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All 10 Baseball Hall Candidates Fall Short

baseball-hall-of-fameSAN DIEGO (AP) — The baseball Hall of Fame’s Golden Era committee has failed to elect any of the 10 candidates from a group whose primary contributions were from 1947-72.

The Hall announced the results Monday as the annual winter meetings began.

Dick Allen and Tony Oliva each received 11 of 16 votes, one shy of the 75 percent needed for election. Jim Kaat appeared on 10 ballots, Maury Wills nine and Minnie Minoso eight.

Ken Boyer, Gil Hodges, Billy Pierce and Luis Tiant each received three or fewer votes, as did the late Cincinnati Reds general manager Bob Howsam.

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America will announce its vote Jan. 6. Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz are the top newcomers. Craig Biggio, who fell two votes short of the 75 percent needed in the 2014 balloting, tops the holdovers.

Baseball Meetings to Open, with Stress on Offense

mlb bigSAN DIEGO (AP) — When baseball officials last gathered in San Diego for the winter meetings, no free agents reached agreements and players claimed collusion, leading to the first of three grievances against owners and eventually a $280 million settlement.

The annual get-together is back starting Monday. This time, the average salary has soared from $372,000 to about $3.5 million. But one thing hasn’t changed from 1985: the Kansas City Royals are defending AL champions.

Since then, offense has boomed with the Steroids Era and then gone bust in a new Age of the Pitcher. With offense at the premium, teams have pursued hitters with greater urgency this offseason, leaving pitchers Max Scherzer, Jon Lester and James Shields still searching for deals.

Adderall Caused Most MLB Positive Drug Tests

mlb bigNEW YORK (AP) — While 113 big leaguers had exemptions in the past year to use otherwise banned substances to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Adderall caused eight of the 10 positive tests for stimulants under Major League Baseball’s drug program.

A report released Monday by MLB’s independent program administrator detailed the findings. Dr. Jeffrey M. Anderson’s report showed that theraputic use exemptions given to 40-man roster players to treat ADHD were down from the 119 in the year ending with the 2013 World Series.

Among the TUEs for ADHD, there were 11 for new players, down from 21 the previous year and the lowest total since 2008, a person familiar with the data told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because those figures were not in the report.

MLB Minimum Salary Rises to $507,500 from $500,000

mlb bigNEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball’s minimum salary is rising to $507,500 next year from $500,000.

The sport’s collective bargaining agreement called for a cost-of-living adjustment based on the yearly increase through October of the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, rounded to the nearest $500. There will be a similar adjustment for the minimum in 2016, the final season of the labor contract.

The commissioner’s office said Wednesday that the minor league minimum for a player signing a second major league contract goes up to $82,700 from $81,500. The minor league minimum for a player signing an initial big league contract rises to $41,400 from $40,750.

Big Deals on Minds of Owners During MLB Meetings

mlb bigKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Yankees President Randy Levine offered a succinct response when asked what he thought about the Marlins and outfielder Giancarlo Stanton breaking the record for richest contract that had been held by Alex Rodriguez for more than 13 years until last spring.

“Thank God,” Levine said, laughing. “Thank God.”

Not all executives are quite so pleased.

As baseball executives gathered for two days of owners meetings in Kansas City, the flurry of pricy contracts that have already been offered this offseason was a topic of conversation.

Along with Stanton’s record-setting $325 million, 13-year pact with Miami, the Blue Jays gave catcher Russell Martin an $82 million, five-year deal, and the Athletics agreed to give Billy Butler a $30 million, three-year deal to become their first baseman and designated hitter.

Clayton Kershaw, Mike Trout Win MVP Awards

mlb bigNEW YORK (AP) — Clayton Kershaw has become the first pitcher to win the National League MVP award in nearly a half-century.

The Los Angeles Dodgers ace beat out Miami slugger Giancarlo Stanton and Pittsburgh outfielder Andrew McCutchen for the honor announced Thursday.

Bob Gibson in 1968 was the previous pitcher to be the NL MVP. Detroit pitcher Justin Verlander won the AL MVP in 2011.

Kershaw unanimously won the NL Cy Young Award on Wednesday. He led the majors in wins and ERA while going 21-3 with a 1.77 ERA and throwing a no-hitter.

Kershaw got 18 of 30 first-place votes and 355 points in balloting by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

Stanton got eight first-place ballots and 298 points. McCutchen got four first and 271 points.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout unanimously won the AL MVP earlier in the day.

Baseball Looking at More Ways to Speed Up

mlb bigPHOENIX (AP) — Major League Baseball might look at tweaking its replay challenge system to prevent managers from lingering on the field before determining if they want a play reviewed.

The replay system was changed last season, allowing teams one challenge per game, and another if that one was successful.

All sides seemed pleased overall with the system. But there was concern that managers were spending too much time on the field, stalling while awaiting word from the dugout on whether to challenge or not.

Baseball’s general managers also discussed possibly implementing elements of experimental pace-of-play measures being used in the Arizona Fall League, where 20-second pitch clocks are being used.

Showalter, Williams Voted MLB Managers of the Year

mlb bigNEW YORK (AP) — Baltimore’s Buck Showalter was voted AL Manager of the Year for the third time, edging the Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Scioscia and Kansas City’s Ned Yost.

Showalter received 25 of 30 first-place votes and 132 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America announced Tuesday. He kept up his pattern of winning the award once a decade following victories with the New York Yankees in 1994 and Texas in 2004.

Scioscia was second with four firsts and 61 points and Yost third with 41 points followed by Seattle’s Lloyd McClendon with 29 points.

Showalter guided the Orioles to a 96-66 record and their first AL East title since 1997. Voting took place before the playoffs, where Baltimore swept Detroit in the Division Series and then was swept by Kansas City in the AL Championship Series.

Washington’s Matt Williams won the NL honor, the fourth first-year big league manager to win the award. He played under Showalter.

Abreu, deGrom Voted Baseball’s Rookies of the Year

mlb bigNEW YORK (AP) — New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom has been voted NL Rookie of the Year, joining AL winner Jose Abreu of the Chicago White Sox.

DeGrom received 26 of 30 first-place votes and 142 points in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America announced Monday. Speedy Cincinnati outfielder Billy Hamilton was second with four firsts and 92 points.

Winless in his first seven starts, deGrom wound up 9-6 with a 2.69 ERA for the Mets.

Abreu received all 30 first place votes for 150 points in AL balloting after the White Sox first baseman led the big leagues in slugging percentage at .581. Angels right-hander Matt Shoemaker was second with 40 points.

Kershaw Finalist for NL MVP and Cy Young Award

Clayton Kershaw (Photo courtesy of ESPN.com)
Clayton Kershaw (Photo courtesy of ESPN.com)

NEW YORK (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is among the finalists for the NL Most Valuable Player and the Cy Young Award, in position to become the first NL player to sweep both honors since Bob Gibson in 1968.

Kershaw is joined by Pittsburgh outfielder Andrew McCutchen — the 2013 winner — and Miami outfielder Giancarlo Stanton as the NL MVP finalists, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America announced Tuesday.

Cincinnati’s Johnny Cueto and St. Louis’ Adam Wainwright are competing with the Los Angeles left-hander for the NL Cy Young.

In the AL, the MVP finalists are Cleveland outfielder Michael Brantley, Detroit designated hitter Victor Martinez and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout, who finished second to the Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera in each of the last two votes. The Cy Young finalists are Chicago White Sox left-hander Chris Sale, Seattle’s Felix Hernandez and Cleveland’s Corey Kluber.

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