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After overcoming different types of adversity with their teams in the 2016 season, Terry Francona of the Cleveland Indians and Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers were named American League and National League Manager of the Year on Tuesday, respectively. 

Francona earned his second award in this category, previously winning in his first season with the Indians three years ago. Roberts took home the NL honors in his first season with the Dodgers. 

Here are the voting results, per BBWAA.com:

Francona triumphed over Jeff Banister of the Texas Rangers and Buck Showalter of the Baltimore Orioles. 

Voting for the award doesn’t include the playoffs, otherwise Francona would have won in a landslide for his ability to navigate a Cleveland pitching staff that was missing starters Carlos Carrasco for the entire postseason and Danny Salazar for the first two rounds due to injuries. 

Factoring in just the regular season, it’s still hard to argue against Francona as the best manager in the American League. The Indians started the year without All-Star outfielder Michael Brantley due to offseason shoulder surgery that wound up limiting him to 11 games. 

As the season moved along, Francona also lost Carrasco, Salazar and Yan Gomes for long stretches. Yet the Indians never wavered, going 94-67 to win their first division title since 2007. 

Speaking on MLB Network before the results were announced, Francona described what it meant for him to be part of the Indians in 2016:

Per the Indians’ official Twitter account, Cleveland has been the AL’s best regular-season team since Francona took over, and his teams always play winning baseball:

There’s no exact science to be a successful manager in MLB. Francona‘s reputation suggests he knows how to prepare his team for work while at the same time always keep things loose in the clubhouse. 

Indians general manager Mike Chernoff gave Francona kudos for his ability to handle in-game tactics so well, per MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian: 

He’s amazing. He’s incredible at in-game strategy. It’s exceptional to just watch it. He’s five steps ahead of all of us — probably everybody out there — and we get to see the full picture. That’s just a small part of it of who he is and what he does. He’s broken down barriers organizationally for us.

The 2016 season was one in which most of the country finally caught up with what Francona and the Indians have slowly been building toward since he took over.

The Indians fell one win short of the ultimate prize, but with virtually every player from that team returning and injured stars like Brantley and Carrasco joining the mix, next season should be another good one for Cleveland. 

With Francona steering things in the dugout, they know the ship is headed in the right direction. 

In the NL, Roberts beat out Joe Maddon of the Chicago Cubs and Dusty Baker of the Washington Nationals to win in his first year as skipper. 

“I am completely humbled,” Roberts said after the voting results were announced, per Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. “I am speechless.”

Roberts had arguably the most difficult managerial job of anyone in Major League Baseball, despite leading a team with a payroll of almost $250 million, per Cot’s Baseball Contracts. 

The Dodgers set an MLB record by having 28 players on the disabled list during the regular season, including four-fifths of the starting rotation. Clayton Kershaw missed more than two months with back problems.

Kenta Maeda was the only Dodgers pitcher to make more than 26 starts. Despite those pitching injures, MLB Stat of the Day noted the team still set a new strikeout record:

In the face of so much adversity during the season, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman explained what Roberts did to keep the team successful, per Eric Stephen of True Blue LA:

A great byproduct of the cultural change and shift that we saw on the major league side with Doc and his coaches was to be able to provide that soft landing spot [for rookies]. That environment where guys could come up and thrive and not be afraid to compete, and were put in positions to succeed. It could not have worked out any better this year, and I think that’s a cultural environment that’s going to continue and grow off of itself and be furthered.

This marks the second consecutive night in which a member of the Dodgers was honored by the BBWAA. Star shortstop Corey Seager was named NL Rookie of the Year and could add the NL Most Valuable Player Award to his expanding trophy case Thursday. 

Having a seemingly limitless payroll has its advantages, but all the money spent didn’t prepare Roberts for the volume of injuries that hit his team during the regular season. 

Through it all, Roberts never seemed overwhelmed in his first season managing a team with sky-high expectations. He led the Dodgers to their fourth consecutive NL West title and made it to Game 6 of the NLCS before ultimately falling to the Chicago Cubs.  

