UPDATED: Red Sox-Dodgers Mega Deal is now Official

(UPDATE) According to reports the deal is done (Nick Punto also tweeted this photo of the Sox players heading to LA). Beckett, Gonzalez, Crawford and Punto to LA for Pitcher Rubby De La Rosa, James Loney and prospects Allen Webster (RHP), Ivan De Jesus (INF) and Jerry Sands (OF) are headed to Boston.

... Original post below ...

There's a lot in the deal, so here's ESPN for the details if you have not heard them already.

Jon Heyman is reporting that the deal has been agreed upon by the teams and is awaiting approval from the league.

Crazy deal, but one that will help both clubs. The Red Sox get a bailout on all their bad contracts giving them a ton of flexibility moving forward, plus whatever they take back in the deal. On the other hand, the Dodgers probably put themselves at the top of the WS Contenders list. Good for Donnie.

MLB To Test Replay System at Yankee Stadium & Citi Field

From Jeff Passan:

Major League Baseball owners have agreed to test two different advanced replay systems live during games starting next week, and if they prove accurate they could precede an overhaul of the system for the 2013 season, sources told Yahoo! Sports.

MLB will analyze a radar-based system and a camera-based system, both similar to the one used in tennis for down-the-line fair-or-foul calls. Yankee Stadium and Citi Field will be the guinea-pig parks for the systems, which have been installed recently.

The use of the systems will be strictly in the background and for analysis. Because the number of questionable plays during games is likely to be limited, MLB plans to do extra testing on non-game days. Before implementing the technology in its 30 ballparks, the league wants to ensure its accuracy is up to standard.

Because of Armando Galarraga's blown perfect game in 2010 and seemingly nightly missed calls, the outcry for replay has grown loud enough that it forced MLB to at least consider a wide-ranging proposal presented at the owners' meetings this week in Denver. While they have balked at the cost of instituting replay – estimates range from $30 million to $40 million for infrastructure and equipment, plus the salaries for 15 extra umpires if indeed MLB uses one in a replay booth – owners did give the go-ahead to assess the new systems.

Purists may have an issue with more replay being added to the game, and according to the article, even some high-ranking executives "remain dubious on replay," including Bud Selig himself who recently said "nobody is anxious to increase instant replay".

I, on the other hand, see nothing wrong with it. The umpires should never be the story when the game is over, and there have been far too many occasions in recent history where that was the case.

MLB Releases Postseason Schedule

Here's the info via this press release from MLB:

Major League Baseball today announced the schedule for the 2012 Postseason, which is set to open with the inaugural pair of Wild Card Games on Friday, October 5th. Game One of the 108th World Series is scheduled for Wednesday, October 24th in the ballpark of the National League champions.

Changes to the Postseason format include the following:

• Clubs from the same division will be allowed to play one another in either the Wild Card Game or the Division Series.

• Tiebreaker games will be played to determine Division Championships, even if the two tied Clubs are assured of participating in the Postseason. If a Division Championship tiebreaker game is necessary, the head-to-head record between the tied Clubs will determine home-field advantage. If the head-to-head record is tied, then division record will be the next tiebreaker.

• If two Clubs are tied for both Wild Card berths, home-field advantage will be determined by the head-to-head record between the tied Clubs. If the head-to-head record is tied, then division record will be the next tiebreaker.

Following the Wednesday, October 3rd scheduled close to the regular season, any necessary regular season tiebreaker games would be broadcast exclusively by TBS. The new Wild Card Games will launch the Postseason on Friday, October 5th and will be broadcast exclusively by TBS. This marks the second consecutive year that the Postseason will begin on a Friday. Before last year, the Postseason had not begun on a Friday since the 1915 World Series.

Two Division Series will begin on Saturday, October 6th, each involving matchups with two Division Champions squaring off. A full slate of Division Series games — two series openers, each involving a Wild Card Game winner, and a pair of Game Twos — is scheduled for Sunday, October 7th. The Division Series will run from Saturday, October 6th though Friday, October 12th, with two potential Game Fives on both Thursday, October 11th and Friday, October 12th. TBS will air 18 of the 20 Division Series games, while MLB Network will debut its live Postseason game coverage with one telecast on Sunday, October 7th and another on Wednesday, October 10th.

