MLB roundup: Hamilton, Greinke top list of free agents
Baseball's offseason began the moment Sergio Romo's last pitch hit Buster Posey's mitt to give the San Francisco Giants the World Series title, and the Major League Baseball Players Association wasted no time releasing a list of the new free agents.
Topping the group are Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton, Los Angeles Angels right-hander Zack Greinke and Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz.
Among the other notable hitters on the list of free agents are Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Bourn, Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski, Cincinnati Reds third baseman Scott Rolen, Detroit Tigers designated hitter Delmon Young, Angels outfielder Torii Hunter, New York Yankees outfielders Nick Swisher and Ichiro Suzuki, Giants second baseman Marco Scutaro, Tampa Bay Rays outfielder B.J. Upton and Rangers catcher Mike Napoli.
The top free agent pitchers include Baltimore Orioles left-hander Joe Saunders, Tigers right-hander Anibal Sanchez and closer Jose Valverde, Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte, Rangers right-hander Colby Lewis and Washington Nationals right-hander Edwin Jackson.
---Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland would not commit himself to coming back to manage the team next year, but did say the Tigers will be the last team he manages.
Leyland made the comments moments after the Tigers lost 4-3 in 10 innings to the San Francisco Giants in Game 4 of the World Series Sunday night.
"I don't really know that," Leyland said on mlive.com. "We're going to talk about some things in a day or so and I'm sure they'll have some type of an announcement. But tonight's not the night for that."
General manager Dave Dombrowski said after the Tigers won the American League Championship series over the New York Yankees that Leyland is welcome to return next year.
--Early returns indicate the San Francisco Giants' four-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers could bring in the lowest World Series ratings on record.
Fox averaged an 8.9 overnight Nielsen rating for the four games, including a 10.6 overnight for Sunday night's series-clinching victory by the Giants in 10 innings. Through four games of last year's Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers, the network averaged a 9.3 overnight.
Fox signed an eight-year deal earlier this month to extend its MLB television rights.
The silver lining for Fox is Game 4 peaked at a 12.8 rating in the 11:30 p.m. ET window when it was in extra innings, making it the network's most-watched program since the "American Idol" finale in May, according to The Sports Business Journal.
---The New York Yankees picked up options for next season on second baseman Robinson Cano and center fielder Curtis Granderson, ESPN New York reported Monday.
Cano and Granderson will each be paid $15 million next year.
If neither signs a long-term contract with the Yankees, they will be eligible for free agency after next season.
---The Philadelphia Phillies exercised their $5 million team option on catcher Carlos Ruiz for next year, according to NBC Sports' Hardball Talk.
Ruiz, 33, had career highs in batting average (.325), home runs (16) and OPS (.935) in 114 games.
He will be eligible for free agency after next season.