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Corey Seager and Mike Fulmer need to clear room on their mantles for some new hardware. 

On Monday, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America announced the Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop and Detroit Tigers pitcher were named the National League and American League Rookies of the Year, respectively. 

Seager won the NL award unanimously, while Fulmer held off New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez to take home the AL honors, according to BBWAA.com: 

Seager was a runaway winner on the NL side for good reason. 

Over the course of his first full MLB campaign, Seager solidified himself as one of the league’s most impactful batters. The 22-year-old batted .308 with a .365 on-base percentage and .512 slugging percentage across 687 plate appearances. 

The Dodgers congratulated him on Twitter:

The Silver Slugger Award winner also smashed 26 home runs and drove in 72 runs—marks that ranked first and third, respectively, among all NL shortstops.

Furthermore, Seager’s 7.5 wins above replacement paced all MLB shortstops and ranked fifth among all players behind Mike Trout, Kris Bryant, Mookie Betts and Josh Donaldson. 

“For being as young as he is, he’s got an old-school mentality,” Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley said, according to the Los Angeles Times‘ Bill Shaikin. “He plays the game and lets his actions speak louder than his words.”

Thanks to that mindset, Seager qualified as a finalist for NL MVP in addition to Rookie of the Year during a season that saw him nab an All-Star berth and cement his status as a rising star. 

And as CBSSports.com’s Jonah Keri noted, “It’s not unreasonable for Dodgers fans to close their eyes and wonder if they might be watching the start of a Derek Jeter-like career in L.A.”

In the AL, Fulmer staved off Sanchez after the 23-year-old catcher hit home runs at record rates following his call-up on Aug. 2. 

Although Sanchez only needed 49 games to hit 20 home runs, he didn’t have time on his side. By virtue of his late-season arrival, Sanchez was limited to 53 games and 229 plate appearances. 

Conversely, Fulmer debuted on April 29 and held his own in a rotation that already boasted Justin Verlander. 

The 23-year-old went 11-7 with a 3.06 ERA, 1.119 WHIP and 7.5 strikeouts per nine innings as a rookie, and his 4.9 wins above replacement ranked eighth among all AL pitchers. According to Sports Illustrated‘s Jay Jaffe, that mark was the highest of any American League rookie pitcher since Jonathan Papelbon posted a tally of 5.0 in 2006. 

MLB Stat of the Day on Twitter also noted that Fulmer’s 1.119 WHIP is the 11th-lowest among the 182 rookies with at least 25 starts since 1920. 

“He’s got a great mentality on the mound. He’s got great stuff, so he’s going out there and attacking guys and having a lot of success,” Verlander said, according to ESPN.com’s Katie Strang. “It’s been a real shot in the arm for our team.” 

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs.com. 

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Second baseman Neil Walker will return to Citi Field to continue his stint with the New York Mets after accepting the team’s $17.2 million qualifying offer, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported Monday.

ESPN.com’s Adam Rubin relayed Sherman’s report, noting Walker’s injury history may have prevented him from landing a multiyear contract.

Walker confirmed the news on Twitter:

With free agency looming, the Pittsburgh Pirates—with whom he spent the first seven years of his MLB career—dealt Walker to a Mets team that lost 2015 postseason hero Daniel Murphy, who signed with the Washington Nationals prior to the 2016 campaign.

In New York, the 31-year-old put up one of the best seasons of his career, batting .282 with 23 home runs, which tied a career high and ranked third among National League second basemen. 

Nine of those home runs came in April as he quickly endeared himself to Mets fans:

A switch-hitter who provided extra pop in a lineup that needed to add protection for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, Walker helped the Mets set a franchise record with 218 home runs in 2016.

On top of that, he shored up the middle of the infield next to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, who also signed with the Mets prior to the 2016 season.

However, Walker’s stellar season was cut short by a back injury that required surgery in September.