For the 2012 Postseason only, the five-game Division Series will begin with two home games for lower seeds, followed by up to three home games for higher seeds. This one-year change, which eliminates a travel day prior to a decisive Game Five of the Division Series, was necessary because the 2012 regular season schedule was established before the agreement on the new Postseason format was reached. Next year, the Division Series will return to the 2-2-1 format used in previous years.

The American League Championship Series will begin exclusively on TBS on Saturday, October 13th, and Sunday, October 14th will feature Game One of the National League Championship Series exclusively on FOX and Game Two of the ALCS on TBS. A potential Game Seven of the ALCS will be scheduled for Sunday, October 21st, while a potential Game Seven of the NLCS will be set for Monday, October 22nd.

Game One of the 2012 World Series will be scheduled for Wednesday, October 24th. Game Three of the Fall Classic will shift to the city of the American League Champions on Saturday, October 27th. A Game Seven, if necessary, would be played on Thursday, November 1st in the N.L. city. The scheduled off days during the World Series are Friday, October 26th and Tuesday, October 30th. In its 17th season as the official network broadcaster of Major League Baseball, FOX Sports will present exclusive live telecast coverage of the World Series.

So there you have it, the 2012 postseason schedule. Let's just hope the Yankees don't blow this and are a part of it.

MLB to Make Changes to Interleague Play?

From Adam Rubin:

Major League Baseball is working on a scheduling reconfiguration for the 2013 season and beyond that likely will eliminate the Mets and Yankees as well as other "natural rivals" playing home-and-home, six-game series annually, baseball sources told ESPNNewYork.com.

With the Houston Astros moving to the American League West next season and the leagues becoming balanced at 15 teams apiece, natural rivals throughout baseball no longer will be guaranteed six games a season and home-and-home series, the sources said.

That goes for obvious intracity rivals such as Mets-Yankees and Cubs-White Sox, as well as for more-forced natural rivals such as the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners.

The Mets and Yankees will continue to play six games a season -- three apiece at Citi Field and Yankee Stadium -- when the AL East and NL East line up for long-form interleague play every three years.

But in the other seasons, a major league source added, the competition likely will be limited to three games at one ballpark, or two games apiece at each ballpark.

Sources cautioned that the 2013 Major League Baseball schedule, and the precise new configurations, are still being discussed.

Can'twe just get rid of interleague play all together? The gimmick has worn off and it's no longer fun. And to be honest, besides Yankees-Mets and the occasional series against the Cubs or someone like that, it was never fun.

The 2012 Postseason Will Officially Include Two More Wild Card Teams

From Barry M. Bloom:

The expansion of Major League Baseball's playoffs with the addition of two Wild Card teams and a one-game elimination in each league will begin this year.

An agreement between MLB and the Players Association, finalized on Friday, adds a second Wild Card in each league, making for a postseason field of 10. The three division winners in each league will await the survivor of a one-game playoff between the Wild Card teams in each league, establishing the Division Series field of four teams in each league. The subsequent Division Series, League Championship Series and World Series formats will remain the same.

For the 2012 postseason only, the five-game Division Series will begin with two home games for lower seeds, followed by up to three home games for higher seeds. This one-year change will eliminate a travel day prior to a decisive Game 5 of a Division Series and was necessary because the 2012 regular-season schedule was announced before the agreement on the new postseason was reached.

Next year, the Division Series will return to the 2-2-1 format used in previous years. Details on the scheduling of the new elimination games between each League's Wild Cards will be announced in the near future.

I wasn't a big fan of this at first, but the idea has grown on me. Now winning the division will actually mean something and those one-game playoffs should be highly entertaining.

Prince Fielder Signs 9-Year Deal With Detroit

There's no doubt that Fielder is going to be a huge addition to their lineup, but it'll be interesting to see what kind of shape Fielder is in towards the end of the contract. For now, however, with the combination of Miguel Cabrera and now Prince Fielder the Tigers are looking pretty damn dangerous.

ESPN: Jose Reyes Headed To Miami

From ESPN:

The Miami Marlins and shortstop Jose Reyes agreed to terms on a six-year, $106 million deal Sunday, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.

The guarantee for the first six years totals $102 million, sources told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark. The deal includes an option for a seventh year, with a guaranteed $4 million.

Sources told ESPNDeportes' Enrique Rojas that the option would be worth $22 million.

According to the article, the Marlins, who also just signed Heath Bell, will now turn their attention to free agent 1B Albert Pujols.

