NEW YORK (AP) Albert Pujols was unanimously voted National League MVP on Tuesday, becoming the first player to repeat since Barry Bonds won four in a row from 2001-04.

Pujols received all 32 first-place votes and 448 points in balloting announced by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

It was the third MVP award for the St. Louis Cardinals star, who also won in 2005. He became the first unanimous MVP since Bonds in 2002.

Read More...

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Federal officials are asking for a rehearing of an appeals court decision that said the government illegally seized drug-testing samples and records of baseball players who allegedly tested positive for steroids.

Officials say their investigations have been hampered by the ruling, which established new rules for computer searches by federal agents. Read More...

NEW YORK (AP) Joe Mauer sat behind a table on a podium in a conference room at the Metrodome when Justin Morneau shouted out the last question of the day.

"Are you finally going to buy dinner now?" Morneau said to his teammate from the audience, one MVP to another. Read More...

CHICAGO (AP) Omar Vizquel is joining a team with a long history of Venezuelan shortstops, and that was part of the attraction in coming to the Chicago White Sox.

The 42-year-old Vizquel agreed Monday to one-year contract worth nearly $1.4 million to add depth, experience and perhaps advice to a young infield. Last season, the White Sox made 113 errors. Read More...

SEATTLE (AP) Ken Griffey Jr. is being rewarded for his leadership and seniority.

According to contract figures obtained Monday by The Associated Press, the deal Griffey signed this month to return to the Seattle Mariners for one more season as a 40-year-old calls for a $2.35 million base salary for 2010. Read More...

BOSTON (AP) DeMarlo Hale is the new bench coach for the Boston Red Sox under manager Terry Francona.

Hale, the team's third base coach the past four seasons, replaces Brad Mills, hired as manager of the Houston Astros last month. Tim Bogar, who served one season as Boston's first base coach, replaces Hale at third. Read More...

NEW YORK (AP) Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman stood a few feet from each other on the red carpet near the World Series trophy, wearing blue jeans and sports jackets without ties. They were dressed for success, if not for a gala.

While an elegantly attired crowd assembled across the street on a similar carpet for the International Emmy Awards, the Yankees manager and general manager attended Monday night's premiere of this year's World Series film. Read More...

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) The Oakland Athletics have signed free-agent third baseman Dallas McPherson to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

McPherson is expected to compete for a starting job, and he provides Oakland with insurance at third base. Six-time Gold Glove winner Eric Chavez might not be able to return to that position after recovering from a second back surgery that cost him most of this season. Read More...

NEW YORK (AP) The Mets are switching their home pinstriped uniforms to a retro design with a natural color similar to what they wore when they won the 1969 World Series.

The team said Tuesday it will continue to also wear white uniforms at home and use black jerseys as an alternate. Read More...

NEW YORK (AP) It's the time of year in baseball for courting and bluffing - sometimes simultaneously.

Free agent signing season began Friday with teams competing for a dearth of stars and a large number of players nearing the end of their careers. Read More...