Cubs relieve Quade of managerial duties  —  Chicago finished fifth in NL Central in skipper's only full season  —  CHICAGO — Mike Quade will not be back as Cubs manager.  —  Theo Epstein, Cubs president of baseball operations, made the announcement Wednesday after traveling to Florida to inform Quade face to face.

Frank McCourt agrees to sell Dodgers  —  Frank McCourt agreed Tuesday to sell the Dodgers, abruptly surrendering the team after fighting to retain it over two years and in two courts.  —  McCourt and Major League Baseball have agreed to seek approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for an auction of the Dodgers.

Dodgers, Red Sox boast 6 Gold Glovers  —  NEW YORK — Clayton Kershaw, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier became the first trio of Los Angeles Dodgers to win NL Gold Gloves in the same year, and Adrian Gonzalez, Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury became the first three Red Sox in 32 seasons to win the AL honor together.

What should the Marlins do with Chris Coghlan?  —  Around this time two years ago, Chris Coghlan won the National League Rookie of the Year award after a season that led many to believe the Marlins had found their next star player.  —  But Coghlan's stock has drastically dropped …

La Russa might manage in All-Star Game  —  Baseball commissioner Bud Selig, who met with former Cardinals manager Tony La Russa a couple months ago in Milwaukee, wasn't necessarily surprised that La Russa stepped down on Monday.  But Selig said on Tuesday that baseball will miss the 2011 World Series-winning manager.

Juan Rivera closing in on deal with the Dodgers  —  Juan Rivera and the Dodgers are closing in on a one-year contract that would include a team option for 2013, according to baseball sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal hasn't been finalized.  The deal could be completed later this week.

Source: Yanks scared off by Oswalt back woes  —  Although the New York Yankees' offseason priority is adding a starting pitcher, there is one high-profile free-agent starter who has apparently been crossed off the team's shopping list.  —  No, it's not C.J. Wilson.

D-backs catcher Blanco chooses free agency  —  PHOENIX — Catcher Henry Blanco has declined his end of a $1.15 million mutual option for 2012 with the Arizona Diamondbacks.  —  The Diamondbacks exercised their options on Blanco and infielder Willie Bloomquist on Monday, but both opted to become free agents.

Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects (How to subscribe)  —  Sharing a division with the Phillies, the Marlins faced an uphill battle going into the 2011 season.  First place in the National League East may not have been a realistic goal, but fifth place wasn't the destination most foresaw either.

Cashman saying a whole lot of nothing  —  GM hosts talk show after signing new contract — but offers no clear vision for Yanks … Brian Cashman spoke to the media at length on Tuesday — for 41 minutes and 50 seconds, to be exact — for the first time since the premature end …

Expect David Wright to remain with NY Mets, for now  —  Never mind rumors, third basmen unlikely to be dealt over winter  —  Here is a prediction: There will be enough David Wright rumors this winter to fill the remaining space on the Internet.  If you compile and print them, you will run out of toner.