Mike McCann's Field of Fotos

Mets fans got their holiday present 27 days early. While Christmas and Hanukkah both arrive the night before December 25th, the news broke yesterday that Yoenis Cespedes had agreed to a four-year $110 million deal to remain a Met. The Cuban expat, who'd thrived in his season and a half in Flushing, totaled 31 homers and 86 RBI in 2016. His decision to remain with the Mets takes the best all around player off the free agent market. Perhaps it now raises the price for Edwin Encarnacion or Jose Bautista. And it might even signal a trend. This contract carries Cespedes through his age-35 season. Unlike the deals signed by Albert Pujols, Robinson Cano and Miguel Cabrera, this doesn't commit a ballclub to be paying for a player closer to 40 than 30, when skills erode and bodies turn brittle. The Mets got their man, if not at a bargain, at least in a rational deal. OK, he's a character, maybe bordering on diva. Cespedes loves playing golf -- sometimes to the detriment of hi...

I always enjoy capturing candid images during the Yankees Old Timers Day. Of course, it's special when heroes of past seasons and eras are cheered by the fans as they're introduced, or take the field again for the Old Timers Game. Beyond that, there's something deliciously fascinating about seeing onetime teammates reunite. Bobby Brown and Whitey Ford played together on the 1950 club, the second of five consecutive World Series champions. So they had a lot to catch up on -- family, the good life in retirement, playing alongside Joe DiMaggio perhaps remembering Yogi Berra (note the number 8 in tribute on Bobby's left sleeve)... or maybe they were discussing their remarkable manager. These were two of Casey Stengel's Yankees, who starred for the skillful and often inscruitable skipper whose record in the Bronx will likely never be matched: 10 pennants in 12 years between 1949 and '60.

Even though the Giants didn't win the World Series this season, they still have to be considered the closest thing to a baseball dynasty this decade. Their three championship teams (2010, '12 and '14) all had catcher Buster Posey in common, along with manager Bruce Bochy -- and one of the game's most respected pitching coaches Dave Righett i. The onetime Yankee fireballer tossed a 4th of July 1983 no-hitter in the Bronx. The following season, he became one of the first successful starting pitchers to transition to closing. These days, he's the mentor, tutor and confidante of such prominent hurlers as Bumgarner, Cueto and Cain. In a sport, where turnover on and off the field is the rule, not the exception, 2017 will be Dave's 18th year as San Francisco's pitching coach. And today (November 28th) is Dave's 58th birthday.

Less than 90 days till pitchers and catchers report to training camps across Florida and Arizona. So how about a couple of warm weather images to fight the northern chill on this late November morning? Met pitchers Hansel Robles (above) and Logan Verrett (below) face the Cardinals last March 7th at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter.

This summer's road trip included a pair of Pirates/Cubs games at PNC Park. Among the new generation of venues, this one earns top honors for taking the most advantage of its location. The Roberto Clemente Bridge crosses the Allegheny River to the city's Golden Triangle downtown area. Even the batters eye is distinctive, as the greenery spells out Pirates. Looking in from the outfield, the wall between the press box and the upper level seats salutes the five previous Pittsburgh World Series champions. Retired number plaques form a ring of honor two levels lower. The seating bowl at PNC brings fans closer to the action than in other new-generation parks. You see the impressive results below.

Over the years, the Yankees have sported some impressive middle infield combinations. When I became a fan in the early '60s, that meant Tony Kubek and Bobby Richardson. For the late '70s revival, it was Bucky Dent and Willie Randolph. Derek Jeter teamed up with Chuck Knoblauch and later Robinson Cano. Phil Rizzuto's partners included Hall of Famer Joe Gordon, as well as Billy Martin and Jerry Coleman. All were high achievers and fondly remembered. But none of those combos have produced what the Yankees 2016 tandem of Didi Gregorius and Starlin Castro have -- 20 home runs each! Didi reached that impressive plateau with a September 27th blast against the Blue Jays; while Castro smacked his 20th back on September 7th against the same opponent. Sure, present-day baseball is more geared toward the home run. But this pair also provides sound defense. And while other Yankees draw more attention or wow you with their potential, these middle infielders have meshed into an effecti...

We'll reach back seven summers to 2009, when Eduardo Nunez was a top Yankee prospect. Here he is with the Double-A Trenton Thunder, where he'd go onto hit .322. A year later, he made his major league debut. And a couple of trades later, Nunez -- off a 16 homer, 67 RBI season -- heads into 2017 as the Giants everyday 3rd baseman. Changing gears, while this page celebrates the sport synonymous with hot dogs, here's wishing you the happiest of turkey day feasts with friends and families.

