American League Central News

Aug 17, 2012; Washington, DC, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Johan Santana throws in the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park.

Omar Infante walked past the visiting clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium, where he dressed so many times as a member of the Detroit Tigers, and slipped on a crisp, new Kansas City Royals jersey.

Tigers fans might be stunned and happy that the Chicago White Sox traded closer Addison Reed to Arizona this week for an unproven third baseman.

Arizona general manager Kevin Towers had been talking trade with Chicago White Sox GM Rick Hahn for a month when he arrived at the winter meetings last weekend and sent a text to Angels counterpart Jerry Dipoto.

Finding an impact third baseman has been an ongoing problem for the White Sox. Finding a capable closer has not.

The Kansas City Royals filled the most glaring hole in their roster Monday night when they finalized a $30.25 million, four-year deal with Omar Infante to become their primary second baseman.

The Arizona Diamondbacks bolstered the back end of their bullpen on Monday by acquiring young right-handed reliever Addison Reed from the rebuilding Chicago White Sox in exchange for third-base prospect Matt Davidson.

Though their 12-game winning streak came to an end the previous night, the Detroit Tigers roared with revenge Friday night to beat the Oakland A's 3-1 to clinch the American League Central Division for the first time since 1987 as well as earning a post-season spot in five years.

The Tigers have restructured their roster, with new players in the lineup, the rotation, the bullpen, and on the bench.

Despite the presence of Miguel Cabrera in the division, Phil Hughes is coming to the American League Central.

The winter meetings, the unofficial midpoint of the offseason, have come and gone.

We catch up on what the pundits think of the new-look Tigers, the new rules changes in regard to home plate collisions, take a tour around the AL Central and see Max Scherzer's sartorial dilemma in today's afternoon prowl.

Arizona general manager Kevin Towers had been talking trade with Chicago White Sox GM Rick Hahn for a month when he arrived at the winter meetings last weekend and sent a text to Angels counterpart Jerry Dipoto.

Local product and free-agent right-hander Gavin Floyd, who is coming off season-ending elbow surgery, is close to signing a one-year deal with an undisclosed club not believed to be the Orioles, according to an industry source.

The Royals and veteran Omar Infante reached a tentative agreement on a four-year contract Friday night, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

After the Big Trade earlier this week, officials from the Arizona Diamondbacks spent the rest of their time in riding Space Mountain at Disney World.

ESPN's Buster Olney is reporting that the Royals and Omar Infante have agreed to a contract in which the free agent infielder will earn approximately $30 million over four years .

Chamberlain and the Tigers agreed to terms on a one-year contract, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.

Down in Florida, with the fantasy of Walt Disney World just outside his hotel window, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman spent four days facing reality.

While the Major League Baseball annual winter meetings wrapped up Thursday with the Rule 5 Draft in a location far warmer than Cumberland County, its Hot Stove had been pre-heated weeks in advance of its general managers' meetings.