The Mets will hope that Walker comes back healthy in 2017, as they might need all of the help they can get in the power department, considering Cespedes is a free agent.

Walker’s return ensures the Mets will have one of the best middle infields in the majors as they attempt to contend for their third straight postseason appearance in 2017.

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly signed Cuban prospect Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to a multiyear contract.

MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez first reported the utility man agreed to a deal with the Blue Jays on Friday. Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported the contract is for seven years and is worth $22 million. 

Gurriel was declared a free agent by Major League Baseball in August, but by waiting to sign until after his 23rd birthday on Oct. 19, he became exempt from international signing bonus regulations. 

Sanchez reported in February that Gurriel and his brother, Yulieski Gurriel, who signed with the Houston Astros in July and made his big league debut on Aug. 21, had defected from Cuba with the goal of playing in MLB. 

According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, the Blue Jays plan to start him in Double-A at shortstop, though he may end up in the outfield.

In an April 2015 scouting report from Baseball America‘s Ben Badler, Gurriel was ranked as the No. 4 prospect in Cuba thanks to a good approach at the plate and solid bat speed with the upside of 20-homer potential.

Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs noted that when Gurriel was declared a free agent, scouting reports were mixed because he has athleticism, speed and power that will play at an up-the-middle position, but his swing can get long, and he’s considered something of a project at 23 years old. 

The Blue Jays have not been shy about taking big risks on high-upside athletes in recent years. Anthony Alford was an unpolished baseball player when he was a third-round pick in 2012, but since giving up his college football career in 2014, he’s blossomed into one of Toronto’s top prospects. 

Gurriel won’t make an immediate jump to the big leagues like his brother did for the Astros, but his ceiling and future value are significantly higher because he’s nine years younger and can afford to take a full season in the minors to hone his skills. 

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After two seasons at the helm, manager Craig Counsell agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension through 2020 with the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday. 

The team announced the move ahead of what would have been the final year on his deal.

Counsell has led the Brew Crew to a 134-165 record, and they improved by 12 wins from 2015 to 2016 in going 73-89.

The 46-year-old Counsell had no previous managerial or coaching experience when he took the Milwaukee job in 2015, as he was a front office assistant and color analyst for the Brewers in the years following his retirement from playing in 2011.

Counsell played 16 MLB seasons as a utility infielder with the Colorado Rockies, Florida Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks and Brewers.

The South Bend, Indiana, native attended high school in Milwaukee and spent the final five seasons of his playing career with the Brewers.

Counsell took over a Milwaukee team that went 82-80 in 2014, and although the Brewers regressed in his first season, they began to bounce back as a younger team in 2016.

Much of Milwaukee’s pitching staff is under the age of 30, while young hitters such as shortstop Jonathan Villar, outfielder Domingo Santana and utility player Hernan Perez made significant strides last season.

Milwaukee will be hard-pressed to compete for a National League Central title in 2017 with the likes of the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates, but thanks to the progress made in 2016, Counsell afforded himself the opportunity to help the club take another step forward.

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Bartolo Colon will pitch again in 2017 after the Atlanta Braves reportedly signed him to a free-agent contract Friday. 

Mark Bowman of MLB.com first reported word of the agreement. Robert Murray of FanRag Sports confirmed the report. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports passed along the financial details, and Joel Sherman of the New York Post noted there is not an option attached.

Rosenthal also reported another detail about Colon’s upcoming salary:

This comes after the 43-year-old Colon helped anchor the New York Mets staff in 2016 on the way to the postseason even though they lost Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Steven Matz to season-ending injuries.

Colon appeared in 34 games in 2016, which tied a career-high mark (2001, 2003 and 2004). He finished the year with a 3.43 ERA and 1.21 WHIP and reached his fourth All-Star Game.

