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 …

How MLB.com writers voted in Hall of Fame balloting  —  Lyle Spencer, Ken Gurnick, Richard Justice and Tracy Ringolsby explain their rationale behind their votes for the Hall of Fame in 2014 … I will simply say that the Hall of Fame candidacies of these players require no further introduction …

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

C's in for a bittersweet reunion  —  Boston will applaud its former star Rondo, but mixed feelings still linger  —  Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle did his due diligence when he investigated trading for Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo by gathering impressions from Doc Rivers, Danny Ainge, Brad Stevens and former teammates.