Cards not interested in Fielder if Pujols leaves  —  Image  —  • Don't expect the Cardinals to be in the market for a first baseman should Albert Pujols leave the club via free agency.  —  On the same day he received a standard ovation from his peers in recognition …

Is Cy Young winner Verlander a fit for MVP?  —  It is the nature of things anymore to regard tomorrow above today, and so within a few minutes of his winning the American League Cy Young Award on Tuesday, Justin Verlander(notes) was asked to assess his qualifications as AL MVP, the result of which will be announced Monday.

Rockies pursuing No. 3, No. 4 starter  —  MILWAUKEE — When the Rockies claimed Wandy Rodriguez on waivers in August, they privately realized the urgency of the situation.  Colorado had leverage, willing to take on the entire $36 million remaining in his contract.

Nationals kicking tires on Mark Buehrle, Tsuyoshi Wada — but not closers  —  Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo had a preliminary meeting Monday night with the agent for top free agent pitchers Roy Oswalt and C.J. Wilson, and before he leaves the GM Meetings here, he said …

Yankees invite C.J. Wilson to New York to meet with team  —  MILWAUKEE — Pleased with what he termed general manager Brian Cashman's “aggressiveness,” the agent for free-agent pitcher C.J. Wilson said tonight that the Yankees have invited him to New York to meet with team decision-makers.

2012 Cincinnati Reds Top 10 Prospects  —  Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel.  All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched …

Dodgers in no rush to ink Kershaw  —  Matt Kemp got his payday.  Will ace lefty Clayton Kershaw get his?  —  MILWAUKEE  —  Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw eventually will get the Matt Kemp treatment.  —  Just not yet.  And, as the Dodgers reduce payroll, don't expect them to sign any major free agents, either.

Ike Davis is healthy, back and ready to go  —  This afternoon at Citi Field, Ike Davis enthusiastically declared, “I'm healthy.  I'm back.  I feel great and I'm ready to go.”  —  According to Davis, his ankle injury is behind him and he's happy he didn't have surgery because, right now, it would mean he'd still be in a boot.

Dodgers sue Fox Sports, alleging interference in team sale  —  The Dodgers sued Fox Sports on Wednesday, alleging the television company is trying to “interfere with the sale of the Dodgers and their assets in bankruptcy.”  —  The suit was filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware …

Should pitching-rich Phils trade Hamels?  —  MILWAUKEE  —  Trading left-hander Cole Hamels would qualify as a surprise — but no greater a surprise than trading lefty Cliff Lee and acquiring righty Roy Halladay in December 2009, or signing Lee back last offseason.

Maddon, Gibson named Managers of the Year  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Kirk Gibson of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Joe Maddon of the Tampa Bay Rays have been voted Managers of the Year.  —  Gibson won by a wide margin in the National League and Maddon was a clear choice in the AL.

Q&A: Eric Hosmer  —  Eric Hosmer finished third in this year's American League Rookie-of-the-Year balloting, but you might not want to bet against his going on to have a better career than the players who finished one-two.  The left-handed-hitting Royals first baseman hit .293/.334/.465 …

Who Controls How Hard the Ball is Hit?  —  The last decade has seen much discussion and evolution in sabermetric thought around the relative abilities of batters, pitchers, fielders, and Lady Luck to control the outcome of batted balls.  Data collected by Sportvision sheds new light on this question …