MLB

Before the San Francisco Giants' run of even-year championships was killed by their bullpen at the end of 2016, it was wounded by their lack of power.

Their leading home run hitter was Brandon Belt, who cranked just 17 homers. 17. The bullpen shouldn't be forgotten, but this is also a problem that needs fixing this winter.

It seems the Giants have just the guy in mind.

Terry Francona would surely trade his American League Manager of the Year award—and presumably every other piece of hardware in his trophy case—for another crack at the 2016 World Series.

His Cleveland Indians got to Game 7. They could taste it. Their first championship since 1948. 

Instead, it was "wait until next year."

After overcoming different types of adversity with their teams in the 2016 season, Terry Francona of the Cleveland Indians and Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers were named American League and National League Manager of the Year on Tuesday, respectively. 

The San Diego Padres didn't think Dave Roberts was good enough to be their manager. Unfortunately, that turned out to be a godsend for one of their bitter rivals.

Roberts took home his first NL Manager of the Year Award on Tuesday, besting Chicago Cubs skipper Joe Maddon and Dusty Baker of the Washington Nationals. He actually took the Dodgers to one fewer win than 2015 but got them to the NLCS and overcame a slew of in-season injuries and disappointments.

Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona won the 2016 American League Manager of the Year award Tuesday. 

Per the BBWAA voting results, Francona garnered 22 first-place votes and 128 total points to take home the honor, beating Texas' Jeff Banister and Baltimore's Buck Showalter. 

Sonny Gray is coming off a disastrous 2016 season, though that's not stopping the Oakland Athletics right-hander from generating interest on the trade market.  

Continue for updates. 

Gray on Braves' Radar

Tuesday, Nov. 15

Major League Baseball All-Stars Yoenis Cespedes and Jose Abreu are among the names listed on a witness list for a trial against agent Bartolo Hernandez and his associate, Julio Estrada, for smuggling Cuban baseball players into the United States.  

Per the Associated Press (via ESPN.com), the trial is set to begin January 3, with Cespedes and Abreu listed as witnesses on court documents filed in Miami. 

Major League Baseball's signing season hasn't ramped up just yet, but there's plenty of chatter floating around that could serve as a good indicator of where several of the market's most coveted players will land.

From corner outfielders to relievers on the comeback trail and ageless designated hitters, there are free agents aplenty who can help contenders make leaps in 2017.

You know those people who seem to excel at everything? Mookie Betts is one of them.

Chris Sale's 2016 season was turbulent at times, and the Chicago White Sox are reportedly receiving trade interest in the five-time All-Star from a number of clubs.

Continue for updates. 

Braves, Nationals Inquire About Sale's Availability

Tuesday, Nov. 15

According to Jon Heyman of Today's Knuckleball, the Atlanta Braves are among the teams showing "strong interest" in acquiring Sale.