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Clayton Kershaw already has won two Cy Young Awards and led the National League in earned-run average three times. Now, the 25-year-old left-hander is about to become the highest-paid pitcher in baseball history. Kershaw and the Dodgers have agreed to a seven-year, $215-million contract, according to people familiar with the situation ...

On Thursday, Major League Baseball formally approved the use of instant replay for the 2014 season. Under the new system, managers will have one challenge they can use. If their challenge is successful, managers will be able to retain that challenge and use it one more time during the game for a maximum of two challenges per game. After the start of the seventh inning, the crew chief of the game may choose to use instant replay on any reviewable call even if a manager is out of challenges, according to Major League Baseball's announcement:

... The ruling, issued by arbitrator Frederic Horowitz, is a reduction from the 211-game suspension Rodriguez was handed by MLB commissioner Bud Selig back in August, but it’s still the longest drug-related suspension in MLB history. For the 38-year-old Rodriguez, it means the loss of an entire season and $25 million in salary. The Yankees will gain $27.5 million worth of salary relief for luxury tax purposes, since the average annual value of his deal is what counts there. That will aid the team’s attempt to get below the $189 million threshold to reset their luxury tax rate, but it...

Fox news reporting Arod suspended through the 2014 season due to use of performance enhancing drugs.

The Hall of Fame says it's up to baseball writers to propose any changes in the selection process. The Baseball Writers' Association of America has voted on Hall of Fame candidates since 1936, and elections have become more controversial in recent years as stars tainted by accusations of steroids use have fallen well short of the 75 percent needed for entry to Cooperstown. Writers are limited to a maximum 10 votes, and some say there's a logjam as Barry Bonds, Rogers Clemens and Mark McGwire remain on the ballot at a time new players are added.

Former Atlanta Braves star pitchers Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine and retired superstar slugger Frank Thomas were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in voting announced on Wednesday. With 75 percent support from 571 votes cast by a media panel needed to ensure enshrinement, Maddux received 97.2 percent while Glavine had 91.9 percent backing and Thomas was supported by 83.7 percent.

No player has ever been elected unanimously to the Hall of Fame and four-time Cy Young winner Greg Maddux, the most obvious of the many deserving candidates on this year’s ballot, won’t be the first. We now know that for sure thanks to MLB.com’s commendable tradition of posting its writers’ ballots the day before the results are announced. There are 17 MLB.com writers who have been members of the Baseball Writers Association of America for 10 or more years and thus are eligible to vote for the Hall of Fame. Sixteen of them voted for Maddux. Dodgers beat reporter Ken...

Enjoy the short video clip of Vin Scully, 2014 Rose Parade Grand Marshal VIN SCULLY TALKS ABOUT BEST MEMORY

During his 13-year career as an All-Star catcher, Mike Scioscia earned a reputation for being as tough as anyone when it came to blocking home plate. But in a sport filled with nostalgia, even Scioscia wouldn't mind seeing a few modifications. "I think everyone is in agreement that the mindless collisions at home plate where a catcher is being targeted by a runner, that needs to be addressed," the Los Angeles Angels manager said.

A deal for hundreds of millions of dollars in public money to draw the Atlanta Braves north of their downtown home is pitting conservative tea party activists against the elected and civic leaders in the staunch Republican county, with opponents saying the use of public money to help a private business is not what American capitalism should be about. The argument for the deal is simple, says Cobb County Commission Chairman Tim Lee and other supporters. Almost $400 million in county bonds and immediate infrastructure improvements, with debt payments approaching $600 million over 30 years - will generate enough economic...

Brian McCann, the best-hitting catcher in Atlanta Braves history, is about to become a New York Yankee and the highest-paid catcher in baseball history. The Braves free agent and seven-time All-Star agreed to terms Saturday with the Yankees on a five-year, $85 million contract that includes a sixth-year vesting option that could push the total value of the contract to $100 million, a personal familiar with negotiations said. The deal was pending a physical exam. “It’s a bittersweet day for him,” said McCann’s agent B.B. Abbott. “He has a special place in his heart for Atlanta.”

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Baseball fans should expect to go through a metal detector to see their favorite team play in 2014. Major League Baseball security director John Skinner said on Friday that all 30 teams are expected to screen all fans entering their ballparks next season. Some aspects of the screening will be left to individual teams, but the commissioner's office is planning to recommend walk-through metal detectors, he said.

Michael Weiner, the plain-speaking, ever-positive labor lawyer who took over as head of the powerful baseball players' union four years ago and smoothed its perennially contentious relationship with management, died Thursday, 15 months after announcing he had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. He was 51.

Saturday night at a black tie dinner in Chicago, a Dodgers broadcaster will go into the Hall of Fame and it won't be Vin Scully. A shocker? No. Scully is already there. If there is a Hall of Fame that has any connection whatsoever to broadcasting and Scully isn't in it, it's a lousy Hall of Fame. Now, Charley Steiner will be joining him. That means, next year, when fans tune in to Dodgers' baseball, they will be informed and entertained by two Hall-of-Famers. That's far from the norm, maybe a first, and should make Dodgers fans proud. Even if...

Brad Ausmus has never managed in the minors or the majors. In his first year on the job, he will manage a team that is among the favorites to win the World Series. The Tigers will hire Ausmus to replace Jim Leyland as manager, according to multiple reports. Adam Spolane of SportsRadio 610 appears to be the first to report the news. It was later confirmed by Ken Rosenthal of Foxsports.com. Text messages sent to Ausmus and the Tigers late Saturday night were not immediately returned. Reports indicate that he will fly to Detroit on Sunday to finalize the deal....

He’s got three rings now, but it’s No. 3 that David Ortiz can wear with the most pride.Pride for this city he plays in, and pride in the way he plays for this city.David Ortiz won the 2013 World Series Most Valuable Player award in a decision that could only be described as a complete lock midway through the series. It was as much of a lock as this entire Red Sox season came out of the blue in so many ways, both tragic and ecstatic.Ortiz dominated Cardinals pitching in the first five games to the point that, by Game 6...

No live thread on the game. I've never seen the Cardinals make such stupid decisions.

Regarding World Series opening game #1, did anyone notice that the FOX11 TV network COMPLETELY IGNORED the 'fighter jet flyover' as Mary J. Blige sang our National Anthem? I could HEAR THE JETS but no attempt was made by FoxTV to show them as they roared overhead! Was this a slap in the face to our troops, or what? This really P*SSED ME OFF!!!

Congrats to the RedBirds, and a shout out to Cardinal Nation!