...you share it with one of the most impressive hitters among the current free agent crop, Justin Turner . Yet three winters ago, he was a man without a job. The Mets let him go at the end of the 2013 season, a puzzling decision you suspect Sandy Alderson would like to rescind. To be fair, Turner hadn't given many signals that he was about to burst into stardom. But he did. He hit .340 his first season in L.A., and then began ramping up the power with 16 and 27 homers the last two years. Settling in as Dave Roberts' regular at 3rd base, Turner finished 9th in the voting for NL MVP. Justin shares November 23rd with: Jonathan Papelbon : the moody but generally effective closer for the Red Sox, Phillies and Nationals. Adam Eaton : the "other one," a pitcher remembered mainly as a Padre and Phillie. 71 victories over 10 major league seasons. Aaron Small : if you look up the word "journeyman," you might see his picture next to the entry. After bou...

Being close to the field for so many games this past season, I began playing extra attention to players who flip or toss aside their bats with style. You'll be seeing plenty of these over the winter. There is something bordering on the supernatural to see a bat suspended in mid-air. So today for starters, here's Braves utilityman Chase d'Arnaud making the final out of a July 6th game at Philadelphia.

Brian McCann enjoyed his three years as a Yankee. Hey, what lefty power hitter wouldn't like playing in Yankee Stadium? But the emergence of Gary Sanchez last August and September outweighted McCann's fondness for the Bronx and even convinced him to waIve his no-trade clause. Following several days of rumors -- fueled by Brian Cashman telling WFAN he was open to dealing McCann -- the veteran catcher agreed to a trade to the Astros For a pair of pitching prospects.  Houston should be a good situation for McCann; incumbent catcher Jason Castro is a free agent and seeking what's likely a longer and possibly more expensive deal than the two years remain on Brian's contract. Plus, he gets to play alongside the rising stars Jose Altuve, Carlos Correia, Alex Bregman and George Springer. At the same time. the Yankees are confident that Sanchez will continue to provide production that might not be Ruthian, but could easily be Posada-like -- and at a much lower salary tha...

I was blown away by Progressive Stadium's giant video board. Besides the vivid photos we see almost everywhere, you can't overlook all the statistics and game info -- and how clearly it's presented. And it serves as a great backdrop for post-game fireworks. Bill Veeck, who owned the Tribe during the 1940s, would be proud.

Kris Bryant, circling the bases after one of his 39 home runs, was named National League MVP on Thursday, while Mike Trout (below) earned the same honor in the AL. While there's no questioning their talent or leadership, the context of their selection does come into question. Bryant was a leader of the club with the best regular season record in baseball. He fits the presumed definition of what an MVP should be; then again, what is "Valuable?" Is that a player whose loss might turn a contender into an also ran? Is it an overachiever posting unexpectedly big numbers? Does the award encompass on-field leadership? Responding under pressure? And I like the term "difference maker." Trout's excellence is unquestioned -- his combination of speed, power and outstanding defense identifies him as one of the today's absolute best players. 29 homers, 100 RBIs, along with leading the majors in runs scored, walks and on-base percentage. Yet unlike Bryant's Cub...

20 game winner Max Scherzer is your 2016 National League Cy Young winner. It was a stellar season for the big righthander who also led the majors in strikeouts (284) -- 20 which came on May 12, when he became the fifth pitcher in history to strike out "XX" in a nine-inning game. Scherzer is just the sixth player ito win a Cy Young Award in both leagues, joining Gaylord Perry, Rogers Clemens, Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson and Roy Halladay in that very select circle. The American League Cy Young also went to a 20 game winner, Rick Porcello of the Red Sox.

(Hint: he's the second guy from the right.) After 19 years on the Diamondbacks staff, Glenn Sherlock (#53) will join the Mets as their 3rd base and catching coach for 2017. A light-hitting minor league catcher during the '80s who spent a couple of years in the Yankees system, Sherlock was a protege of Buck Showalter, who managed him in his final game with Double A Albany in 1989. This guy knows how to hold a job: Sherlock spent 10 years in the Yankee organization as a player, minor league coach and manager. Then, after Buck brought him to Arizona, he became the only coach to be with the team in each of their 19 seasons -- until now. Ironically, Buck left the D'backs in 2000, while Glenn continued until now. But with Mike Hazen taking over as GM, more staff is coming and going. He'll replace Tim Teufel at "the hot corner." The Connecticut native and member of the Mets 1986 World Champs came under criticism for some poor decisions on sending runners home...

Say hi to two ROYs, neither, of course, named Roy. Michael Fulmer of Tigers (above) and Corey Seager of the Dodgers (below) are baseball's Rookies of the Year for 2016. Fullmer, whom the Tigers received from the Mets for Yoenis Cespedes, emerged as a solid starter, going 11 - 7 with an ERA just above 3. Seager joined Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correia in what appears to be the next troika of great shortstops, batted over .300 with 26 homers for the NL West champs.

