The Toronto chapter of the Baseball Writers of America have released their 2007 award winners. Roy Halladay was named pitcher of the year; Alex Rios player of the year; Jesse Litsch top rookie; and Dustin McGowan most improved player.

Per ESPN.com:

Major league pitcher Joe Kennedy died early Friday morning while at home with his family in Florida, agent Damon Lapa confirmed to ESPN.com.

The cause of Kennedy's death could not immediately be determined, Lapa said.

Update:  A Fox Sports headline through Google said: "Pitcher Joe Kennedy died early Friday, apparently from a brain aneurysm, according to a major-league source."  However, since then the headline and text of the article omitted that detail

NYY 3B Alex Rodriguez is your 2007 AL MVP.

It was not a unanimous selection, as the Tigers' Magglio Ordonez took two first-place votes. But really, Maggs, you had a nice year ... MVP-worthy in some seasons. But not this one. Outside all the Boras shenanigans, A-Rod was the best player in the AL -- make that the best player in the big leagues! -- last seaon, and this hardware only validates that.

LATE ADD: PHI SS Jimmy Rollins named 2007 NL MVP.

The Blue Jays acquired Marco Scutaro from the A's for minor leaguers Graham Godfrey and Kristian Bell, as JP Ricciardi completes another trade with his old boss.

Yeah, yeah, the Red Sox are world champs (yawwwwwwn) ... but it's the Yankees continuing to dominate the headlines, first with the whole A-Rod thing and now, apparently, ex-Bomber backstop Joe Girardi has been offered the manager's (hot)seat. Apparently runner-up Don Mattingly will not be offered, nor would he accept, a position on Joe G's coaching staff.

Forget the whole A-Rod deal for a moment -- is Girardi a good choice for pinstriped nation?

Joe Torre, the eighth-winningest manager in major league baseball history, is now, as they say, a free agent. In a twist on the expected "will they bring Joe back?" storyline, it was Torre's decision to leave the Bronx Zoo.

Although it would have been a pay cut, the Yankee offer he turned down was for a $5 million, one-year contract that still would have made him the highest-paid manager in baseball.

Whatchathink, Bauxites?

The Pittsburgh Pirates have led off the post-season axe brigade by firing manager Jim Tracy, who took the squad to a 68-94 mark this year, not precisely a quantum leap from the '06 67-95 slate.

C'mon, Jim! Bucco management clearly provided you with 71-win talent!

So, start your bidding, Bauxites -- who's next? And who should (or who will) replace Tracy?

Third baseman Troy Glaus will miss the remainder of the 2007 season, as he is scheduled to undergo season-ending surgery next week to repair a nerve in his left foot.

Russ Adams started at third base for Toronto today and, according to wire reports, is expected to split time with Hector Luna over the Jays' final 18 games.

So ... your thoughts, Bauxites?

Buster Olney, apparently busy using his Canadian phone minutes, reports that Vernon Wells will have offseason shoulder surgery to remove a cyst.

Congratulations to Boston Red Sox rookie RHSP Clay Buchholz, who in making just his second career major league start tonight, no-hit the Baltimore Orioles, 10-0.

Buchholz's no-hitter comes on the heels of last night's gem by Minnesota's Scott Baker, who came within three outs of a perfect game and two outs of a no-hitter against the Royals.