The right-hander was one of the most dominant pitchers in the league in his prime. He won the 2005 American League Cy Young Award with the Los Angeles Angels behind a 3.48 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. It was one of 10 seasons in which he posted an ERA below 4.00 in his impressive major league tenure:

Age is something of a concern with a new contract at 43 years old, but he finished with head-turning numbers in 2015 at age 42. There is no reason to think he cannot at least be a solid innings-eater again after pitching more than 190 innings in each of the last four campaigns.

He also has plenty of postseason experience with 17 appearances and 10 starts. He has a 3.49 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in those games and can provide veteran leadership for a team with playoff aspirations in 2017. 

The Dominican Republic native becomes the second veteran starter to join the Braves in as many days. On Thursday, Atlanta announced the signing of 42-year-old knuckleballer R.A. Dickey as it looks to add some leadership to a young team preparing to turn the corner after an extensive rebuild.

While Colon may not be the most vital member of the Braves staff, which is led by Julio Teheran, he gives them formidable depth and a playoff-tested arm should the team finally start to climb back up the standings in 2017.

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The Baseball Writers’ Association of America announced the finalists for the four main year-end awards Monday, featuring a few surprises in each category, per John Schlegel of MLB.com.

Although we won’t know who wins each award until next week, some big names won’t be in contention for the hardware. Meanwhile, a few players and managers could be happy just to get into the top three despite knowing they have little chance of earning the top spot.

The Washington Nationals were the big winners as the only team with a finalist in all four categories, but the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Indians had a big showing as well.

All votes were cast before the start of the postseason, which likely would have changed the outcome of a few races. Keep this in mind as you review the full list of finalists in the major award categories.

Award Finalists

Rookie of the Year (Announced Nov. 14)

Much of the debate in the American League will surround the Rookie of the Year candidacy of Gary Sanchez. The New York Yankees catcher played in only 53 games, but he was incredible in his limited time, finishing with 20 home runs and a 1.032 OPS.

Although some won’t want to give an award to a player who didn’t even spend half of the season in the majors, Yankees manager Joe Girardi stated his case.

“I think you have to think about it, I really do,” Girardi said in September, per Andrew Marchand of ESPN.com. “I know people are going to argue he has only been here two months, but his two months have been as good as it gets.”

MLB Network’s Harold Reynolds offered more praise:

Sanchez’s biggest competition will be Detroit Tigers pitcher Michael Fulmer, who finished with an 11-7 record and a 3.06 ERA in his first season in the majors. Although he slowed down after posting a 2.11 ERA in the first half of the season, he remains a quality option for the award.

The National League race will be easier to figure out, with Corey Seager likely running away from the field. He batted .308 with 26 home runs, 72 RBI and 105 runs this season, proving to be a force in a veteran Dodgers lineup.

MLB Stat of the Day broke down how good Seager was at the plate this season:

While Nationals center fielder Trea Turner was exciting with his 33 stolen bases and .342 batting average in 73 games, Seager might be too far ahead to catch.

Manager of the Year (Announced Nov. 15)

Terry Francona turned heads in the postseason by helping the Indians advance to the World Series, but the Manager of the Year award will likely be close based on regular-season success.

As Big League Stew joked, that might help Buck Showalter:

The Baltimore Orioles manager infamously came under fire for not using closer Zach Britton in the AL Wild Card Game, which Baltimore lost to the Toronto Blue Jays in extra innings.

All of the finalists led their teams to the playoffs despite flawed rosters and various injuries. The Orioles barely had a starting rotation, but Showalter overcame it with his bullpen and offense. The Texas Rangers dealt with a variety of injuries before Jeff Banister led the team to the best record in the American League.

As for Francona, anyone who watched the playoffs knows the type of impact he had.

There were few surprises in the National League, with Chicago’s Joe Maddon, Washington’s Dusty Baker and Los Angeles’ Dave Roberts all having legitimate arguments.

Maddon led the Cubs to 103 wins and the team’s first World Series title in 108 years, somehow finding a way to live up to the lofty expectations at the start of the season.

