Verlander wins AL Rookie of the Year  —  Tigers' flame-throwing right-hander honored by BBWAA  —  DETROIT — Justin Verlander was already considered the best rookie in the American League according to two separate polls of players.  On Monday, however, was the most prestigious honor of all.

Sources: Red Sox bid high of $42M for Matsuzaka  —  The Red Sox bid $42 million for the right to negotiate with prized Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, sources told ESPN's Peter Gammons.  Boston's bid far exceeded any other team's offer.  —  Matsuzaka will learn Tuesday whether …

Free-agent free-for-all could be costly gamble  —  NAPLES, Fla. — Anybody remember the saying from the 1980s TV game show Press Your Luck?  —  You know, "Big money, no whammies," or something to that effect.  —  Contestants kept pushing on, risking more and more of their just-won money until they hit a "whammy" and went bust.

Willis' fate could be decided soon  —  Marlins pitcher Dontrelle Willis has spent his off-season getting ready for one of the biggest moves of his life: He's getting married next month.  —  But a wedding might not be the only change in store for him this winter.

For Valentin, 2nd run with Mets  —  Jose Valentin's surprise performance for the 2006 Mets has earned him another year in Flushing.  —  The Mets have agreed with Valentin on what is believed to be a one-year contract for a substantial raise - to roughly $3 million - pending a physical …

GM Meetings under way in Naples  —  Rule changes will be discussed, rumors will be rampant  —  NAPLES, Fla. — General managers and their assistants from each of the 30 Major League clubs gathered here on Monday morning for their annual meetings, which will be ongoing for the next four days.

Nationals Know What They'll Get  —  When most new managers arrive at their first spring training, there is little that can occur before the introductions.  They must meet the new players, slap a few backs, lay down the rules, set the expectations.  The feeling-out process is far more important than …

Meche officially a free agent  —  Mariners will go to market to find pitching  —  Sunday was the first day in the professional career of Gil Meche that he wasn't a Seattle Mariner.  —  Meche was one of the dozens of big leaguers who officially became free agents Sunday, able to shop themselves to any organization.

Towers has needs, and also leverage  —  The Padres' Kevin Towers today departs for baseball's general managers meetings in Florida appearing more empowered than in his 11 previous offseasons as GM.  —  Given about $30 million in payroll relief, Towers has enhanced spending ability …

Young Yanks to pitch in  —  NAPLES, Fla. - With the trading of Jaret Wright to the Baltimore Orioles for 24-year-old behemoth reliever Chris Britton on the heels of the Gary Sheffield being dealt to the AL champion Tigers for three top pitching prospects, we are now seeing clearly the method to Brian Cashman's option madness.

It's the ... IRONPIGS  —  Lehigh Valley's minor league baseball team selects a nickname  —  By Daniel Patrick Sheehan Of The Morning Call  —  After 3,500 contest entries, 10,000 online votes, 10 focus groups and plenty of second-guessing, it came down to this:  —  The Lehigh Valley IronPigs.