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 …

Timing everything for Ramirez, Cubs  —  Desperate to win, club forgives lapses and re-signs slugger  —  Right place, right time.  That's why Aramis Ramirez, who is clearly not the Cubs' best player, is now their highest-paid player.  —  Given his bosses' desperate desire to go from 66-96 …

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.

Mailbag: Bucs after top-notch starters?  —  Beat reporter Ed Eagle answers Pirates fans' questions  —  You mentioned that "Pirates management has said that the team will not be in the market for the top-tier free agents this winter."  What about Greg Maddux?  Would he be considered top tier?

Notes: Girardi joins YES broadcast team  —  Former Yankee heads to the booth; Wright has no hard feelings  —  NEW YORK — Joe Girardi is back in the Yankees family, but he won't be wearing pinstripes.  —  Girardi was introduced as the newest member of the YES Network broadcast team on Monday …

Steinbrenner wielded his power in signing Contreras  —  The insult, delivered from Fenway and fired straight to the Bronx, reached all the way to Tampa on Thursday where Yankees owner George Steinbrenner's anger bubbled close to the surface.  So say members of the Yankees front office …

Mets break ground on new ballpark  —  New stadium will be called Citi Field, should be ready for '09  —  NEW YORK — Prepared with shovels, inspirational words and a name for their 21st century field of dreams, the Mets and a cast of dignitaries officially broke ground on their new stadium Monday.

Hot Stove: GMs all set to go batty  —  Soriano leads field as run producers prove valuable  —  There's more than one burner heating up on the Hot Stove circuit.  —  With the Daisuke Matsuzaka sweepstakes entering the final hours, it's time to put a little more focus on some of the hitters …

Mailbag: Does Texas have a No. 1?  —  Beat reporter T.R. Sullivan answers Rangers fans' questions  —  Free agents are now allowed to talk money with any team.  Rangers general manager Jon Daniels, after having hired a manager, is on his way to the GM meetings in Florida.

When Will Daisuke Matsuzaka's Arm Fall Off?  —  Where will Daisuke Matsuzaka go?  How good will he be?  We will all probably know which MLB organization won the bidding for the Seibu Lions star pitcher by Monday evening, and the high cost of the acquisition is sure to inspire plenty of hot stove debates.

Washington Nationals  —  A transcript follows.  —  Kasten is the former president of the Atlanta Braves, and was also president of the NBA's Atlanta Hawks and NHL's Atlanta Thrashers.  —  When Kasten was hired this year, Washington Post staff writer Dave Sheinin wrote : "Washington is getting …