Just three days remaining in the season following today, and plenty of drama surrounding both Wild Card races, but let's take a step back for a moment to run down this week's top stories at MLBTR:
- The Cardinals and Lance Berkman agreed on a one-year extension for $12MM that includes a full no-trade clause. Have to think Puma could've pulled in multiple years, but he opted to stay where he wanted to be.
- The Mets extended Tim Byrdak for the 2012 season as well. The Mets rarely entertain extensions at this point in the season, but Byrdak was aggressive and approached the team.
- The Reds extended GM Walt Jocketty through 2014 this week, while the A's gave manager Bob Melvin a three-year extension as well.
- Jocketty also publicly stated that Brandon Phillips will be back with the Reds in 2012, but the outspoken Phillips was sure to chime in that he wouldn't be giving Cincinnati a hometown discount if they want to work out a multi-year deal.
- Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd said this week that manager Jim Tracy would be back in 2012, and possibly beyond. He also stated that the club plans on exercising Jason Giambi's option.
- Leo Nunez was placed on the restricted list by the Marlins this week after it was revealed that he's been playing under an assumed name and that he is actually 29 years old, not 28.
- The struggling Red Sox tried to acquire Chris Capuano from the Mets to make one start prior to the end of the season. Capuano wouldn't have been eligible for their postseason roster, should they make it.
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman admitted this week that his meeting with Carl Crawford at last year's Winter Meetings was intended to drive up his price.
- Rays executive VP of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said that the club doesn't plan on entering the offseason thinking they can afford to move some starting pitching, since pitching depth can be so fleeting.
- Giants ace Tim Lincecum is one of the rare (maybe the only) young stars who prefers short-term deals to a long-term contract. Then again, as Ben Nicholson-Smith pointed out in that post, that may be because he can earn as much in arbitration as most elite free agent pitchers receive on the free agent market.
- Kerry Wood will retire if the Cubs aren't interested in bringing him back in 2012.
- The Marlins will consider big-name free agents this offseason, and they've got their sights set on Aramis Ramirez, to name one.
- Major offseason signings are also possible for the Dodgers, and GM Ned Colletti talked about how the team could seek to improve their offense in the "most dramatic" way possible.
- The Nationals had a scout at C.J. Wilson's last start and have been said to be targeting an impact pitcher this offseason.
- Japanese lefty Tsuyoshi Wada has his sights set on pitching in the Majors next season.
- Orioles DH Vladimir Guerrero hopes to play for another two or three seasons before retiring.
- Once considered a major part of the Royals' future, Kila Ka'aihue was designated for assignment this week.
- Manny Ramirez now says he wasn't prepared for retirement and is willing to serve out his 100-game suspension if given the chance to sign somewhere and return to baseball.
- MLB would like to add an additional Wild Card team in each league and a one-game playoff to determine which Wild Card winners will advance. The system could be implemented next season but 2013 is more likely.
- The Astros officially "clinched" the No. 1 pick in the 2012 Draft this week.