Verlander Wins AL MVP

From the NY Post:

Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson did not win AL MVP, but a former teammate did.

Tigers ace Justin Verlander won the award on Monday and became the first pitcher to earn the honor since Oakland's Dennis Eckersley won in 1992 and the first starter since Boston's Roger Clemens in 1986.

Granderson, whom the Yankees acquired from Detroit after the 2009 season, finished fourth in the voting...

...Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury was second with 242, Bautista third with 231, Granderson followed with 215, and Verlander's Tigers teammate Miguel Cabrera came in fifth with 193 points.

With a 24-5 record and 2.40 ERA you're not going to find any complaints about this award, even if he already won the Cy Young.

Selig Talks About Baseball's New Rules

From Pete Caldera:

Baseball’s wild card just got wilder, with one more team per league added to the postseason mix.

The new playoff system could be implemented as early as the 2012 season, according to commissioner Bud Selig, who also announced the transfer of the Houston Astros to the AL in 2013 – creating a balance of 15 clubs in each league.

Selig dubbed Thursday as “a very historic day,” as MLB’s general managers and quarterly owners meetings wrapped up at the Pfister Hotel, in the commissioner’s hometown. “[It’s] a monumental day,” he said.

First, baseball’s owners unanimously approved the Astros sale from Drayton McLane to Jim Crane, who paid $615 million according to The Associated Press; that’s a cut from the original $680 million sale price.

For the sale to go through, Crane had to agree to the Astros switching from the six-team NL Central to the four-team AL West, thus creating the balance desired by owners and giving the Texas Rangers a natural rival within their division.

To make the schedule work, Selig said there would be interleague play throughout the regular season beginning in 2013.

In announcing the addition of two wild-card teams, Selig said his panel favors a dramatic one-game playoff to determine which club advances to the division series – a system that puts far greater emphasis on winning the division.

“This will be very good for us,” said Selig, who was optimistic – but not certain – that the new playoff format would be adopted for 2012.

“I say that with some reservation, because we have some work to do,” Selig said. “But I’m hopeful.”

The article goes on to mention that there doesn’t appear to be any opposition on any side and that new system is likely to be ratified.

Jayson Stark also mentioned today that this "is just the beginning. Once the new labor deal gets finished, there's a whole lot more coming -- changes that will affect big-league payroll disparity, revenue sharing, the draft, free agency and the broad scope of the business of baseball." Clearly, none of this will help the Yankees.

The Houston move to the AL makes sense. The leagues should have the same amount of teams. And I guess the new playoff system will help the division winners, so that's probably a good thing. But when it comes to the addition of more interleague games I couldn't be more against it.

Interleague play, as it is now, is unnecessary, boring, and clearly the novelty wore off about 5 years ago. Why add more? Does Selig really think fans are eagerly awaiting another thrilling Indians-Pirates series? Please just admit that interleague play is stupid and let it go the way of the dinosaurs.

Torre Admits Umps Missed The Call Last Night

From Mark Feinsand:

Major League Baseball acknowledged that umpires muffed the home run call in the Yankees’ 5-4 loss to the Royals Wednesday night, but given that Joe Girardi opted not to file a protest, there’s nothing that can be done about it.

“The game is over and that’s what it is,” MLB executive VP of baseball operations Joe Torre told the Daily News on Thursday. “It’s unfortunate. Everyone had to cooperate to make it a one-run game.”

...

The mistake was the result of DeMuth’s interpretation of the ground rules at Kauffman Stadium, which underwent structural renovations prior to the 2009 season.

“It was a missed call, but there was also a misunderstanding on the rule,” Torre said. “He just missed it, but his interpretation was that the back fence was behind the wall and out of the ballpark. It certainly wasn’t for a lack of doing his job, just a misunderstanding of the rule.”

...

“This man works very hard at what he does,” Torre said. “His interpretation was that the back screen, which is behind the wall, is behind the wall. To him, that meant it was out of the ballpark. He was wrong and there was a price to pay to learn that lesson.”

Torre stressed that the instant replay system did not fail despite the blown call.

“The replay gave him every look that he needed to make the right call,” Torre said. “He thought he did make the right call. This isn’t an umpire not doing his job. That was his understanding of the rule when he’s umpired there and nothing had happened to change his mind until last night.”

Doesn't really do us much good now, but at least MLB is admitting the mistake. Still, it would have been nice to see how that game had played out without the gift homer.

