Rangers general manager Jon Daniels says the team will make a decision on whether Neftali Feliz will start or close next season before spring training. "I hate spring training decisions," Daniels said. "I do. I'd have to go back and study it, but you make as many bad ones as good ones. Sometimes you get bailed out and Nelson Cruz clears waivers. Everyone is in the fish bowl. I don't think it's the best way to make decisions." Last year, one of the big questions was whether Feliz would move from closer, where he was the American League Rookie of the Year in 2010, to the rotation.

Theo Epstein met with manager Mike Quade in a seven-hour meeting on Thursday to discuss his status with the team, according to a source. Quade met with Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer in Chicago. It was reported initially that the trio met with Florida. The manager has one year and $1 million remaining on the two-year deal that he signed in November 2010.

The Nationals have picked up Davey Johnson's managerial option for the 2012 season. "Winning the pennant. Winning the division. Winning the National League," Johnson said of his goals during a conference call on Monday. Washington is coming off a third-place finish, the team's best since 2005 when they were in Montreal. Johnson says the Nationals are ready to contend. "I couldn't have said that last spring. I didn't think the talent was ready," he added. "But after being there and seeing the progress that some of the young players made, I think we definitely can contend. And I would be sorely disappointed if we didn't do just that. The talent's there."

Just a few days after winning the World Series, Tony La Russa has announced his retirement as manager of the Cardinals. La Russa, a three-time World Series winner, goes out on top after leading St. Louis to a win over Texas in seven games. The Cardinals left the door open for La Russa, 67, to return in 2012. He managed the Athletics to a World Series title in 1989 and won his first with the Cardinals in 2006.

A sea of fans jammed downtown St. Louis on Sunday to honor the World Series champion Cardinals and implore Albert Pujols to stay. An official crowd estimate was not immediately available for the parade down the streets of St. Louis and the celebration at Busch Stadium, but city officials expected several hundred thousand. Pujols drew loud cheers along the parade route and a long standing ovation at the stadium. When asked on the podium if he'd like to be back for another celebration next season, he smiled sheepishly and said, "Hey, why not?" After 11 Hall of Fame seasons as a Cardinal, Pujols is a free agent for the first time and it isn't clear if the mid-market Cardinals will be able or willing to give a long-term contract to a player who turns 32 before next season.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has a new contract offer, but hasn't signed it yet, according to a baseball source. Cashman, whose three-year, $6 million contract expires on Monday, has been incommunicado all weekend. The source said that a final version of the new contract approved by the Yankees has been in Cashman's possession since Saturday. "All the terms and conditions are done," the source said. "My understanding is (Cashman) was going over it with his lawyer (Saturday night)."

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo believes that his team is just a few pieces away from contending in the National League East division. "We are an outfield bat away and a starting pitcher away from being a contender in the division," Rizzo said. Washington is believed to have spent close to $70 million on their roster in 2011.

The Red Sox tried to convince John Lackey to have Tommy John surgery as far back as April, according to a Major League source. Lackey could not be convinced. He struggled this season and will now miss the 2012 campaign following the surgery. Boston also tried to convince Lackey to take some time off at other points, including during his wife's battle with breast cancer and later their divorce proceedings.

Orioles pitcher Chris Jakubauskas, who cleared waivers last week, has refused his outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk and elected to become a free agent. He was outrighted previously, which allowed him to refuse the assignment. He also would have qualified as a minor league free agent later this week. Jakubauskas, 32, was 2-2 with a 5.72 ERA in 33 games (six starts) and 72 1/3 innings for the Orioles this season. He said he'd like to reach a deal with the Orioles and remain in the organization.

The Red Sox will begin talking to managerial candidates, with Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin and Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum set to interview for the job this week. Mackanin has been Charlie Manuel's right-hand man in Philadelphia since 2009. Sveum spent the 2004 and 2005 seasons in Boston as the Red Sox third base coach before leaving for Milwaukee following the 2005 season. He served in various coaching capacities with Milwaukee (third base coach, bench coach, interim manager for 12 games) from 2006-08 before becoming the team's hitting coach in 2009.