Tim Lincecum helped explain his second consecutive National League Cy Young Award, saying, "You can see where it's taken a turn to complete numbers and stats and what people do with that. It puts more options in the voters' heads." Zack Greinke, his American League counterpart, is more specific. He introduces things called FIP and VORP into the discussion.

The Nationals say No. 1 draft pick Stephen Strasburg has a dislocation in his left knee joint and should be fine for spring training.

Some teams lost money in 2009, baseball commissioner Bud Selig said Thursday after the final owners meeting of the year.

Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants won his second consecutive National League Cy Young Award Thursday, becoming the first repeat winner in the major leagues since Randy Johnson won four times from 1999 to 2002.

Perhaps it's the tight economy or the lack of marquee free agents on the market, but secrecy is running rampant among major league teams.

Major League Baseball's free agent market officially opens for business at midnight Thursday, but instead of long lines and eager shoppers, teams might be waiting for markdowns to entice them to the door.

Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said Wednesday he's working on tightening up the 2010 playoff schedule so there will be fewer gaps between games.

After years of working with national teams, Davey Johnson is returning to the Nationals.

Mike Scioscia of the Los Angeles Angels and Jim Tracy of the Colorado Rockies, whose perseverance was their virtue battling through tragedy, grief and slow starts, were rewarded Wednesday by winning the 2009 manager of the year awards in their respective leagues.

The Pittsburgh Pirates should have a quiet winter. That is a hopeful sign for the long-suffering franchise.