Baker and Roberts were in their first year with new teams, and while both left question marks in the postseason, reaching that stage was an impressive accomplishment.

New York Mets manager Terry Collins might also have a case, but it’s hard to pick him over the others on the list.

Cy Young (Announced Nov. 16)

These might be the most competitive races this year, especially considering the pitchers who were left out.

Matt Snyder of CBSSports.com noted a surprise absence among the AL Cy Young finalists:

Britton posted a 0.54 ERA in 67 innings and was nearly flawless as a closer this season.

Chicago White Sox starter Chris Sale (17-10, 3.34 ERA) and Toronto’s J.A. Happ (20-4, 3.18 ERA) were also omitted from the list despite strong seasons. Still, the three who made the list were exceptional.

Detroit’s Justin Verlander had a bounce-back season with a 3.04 ERA. Boston Red Sox starter Rick Porcello had a major-league best 22-4 record, while Cleveland’s Corey Kluber might still have the best pure stuff in all of baseball.

In the National League, Cubs starters Kyle Hendricks and Jon Lester are each finalists after finishing No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the league in ERA. Washington’s Max Scherzer joins the duo with a league-best 284 strikeouts to go with his 20-win season.

Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com noted the close race between the starters:

Of course, you can also make an argument for San Francisco Giants starters Johnny Cueto and Madison Bumgarner, as well as Noah Syndergaard of the Mets. Miami Marlins ace Jose Fernandez would also be a reasonable choice to posthumously receive the award after his strong season.

Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register also shared an interesting note on Los Angeles’ Clayton Kershaw:

There can only be three finalists, but there is a long list of deserving candidates in both leagues.

Most Valuable Player (Announced Nov. 17)

Among the American League’s three MVP finalists, only one made the playoffs: Mookie Betts of the Red Sox.

Betts was arguably the biggest breakout player of the 2016 season, with 31 home runs, 113 RBI, a .318 batting average and excellent defense. While David Ortiz had a strong year in his final season, Betts was the clear MVP on the roster.

Of course, the other two candidates also had excellent seasons. Houston Astros star Jose Altuve led the AL with a .338 batting average, while Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout easily had the best WAR in the majors, per Baseball-Reference.com.

Pedro Moura of the Los Angeles Times noted Trout’s incredible consistency:

Albert Pujols and Barry Bonds were the last players to finish in the top three for five years in a row.

Baltimore’s Manny Machado and Toronto’s Josh Donaldson were left off the list, and Donaldson especially won’t like the list of finalists above him.

“You gotta win,” the Blue Jays third baseman said in September, per Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball. “Don’t get me wrong, Trout and Altuve are both great payers, but that’s my idea of valuable.”

That won’t be as much of an issue in the National League, with all three finalists reaching the playoffs.

Kris Bryant is the favorite as the key cog for a Cubs team that had its first 100-win season since 1935.

Daniel Murphy and Seager were also leaders for playoff teams, but both would be a surprise, considering the talent around them.

Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports doesn’t believe there will be much of a debate over the final results:

Bryant’s teammate Anthony Rizzo could have also been worthy of inclusion in the top three, as well as Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado, who led the majors with 133 RBI, but the final list is rock solid.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired veteran catcher Carlos Ruiz from the Philadelphia Phillies in August, but they elected to trade him to the Seattle Mariners on Sunday.

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports first reported the deal, adding Seattle will pick up Ruiz’s $4.5 million option for 2017. The Dodgers are receiving a pitcher from the Mariners’ 40-man roster, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. The player is expected to be left-handed pitcher Vidal Nuno, per Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times. 

Ruiz, who started his big league career in Philadelphia in 2006, appeared in just 62 games between the Phillies and Dodgers last year, slashing .264/.365/.348 with three home runs and 15 RBI.

While those were passable numbers at the plate, they were a far cry from his prime, when the 2012 All-Star posted a .325 batting average, a .934 OPS and 16 home runs.