Report: MLB Won't Suspend A-Rod

From Todd Venezia:

Major League Baseball officials will not suspend injured Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez over illegal poker allegations, The Post has learned.

"Even if it is determined that he was [playing illegal poker], he will not be suspended at this time for this infraction," a source said. "He will be warned again and not lightly."

Last week, baseball brass announced that they would call Rodriguez into MLB headquarters to be grilled about claims he played in high stakes private games frequented by thugs and drug users.

League officials have been probing Rodriguez's alleged poker playing, reports of which first surfaced early last month.

But the source told The Post that, unless Rodriguez admits to some other more serious infraction, he will not be suspended for any of the activities that so far have been alleged.
Although MLB objects to the behavior, the league apparently does not feel that it is serious enough to suspend Rodriguez for any period of time.

They will give him a serious warning to stay out of that kind of game, the source said. The new warning will come after the league previously cautioned the star slugger about his card playing in 2005.

This confirms what Jon Heyman reported on Friday.

However, it wasn't all good news.

Also, baseball will seek to have language added to the next collective bargaining agreement with the Players Association that specifically bans playing in illegal underground poker games and other illicit gambling.

That's absolutely ridiculous and I hope the Players' Association refuses and puts its foot down, but that's an argument for another day.

MLB Investigating A-Rod For Poker Allegations, Considering Suspension

From Wallace Matthews:

Major League Baseball is taking "very seriously" the allegations that Alex Rodriguez took part in some illegal, underground poker games, one of which reportedly turned violent, and he could face suspension if his participation in the games is confirmed.

"We're talking to people involved in the investigation and we're taking this very seriously," said an MLB executive who spoke to ESPNNewYork.com on condition of anonymity. "Because he had been warned about this before, I would say a possible suspension would be very much in play."

The allegations, first published by RadarOnline.com, are that the New York Yankees third baseman played in at least two of the games, one of which took place at the Beverly Hills mansion of a record executive at which "cocaine was openly used and a fight nearly broke out when one of the players refused to pay after losing "more than a half-million dollars."

According to the story, details of which were reportedly provided by another player at the games, Rodriguez "tried to distance himself from the game," once the violence broke out.

"He just shook his head, not knowing what the hell happened," the whistle-blower revealed. "He didn't want to deal with it at all. He was like, 'OK, whatever. It's your game.' I would estimate A-Rod lost, like, a few thousand dollars that night. After everything that happened, he paid up and left."

in 2005, Rodriguez had been warned about gambling in underground poker clubs by the Yankees and by baseball commissioner Bud Selig, both of whom were concerned that possible involvement with gamblers who might be betting on baseball games could result in a Pete Rose-type lifetime ban from baseball.

Now, although baseball's investigation centers upon Rodriguez's card-playing and he is not thought to have gambled on the outcome of any baseball games, the fact that he may have disregarded Selig's warning is said to have angered the commissioner.

"Bud's totally fed up with him," said a baseball insider. "It's like there's something new with him every day and it's impossible to keep up with it."

What a freaking joke.

The only concern MLB should have is if players--A-Rod in this case--were betting on the game. Since he's not, there should be no issue, and definitely no suspension. Sadly, it sounds like they will suspend him if they can prove he played in the game. As of now you already have witnesses who say he played, which probably isn't enough for a suspension to hold up, but it's a start for Bud Selig and his crew of morons over at MLB.

Remember, this is also the same yutz who turned a blind eye to a decade of rampant steroid use. That was OK, but A-Rod playing a harmless, yes harmless, game of poker is a problem.

Maybe for once he should be focusing on real issues of the game; like why African-Americans don't care about the sport. Or why he thinks having the ASG determine home-field advantage for the World Series is a good idea. Or any of the other problems facing Major League Baseball today. (I'd get into them now, but I don't have 3 hours.) But no, of course not. Instead, he's wasting time with this pointless investigation of Alex Rodriguez and and his poker hobby.

In Case You Missed It: The Weaver-Guillen Confrontation

I know it's not Yankee-related, but it's entertaining. I'm not sure I've ever seen a hitter show up a pitcher like Guillen did. Have you?

Jimenez Headed To Cleveland

From ESPN:

The Indians acquired Ubaldo Jimenez from the Colorado Rockies for three minor leaguers and a player to be named.

