Lack of payroll flexibility may limit club in free agency  —  MLB.com's Jim Duquette starts off the Hot Stove season with a preview of the 2014-2015 MLB free-agent class  —  CINCINNATI — The end of the World Series means one thing to fans of the teams that weren't playing in it …

Braves, Yankees Trade David Carpenter For Manny Banuelos  —  The Yankees have acquired right-hander David Carpenter and left-hander Chasen Shreve from the Braves in exchange for southpaw Manny Banuelos, Jack Curry of the YES Network reports (Twitter link).  —  It was just three years ago …

COLORADO ROCKIES / MLB  —  NICK HUNDLEY AGREES TO 2-YEAR DEAL WITH COLORADO ROCKIES, REPORT SAYS  —  The Denver Post  —  Nick Hundley broke into the major leagues with the Padres in 2008.  In 560 games over seven seasons with the Padres and Orioles, Hundley has a .238 career batting average.

Hot Stove: Padres pushed for Kuroda?  —  Rounding up recent offseason news in the NL West  —  In one dizzying week, A.J. Preller overhauled the Padres' entire outfield.  After a short holiday break, the Padres' rookie general manager turned his attention toward a strength …

Here's 10 picks for Hall of Fame Here's 10 picks for Hall of Fame  —  Photo by:  —  Herald File  —  THE VOTE IS IN: Curt Schilling deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.  —  By:  —  Let's just get right to it.  Here is one voter's Hall of Fame ballot.  I didn't struggle with the 10-person limit …

MLB's most interesting people in '15  —  Rob Manfred will be baseball's man on the spot as he takes over as the sport's 10th commissioner.  —  Derek Jeter relinquished his Yankee Stadium locker stall to Penn State kicker Sam Ficken for the Pinstripe Bowl.  Paul Konerko, an under-the-radar icon …

Doug Marrone sets interview with Jets, two others  —  The Jets are scheduled to speak with former Bills coach Doug Marrone about their head coaching opening on either Sunday or Monday, according to a league source.  —  Marrone, who opted out of his deal with Buffalo on Wednesday night …

John Gibbons' 2016 salary locked in  —  The transition to a new year brought good news for Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons, whose 2016 salary automatically became guaranteed Thursday with the passage of midnight and the arrival of 2015.  —  The Blue Jays announced at the end …

Versatile Tampa Bay veteran in high demand  —  9/25/14: Ben Zobrist ties the game in the 2nd inning with an RBI single that scores Ryan Hanigan  —  Ben Zobrist represents the first really tough call for Tampa Bay's new administration.  And it's about as tough as it gets.