MLB

The chance to win a championship is usually at the top of every athlete’s list when it comes to choosing with whom to sign during free agency, but the chance to be back with a favorite mascot is rarely cited as a reason. That’s why it was surprising to hear that the biggest reason Cliff Lee signed with the Phillies over the Yankees and Rangers was because their mascot, the Philly Phanatic.

Former Cubs ace Mark Prior, who hasn’t pitched in the major leagues since 2006, signed a minor league deal Tuesday with the Yankees to be the team’s designated "Towel Drill Instructor." New Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild could think of nobody better than Prior for the job.

Lou Piniella was spotted at a suburban Florida shopping center over the weekend, where he was working part-time as a mall Santa Claus.

Former Phillies first baseman and current ESPN Baseball Tonight analyst John Kruk has been training this offseason to enter the world of competitive eating.

After Tom Ricketts’ ill-conceived plan to fund the renovation of Wrigley Field failed to gain the support of Illinois legislators, the Cubs chairman decided to have his family dress up as Salvation Army bell-ringers and pocket the money given to them.

Vowing that “no organization’s going to beat us when it comes to asinine signings,” the Cubs have announced that they have demanded an extension to Alfonso Soriano's contract.

After signing their lucrative off-season contracts this week, new Chicago acquisitions Carlos Pena of the Cubs and Adam Dunn of the White Sox have come together on a friendly wager to celebrate their new city.