Cubs, Epstein eyeing Padres GM Hoyer for role  —  It's uncertain how the Padres would react to the Cubs interest in Hoyer but if he is able to go to Chicago, Byrnes would be elevated to GM.  —  A move by Hoyer, 37, would be seen as fairly shocking since he's already a GM …

Cashman expects new deal by end of October  —  NEW YORK — Yankees general manager Brian Cashman believes that he will have a new contract in place by the time his current deal expires on Halloween, remaining in the position he has held since 1998.  —  “It'll get done between now and Oct. 31st, I'm sure,” Cashman said.

Lester calls clubhouse backlash a ‘witch hunt’ … BOSTON — Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester took the highly unusual step Monday of placing calls to several Boston media outlets, including ESPNBoston.com, to forcefully dispute the way the team has been characterized in the aftermath of its September collapse.

Bradley on the World Series: Texas Rangers' Michael Young shows Derek Jeter-like qualities  —  The comparison was first introduced by Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long.  In an examination of Derek Jeter's unorthodox, inside-out swing, Long was asked if any other hitters reminded him of Jeter.

Game 1 falls on Carpenter's turn to start … Dave Duncan retired the trophy for Understatement of the Year on Monday when he described the Cardinals' blueprint for success in the NL championship series as “a little unorthodox.”  —  Next thing you know, the Cardinals pitching coach may suggest Nyjer Morgan is a bit talkative.

If Reyes bolts, Mets set to turn to Tejada  —  Ex-infield coach Chip Hale says skipper Terry Collins is ready to give role to Ruben … After the New York Mets completed their 77-85 season, infielder Ruben Tejada reiterated his plan to travel in November from his native Panama to Long Island …

Another one bites the dust  —  I'll be honest with you.  —  Had I known from the beginning that the idea of designing a model to estimate the difficulty of blocking every major league pitch is not a new one—let alone a groundbreaking one—I might have spent significant portions of my free …

Divorce settlement solves one problem for Frank McCourt  —  Without the $130-million settlement with ex-wife Jamie, he would not have been able to maintain ownership of Dodgers without beating Bud Selig in Bankruptcy Court, then winning in divorce court.  —  Two years and three days after Frank …

Mikey likes it: Napoli, mom thrilled by Series  —  Turn of events puts Rangers catcher in position to realize dream  —  ARLINGTON — When the final out was recorded in the American League Championship Series and the Rangers had earned another shot at the World Series, a boyhood dream came true for Mike Napoli.

Senators urge baseball to ban tobacco  —  WASHINGTON — Four U.S. senators and health officials from the cities hosting the World Series are urging the baseball players union to agree to a ban on chewing tobacco at games and on camera.  —  The senators, including No. 2 Democrat Dick Durbin of Illinois …

A's close to buying land in San Jose?  —  It's been a seemingly endless saga for the A's, but they may finally be closing in on actually buying land for a new stadium in San Jose.  —  San Jose city officials are meeting today in a closed session to discuss selling a few plots by the Diridon station to A's co-owner Lew Wolff.