Detroit Tigers hire Brad Ausmus as manager (Yahoo Sports)

The Detroit Tigers hired Brad Ausmus as their new manager Sunday, turning to a 44-year-old former catcher with almost no managerial experience to replace Jim Leyland at the helm of the three-time defending AL Central champions. Ausmus, who worked most recently in the San Diego Padres front office as a special assistant to the general manager, emerged as Detroit's pick less than two weeks after Leyland stepped down. ''I think I should be held to that standard as well.'' The Tigers also interviewed Padres bench coach Rick Renteria and Los Angeles Dodgers third base coach Tim Wallach - as well as Tigers hitting coach Lloyd McClendon.

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Former Yankees pitcher Kucks dies (Yahoo Sports)

HILLSDALE, N.J. (AP) -- Johnny Kucks, who pitched a three-hitter for the New York Yankees in Game 7 of the 1956 World Series, has died. He was 81.

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Pirates LHP Rodriguez exercises $13 million option (Yahoo Sports)

Pirates left-hander Wandy Rodriguez has exercised his $13 million player option for 2014. The 34-year-old went 6-4 with a 3.59 ERA for Pittsburgh, missing the final four months of the season with discomfort in his left forearm. Rodriguez attempted to come back from the discomfort twice only to have it return. Rodriguez is 11-8 since the Pirates acquired him.

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Red Sox exercise $13 million option on Lester (Yahoo Sports)

BOSTON (AP) -- The World Series champion Boston Red Sox have exercised their $13 million option on left-hander Jon Lester.

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M's decline options on Gutierrez, Saunders (Yahoo Sports)

The Mariners have declined 2014 options on outfielder Franklin Gutierrez and left-hander Joe Saunders. Gutierrez and Saunders each get $500,000 buyouts. Both players originally signed deals with $7.5 million options, and Saunders' price escalated to $7.9 million based on 32 starts and 180 innings pitched. Gutierrez appeared in just 173 of the team's 486 games over the past three seasons with six separate trips to the disabled list.

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