The trade, contingent on the 2010 All-Star passing a physical Sunday, is a bold gamble by the Indians' first-year general manager Chris Antonetti.

The Indians, 1½ games behind Detroit in the AL Central, have gone all in to try to win the division for the first time since 2007 after making their second trade of the night and third in three days.

Also Saturday night, Cleveland dealt infielder Orlando Cabrera, who lost his starting job to rookie Jason Kipnis last week, to San Francisco for Triple-A outfielder Thomas Neal. On Thursday, they sent two minor leaguers to the Chicago Cubs for veteran outfielder Kosuke Fukudome.

To obtain Jimenez, Cleveland gave up right-handers Alex White and Joe Gardner and first baseman-outfielder Matt McBride.

Left-hander Drew Pomeranz, one of Cleveland's top pitching prospects, was pulled from his start at Double-A Akron. He did not sign with Cleveland after being drafted last year until the signing deadline of Aug. 16. No drafted player can be dealt until one calendar year after signing.

The 22-year-old Pomeranz could give the Rockies the most value if he is the player to be named.

Mets Trade K-Rod To Milwaukee

Sounds like a pretty good deal for the Brewers.

Playoff Expansion is a Joke

From CBS Sports:

With both sides expressing support for adding two playoff teams in 2012, negotiators for baseball players and owners are considering having the new wild card round be best-of-3 or winner-take-all.

Because longer series would push playoffs deeper into cold weather, the sides are not considering having the new first round be best-of-7.

"I would say we're moving to expanding the playoffs, but there's a myriad of details to work out," Commissioner Bud Selig said Thursday at his annual meeting with the Associated Press Sports Editors. "Ten is a fair number."

Since 1995, eight of the 30 baseball teams make the playoffs. In the NFL, 12 of 32 teams make the playoffs. In the NBA and NHL, 16 of 30 advance to the postseason.

In the new format, the two wild cards in each league would meet, and the winners would advance to the following round against division winners.

"The more we've talked about it, I think we're moving inexorably to that," Selig said.

Discussions have taken place as part of collective bargaining for a labor deal to replace the one that expires in December. Players want to make sure the new format doesn't cause lengthy travel with little recovery time.

"We've had a healthy exchange on a number of alternatives," union head Michael Weiner said, "but the sides recognize there has to be a balance of competitive considerations, economic considerations and player safety considerations."

For someone who consistently craps out bad idea after bad idea I'm not surprised by Selig here. After all, he's the same fool who thought making the All-Star game determine home field advantage for the World Series was a good idea.

Hasn't the regular season been watered-down enough? How much drama has already been taken out of the pennant race from the Wild Card alone? And now, MLB wants to make the regular season even more irrelevant by adding another two undeserving teams to the postseason. Great.

Obviously, like nearly everything in today's world, this is a money driven decision. And who cares about ruining the game when you're lining your pockets with cold hard cash, right? 

How do you guys feel about this?

Seven-Day Disabled List Implemented for Concussions

While concussions may not be a pressing issue within Major League Baseball, I cannot help but feel that this is an important step in the means by which professional sports handles what amounts to a very serious health risk. Cash Kruth of MLB.com provides a great deal of insight into this new policy here. What follows is an edited selection of items that caught my eye.

"I believe that Major League Baseball is taking a major step forward on a vital shared goal with the MLB Players Association," Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig said. "This policy, which reflects the collective expertise of many of the foremost authorities in the field, will benefit players, umpires and clubs alike, and I am proud of the spirit of cooperation that has led us to this result."

[snip]

"I like it," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "I like it because sometimes that two or three days where a guy can't play can really put you in a hole where you don't want to send him down for 15 days. So, I think it's great."

The procedure for clearing a player or umpire to return to activity includes a club-submitted "Return to Play" form to Major League Baseball's medical director. The submission of the form is required regardless of whether the player was placed on the disabled list.

The policy also includes mandatory baseline neuropsychological testing requirements for players and umpires during Spring Training, or when a player joins a new club during the season. This already has been common practice for most clubs.

New procedures will be implemented for evaluating players and umpires for possible concussions after such incidents as being hit in the head by a pitched, batted or thrown ball or bat; a collision with a player, umpire or fixed object; or any time the head or neck of a player or umpire is forcibly rotated.

The Commissioner's Office will conduct an orientation for club medical staffs regarding the new protocols, and each club will be required to have a mild traumatic brain injury specialist in its home city.

