Sportspool.com Sports News

The annual off-season fight for pitching is on, and Dallas Keuchel is becoming one of the most coveted arms on the free-agent market, with the Toronto Blue Jays said to be interested in the former Houston Astros left-hander.

The off-season to-do list for Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins has a couple of glaring needs at the top as he prepares to head out to Las Vegas for next week's baseball winter meetings.

The New York Mets have acquired longtime star second baseman Robinson Cano and major league saves leader Edwin Diaz from the Seattle Mariners in a seven-player trade.

The Toronto Blue Jays have non-tendered infielder Yangervis Solarte, who will become a free agent.

MGM Resorts has made its third deal in four months with a major U.S. sports league, becoming Major League Baseball's official gaming partner in the U.S. and Japan.

The Atlanta Braves added a pair of free agents following their first division title in five years, agreeing to one-year contracts with third baseman Josh Donaldson and catcher Brian McCann.

Adrian Beltre of the Texas Rangers retired Tuesday after 21 seasons in a career in which he hit 477 home runs and became the first player from the Dominican Republic to have 3,000 hits.

Career saves leader Mariano Rivera and late pitcher Roy Halladay are among 20 new candidates on the Hall of Fame ballot for the Baseball Writers' Association of America, joined by 15 holdovers headed by Edgar Martinez.

The Toronto Blue Jays traded utility infielder Aledmys Diaz to the Houston Astros on Saturday for starting pitcher Trent Thornton. Diaz, 28, hit .263 in 130 games this past season with 18 home runs and 55 RBI.

World Series MVP Steve Pearce is staying with the Red Sox. Boston and the first baseman agreed Friday to a $6.25 million US, one-year contract.