Baseball’s offseason business began Monday with the New York Yankees exercising $15 million options on second baseman Robinson Cano and center fielder Curtis Granderson, two of the disappointments in their American League Championship Series loss to Detroit.
Oakland, the surprise AL West champion with a major league-low $59.5 million payroll, exercised a $4.5 million option for closer Grant Balfour and declined its half of a $10 million mutual option for shortstop Stephen Drew, who receives a $1.35 million buyout.
In other contract news, Minnesota declined a $9.25 million option on right-hander Scott Baker, who missed the entire season because of a torn elbow ligament. And the Dodgers, who haven’t made the playoffs in three years, declined options on first baseman Juan Rivera ($4 million), right-hander Todd Coffey ($2.5 million) and catcher Matt Treanor ($950,000).
SHORT HOPS
Bay Area police made dozens of arrest during a rowdy World Series celebration in the hours after the Giants clinched the World Series. Bonfires of trash were lit in several intersections around the city, and a public transit bus was torched. Windows of several businesses and vehicles were broken, including a news van. … Venezuelan fans are celebrating the selection of Giants slugger Pablo Sandoval as the first Venezuelan most valuable player in a World Series. Fellow Venezuelan and Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio sent congratulations on Twitter, referring to the possibility of the Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera winning American League MVP, saying: “We should have two MVPs this year … don’t you think?”…The Giants’ sweep of the Tigers set a record low for the World Series’ television ratings.
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