At his best, Ruiz provides pop behind the plate, with 68 career home runs, though those have been spread out over a number of seasons:

One thing that could be appealing is his prowess against left-handed pitching. According to ESPN.com, he hit .271 with two home runs against southpaws last year. From 2013 to 2015, he hit .277 against lefties, compared to his .230 average against righties.

Ruiz is also a valuable defender. He’s been responsible for 43 total defensive runs saved above average in his career, including seven in just 493 innings in 2016, per FanGraphs. He also caught a career-high 41.7 percent of potential base stealers in 2016, per ESPN.com.

Ruiz likely won’t take the projected starting role from 25-year-old Mike Zunino—who hit 12 home runs in just 55 games in 2016 and 22 long balls in 2014—but he provides proven insurance behind the youngster.

In addition to his defense and ability to hit southpaws, Ruiz will bring plenty of postseason experience to the Mariners. He has played 53 playoff games in his career and won a World Series ring with the Phillies in 2008. That type of presence will be a welcome addition to a Mariners club that hasn’t reached the playoffs since 2001. 

Ruiz will be 38 years old during the 2017 season, but his veteran leadership and array of skills should make him a viable player behind the plate for Seattle.

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The Colorado Rockies have hired Bud Black as their manager heading into the 2017 season, the club announced Monday.

FanRag Sports’ Tommy Stokke first reported the decision.

Black was the manager of the San Diego Padres from 2007 to 2015, accumulating a 649-713 career record in nine seasons. He was fired during the 2015 season after starting the year with a 32-33 record.

Although Black never led San Diego to the playoffs, he won the 2010 National League Manager of the Year award after helping guide the squad to a 90-72 record.

Padres players were quick to come to Black’s defense after the team relieved him of his duties.

“The way that Buddy ran the ship around here was fine,” pitcher James Shields said at the time, per ESPN.com. “We respect him as a manager and a man. As players, we’ve got to do a better job. It’s up to us as players to figure it out, try not to put blame on anybody.”

According to James Wagner of the Washington Post, the Washington Nationals reportedly intended on hiring Black to become their manager before the 2016 season, but negotiations broke down because of contract concerns. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Washington only offered him a one-year deal worth $1.6 million, which was “considerably lower than he anticipated.”

He instead spent the year working as a member of the Los Angeles Angels front office.

The 59-year-old manager will take over a Rockies team that finished in third place in the NL West with a 75-87 record last season. Former manager Walt Weiss, whose contract was set to expire, stepped down at the end of the year.

Although the Rockies haven’t finished with a winning record in the last six years, hitters such as Nolan Arenado, Carlos Gonzalez and 2016 batting champion DJ LeMahieu provide reason for hope in Colorado if Black can maximize the team’s talent.

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The Chicago Cubs announced they will not pick up starting pitcher Jason Hammel‘s contract option Sunday.

Hammel’s 2017 option was worth $12 million, according to Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago. The deal included a $2 million buyout, per Spotrac.

Hammel is coming off a season in which he won a career-high 15 games as Chicago’s No. 5 starter behind Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks and John Lackey.

Despite his 15-10 record, elbow issues ensured Hammel was the odd man out of the rotation in the postseason as the Cubs went with a four-man group that helped them win the World Series.

The elbow problems might have played a part as his ERA rose late in the campaign.

After a seven-inning, two-hit shutout against the Milwaukee Brewers on Aug. 16, Hammel’s ERA sank to 2.75. But in his final seven starts, he allowed 30 earned runs on 47 hits as his ERA rose to 3.83.

The 34-year-old vowed to come back stronger in 2017, per Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune: “I’m not happy with the way things ended, but for nine-tenths of the season, I was very good. I’ll take that into the offseason once the playoffs are done and add on to what I added to this (past) offseason.”

Hammel now has an opportunity to join a pitching staff that will view him as more than a No. 5 starter. However, he won’t be supported by the Cubs’ powerful lineup.

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