols came in second with 279 points and the other first place vote, from (who else but) Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Homer much?

While Pujols had yet another magnificent season, Votto was a first-time All-Star, finishing second in the NL in hitting with a .324 batting average and third in homers (37) and RBI (113). He also led the league in slugging percentage (.600), was best in the majors in on-base percentage (.424) and swiped 16 bases in 21 attempts.

Back on the D-Train

We've returned from a much-needed three week vacation to the news that yet another (sucker of a) team has agreed to give Dontrelle Willis a shot at reviving his once-promising career.

The Cincinnati Reds have agreed to a minor league deal with the lefty, who has struggled, to say the least, over recent years.

Jhonny Peralta to Stick Around Detroit

It looks like the Detroit Tigers have the left side of their infield figured out for at least the next couple seasons.

Jhonny Peralta has agreed to an $11.25 million, two-year contract, including a club option for 2013. This news comes just a couple weeks after the team re-signed third baseman Brandon Inge at roughly the same cost.

The 28-year-old Peralta played short for most of his career before signing with the Cleveland Indians as a third baseman in 2009. He had this to say about his new deal:

I feel happy. I want to be with the Tigers. Playing shortstop, for me, is my natural position. I feel really comfortable.

Happy Trails, Jon Miller and Joe Morgan

Good news on the MLB announcing front today: after 21 years, Jon Miller and Joe Morgan will no longer be tag-teaming Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN.

The World Wide Leader's executive vice president had this to say in a prepared statement of total nonsense:

Over the last two decades, Joe went from Hall of Fame player to one of his sport’s top analysts and Jon’s Hall of Fame voice and tremendous knowledge of the game have connected with baseball fans everywhere. We owe them our deepest thanks for an outstanding body of work.

Way to Go San Francisco Giants!

With a 3-1 Game 5 victory, the San Francisco Giants have brought the very first World Series title to the Bay Area, 56 years after the organization won it all in 1954 when they still called New York their home.

Facing the once-invincible and indestructible Cliff Lee, Edgar Renteria drove a 2-0 cut fastball over the left-center field fence to score Cody Ross and Juan Uribe, hushing the sellout crowd at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. No one could have seen it coming, but after batting .412 in the series, Renteria was named Most Valuable Player.