"The MLBPA is pleased to have worked with the Commissioner's Office, members of club training and medical staffs and some of today's leading experts in neurology to develop new protocols for the diagnosis and treatment of concussions," said MLBPA executive director Michael Weiner. "Player safety is a major concern of the collective bargaining parties, and these new protocols and procedures should enhance our ongoing efforts to protect the health of players and umpires."

The article also contains a list of all of the committee members that worked on this new policy, and it's a fairly impressive and ambitious group. Here's hoping that these measures help to prevent a redux of Morneau's 2010 season, as well as future ramifications like those suffered by former NFL players.

Venon Wells Traded to the Angels

Am I the only one that thinks the Angels got hosed?

Alomar and Blyleven Headed to Cooperstown

BBWAA.com has the info.

Alomar batted .300 with a .371 on-base average and a .443 slugging percentage over a 17-season career with the San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, New York Mets, Chicago White Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks. The switch hitter totaled 2,724 hits, 1,508 runs, 504 doubles, 80 triples, 210 home runs, 1,134 runs batted in and 474 stolen bases. Alomar, whose father and brother, both named Sandy, played in the majors, was on Toronto’s World Series champions of 1992 and ’93, was the Most Valuable Player of the 1992 American League Championship Series and MVP of the 1998 All-Star Game at Coors Field in Denver.

Blyleven pitched in 22 seasons with the Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians and California Angels and compiled a 287-250 record with a 3.31 ERA, 242 complete games, 60 shutouts and 3,701 strikeouts in 4,969 1/3 innings. The righthander pitched a no-hitter on Sept. 22, 1977 for the Rangers against the Angels and shares the AL single-game record for the longest one-hit complete game of 10 innings June 21, 1976. He, too, was a key part of two World Series champions, the 1979 Pirates and the 1987 Twins.

The only other players to gain more than 50 percent of the vote were shortstop Barry Larkin with 361 votes (62.1%) and pitcher Jack Morris with 311 (53.5%).

Here is how all the voted broke down:

2011 Hall of Fame voting
Name	Votes	Pct.
Roberto Alomar	523	90.0%
Bert Blyleven	463	79.7%
Barry Larkin	361	62.1%
Jack Morris	311	53.5%
Lee Smith	263	45.3%
Jeff Bagwell	242	41.7%
Tim Raines	218	37.5%
Edgar Martinez	191	32.9%
Alan Trammell	141	24.3%
Larry Walker	118	20.3%
Mark McGwire	115	19.8%
Fred McGriff	104	17.9%
Dave Parker	89	15.3%
Don Mattingly	79	13.6%
Dale Murphy	73	12.6%
Rafael Palmeiro	64	11.0%
Juan Gonzalez	30	5.2%
Harold Baines	28	4.8%
John Franco	27	4.6%
Kevin Brown	12	2.1%
Tino Martinez	6	1.0%
Marquis Grissom	4	0.7%
Al Leiter	4	0.7%
John Olerud	4	0.7%
B.J. Surhoff	2	0.3%
Bret Boone	1	0.2%
Benito Santiago	1	0.2%
Carlos Baerga	0	0.0%
Lenny Harris	0	0.0%
Bobby Higginson	0	0.0%
Charles Johnson	0	0.0%
Raul Mondesi	0	0.0%
Kirk Rueter	0	0.0%
Note: 436 votes (75%) required for enshrinement. Induction July 24, 2011 in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Hamilton Wins AL MVP, Cano Finishes 3rd

From MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan:

Josh Hamilton became the fifth Rangers player to win the American League Most Valuable Player Award on Tuesday, outpolling Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera and Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano in voting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Hamilton is the first Rangers player to win the award since Alex Rodriguez in 2003. Outfielder Jeff Burroughs was the first Texas player to take the honor in 1974. Outfielder Juan Gonzalez won in 1996 and '98, and catcher Ivan Rodriguez won in 1999.

Hamilton led the AL in batting with a .359 batting average while finishing with 95 runs scored, 40 doubles, three triples, 32 home runs and 100 RBIs. He also led the league with a .633 slugging percentage and was second with a .411 on-base percentage.

Even though he did miss most of September, he still had a monster year and deserved the award.

As for Cano, 3rd is probably right where he belonged in this voting. Still, that's nothing to be ashamed about for Robbie, who will have many more opportunities to take home an MVP.