La Russa Re-Signs with Cardinals

St. Louis promotes from within after ousting Jocketty; outsiders wanted more control

(NEWSER) - After having forced out Walt Jocketty, St. Louis hired his protege, John Mozeliak, as their new general manager, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The move surprised some in the industry who expected 33-year-old Mark Antonetti, assistant general manager with Cleveland, to take the job. Antonetti apparently differed with the Cardinals on issues of control. More»

Deal is for 10 years, $250 million

(NEWSER) - The Los Angeles Angels made two huge splashes today, snatching up two of the biggest free agents on the market: Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson. Pujols has agreed to a 10-year deal worth between $250 and $260 million, a source tells Yahoo! Sports . Depending on the exact number, it may be the second-biggest baseball contract ever—behind Alex Rodriguez's $275 million deal with the Yankees—and according to ESPN, it includes a full no-trade clause. More»

La Russa brings former star aboard, says steroids questions fair game

(AP) - Mark McGwire is back in baseball, hired by old pal Tony La Russa to be the St. Louis Cardinals' hitting coach. La Russa managed McGwire with the Oakland Athletics, then with St. Louis. McGwire was not at today's news conference, but La Russa and general manager John Mozeliak said there will be no effort to shield McGwire from questions about steroids—though McGwire, 46, notably refused to answer such questions before Congress in 2005. More»

(NEWSER) - President Obama will toss the ceremonial first pitch at the All-Star Game on July 14, Major League Baseball announced yesterday. He’ll be the fourth president to do so, following John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, and Gerald Ford, and the seventh to attend the game. He’s also got some first-pitch experience; he did the honors for his beloved Chicago White Sox during the 2005 playoffs. More»

A.L.-leading Tampa ends two Pujols offensive marks

(NEWSER) - Andy Sonnanstine carried a shutout into the eighth inning and added two singles to a 12-hit outburst in the streaking Tampa Bay Rays' 3-1 victory over sagging St. Louis on Friday. Akinori Iwamura had three hits and an RBI for the AL East leaders, who are eight games above .500 for the first time in franchise history. More»