New Cubs GM doesn't sugarcoat situation  —  Hoyer realizes work to be done but is undaunted  —  Jed Hoyer doesn't have to worry about who will get the credit if the Cubs win the World Series under his watch.  —  The new Cubs general manager probably will defer to his boss, Theo Epstein …

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 …

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.

Nationals, Chien-Ming Wang remain in contract discussions  —  The Nationals remain in contract talks with starting pitcher Chien-Ming Wang, whose agent remains optimistic he will ultimately sign with the Nationals.  —  The status of the talks between the Nationals and Wang are “the same,” said Alan Nero, Wang's agent.

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.

Fred Claire says he's involved in group pursuing Dodgers  —  Fred Claire, the general manager of the Dodgers' last World Series championship team, said Wednesday that he has joined an investment group interested in buying the team.  —  Claire said he has worked since July with Ben Hwang …

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.

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.

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 …