MLB

In baseball, as in life, money makes the world go 'round. It's a business, as players, agents and owners never tire of reminding us.

But something has shifted—there's a new currency in the game, a new blueprint for success. And it prioritizes prospects, player development and homegrown talent over limitless checkbooks.

Mike Bauman of MLB.com charted this sea change in 2013:

For the likes of David Price, Zack Greinke, Jake Arrieta, Josh Donaldson and the rest of baseball's biggest stars, it's time to put the final touches on their 2015 MLB award resumes.

With just days to go in the season, we have one last opportunity to check in on all the races for the top individual honors.

As has been the case in the past, stats such as WAR, OPS, home runs, FIP, xFIP and ERA were the most crucial factors in determining which players have the best chance of snagging Rookie of the Year and Cy Young honors.

Before we inject some Debbie Downer realism into the Los Angeles Dodgers' champagne-soaked celebration, let's pause to appreciate what they've accomplished.

For the third consecutive season, the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched the National League West by virtue of Tuesday's 8-0 victory over the archrival San Francisco Giants.

Despite the amount of success the Dodgers organization has enjoyed over the years in both Los Angeles and Brooklyn, this marks the first time it has won three straight division titles. 

The 2015 season is a lost cause for the San Diego Padres, and they received more unfortunate news Tuesday when Matt Kemp was forced to leave the game against the Milwaukee Brewers with an injury.

Continue for updates.

Having a great manager doesn't guarantee postseason success.

Games are still won on the field, but managers are tasked with putting players in the best position to succeed.

Bruce Bochy didn't have a ton of success before joining the San Francisco Giants in 2007. Before arriving in San Francisco, Bochy managed the San Diego Padres for 12 seasons. 

October is almost upon us, meaning Major League Baseball's best action is just around the corner.

Playoff teams don't make the postseason without good play when it counts, and this list recognizes 12 players who have made a considerable difference in September, looking to do the same in the playoffs.

There are no rankings on this list; everyone on it is pretty much equal in terms of importance to their respective teams during the last month.

With that being said, here are two simple criteria to help you understand how the following dozen ballplayers made this list:

Justine Siegal made MLB history Tuesday, as the Oakland Athletics announced she would serve as a guest instructor for their Instructional League club, making her the first woman to coach in big league history.

An already frustrating season in San Diego took another hit earlier this month when Major League Baseball fined the San Diego Padres an undisclosed amount for holding an illegal international workout this summer, according to Bleacher Report sources.

Kim Ng, MLB senior vice president, declined to comment when reached Monday. Padres president Mike Dee also declined to comment, saying he considers it a "closed matter."

The Cincinnati Reds are reportedly considering several options for their 2016 coaching staff, including whether to retain manager Bryan Price. No final decisions are expected until after the regular season comes to a close.  

Continue for updates.