...you share it with a pair of major league shortstops, the Indians' Francisco Lindor (above) and the Phillies' Freddy Galvis (below). Lindor, the 2015 runner up for AL Rookie of the Year, made his first All Star Team this season, while batting .301 with 15 homers, while winning the American League's Platinum Glove, emblematic of the best fielder in the league regardless of position. He was introduced to much of the baseball world this post-season, as helped lead the Indians to within one win of title. Odds are, he'll be back in that spot again. While Lindor is clearly one of the game's rising stars, Galvis holds a different status. Over five seasons with the Phils, he's built a reputation as a good glove man, but a questionable hitter. Yet, he always hinted at holding more potential. Having seen him both with the Phillies and Triple-A Leigh Valley, I've often noticed how solidly he hits the ball, how when he makes contact it makes that sweet sound. But...

Another name changing teams this first full week of the off-season is Kendrys Morales . The power-hitting DH, off a 30 homer season playing half his games at slugger-unfriendly Kauffman Stadium, heads to Rogers Centre and the Blue Jays for three years and $33 million. While his leaving Kansas City isn't much of a surprise, the destination certainly is. Toronto had already made qualifying offers to both its veteran sluggers, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion. Can they fit all three into a lineup -- especially with Morales being almost exclusively a DH since that serious ankle injury some years ago? Do they expect Encarnacion, off his 42 home run season, to cross the border for bigger bucks? Are they less eager to hold onto the aging -- and recenly injured "Joey Bats?" The chips are just beginning to move around the table.

A trade and a free agent signing announced Friday means new teams for three familiar faces. The Dodgers, looking to shed some older players to make room for talented prospects, sent the veteran Howie Kendrick to the Phillies on Friday. With most of their everyday prospects a year or more away, the former Angel will help pump up the weakest offense in the NL. And entering his walk year, he's got plenty to prove after batting a career-low .255 in 2016. Heading to Vin Scully Way are Darin Ruf (below) and Darnell Sweeny. Ruf, who attended Creighton University, has proven so far that all he has in common with the school's most famous baseball grad Bob Gibson is the logo atop the diploma. Despite showing occasional bursts of power, he's never played a full season in the majors or produced enough to earn a full time job. And in what many consider a surprise, Bartolo Colon , cashed in his 15-10 season with the Mets for a Midnight train to Georgia and 12.5 million Brave...

R.A. Dickey became the first of the current crop of free agents to change teams. Thursday we learned that the veteran knuckleballer had signed with the Braves after spending the past four seasons with the Blue Jays. Dickey, who turned 42 in October, finished 10 - 15. Quite a comedown after finishing at .500 or better his first three years in Toronto. Of course, 2012 remains his signature season, winning 20 with the Mets and earning the NL Cy Young Award. Bright and very well-read, Dickey once said if he hadn't made it in baseball, he'd likely have become an English professor. The Braves assured that he won't be trading his spikes, glove and nail file -- essential for a knuckleballer to maintain his "touch" -- a lecture hall for at least another year. This image comes from the Rays/Yankees game last May 24th.

Remember when newspapers were an essential source for the inside scoop on baseball? From the tabloids' massive front page photos to opinionated columnists, as well as statistics and facts unavailable anywhere else, real fans read the papers every day. And in places like New York, Philadelphia and Chicago, where there was real competition through the late '70s, often more than one. Now, there are countless places to find the scores and even game stories. And we're more likely to read them on phones and tablets than in physical form. Some papers, adding more and more video to their websites, increasingly resemble TV. So looking back on these -- as displayed at a collectibles show some years ago -- is a nostalgia trip. A journey when our baseball flames were first lit.

The city of Pittsburgh takes the term "uniform" seriously. Football's Steelers, hockey's Penguins and, of course, baseball's Pirates all sport black and gold as team colors. So does their famous local brew, "I.C." This photo from July features the right side of the Pirates infield, John Jaso and Sean Rodriguez.  A year ago today, I shared a fascinating group of  November 9th baseball birthdays . Be sure to click on this link and check out them out. 

Baseball's free agent season is here... Relievers Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen and Mark Melancon have been the subjects of intense speculation. There are the Blue Jays sluggers Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista. Yeonis Cespedes, exploring the market again, after reupping a year ago with the Mets. Ian Desmond , after settling for a last-minute deal with Texas, enjoyed a productive season in the outfield with the Rangers. Those are just a few of the big names that will be dominating sports-talk radio and MLB Network in the weeks ahead. Let me recommend MLB Trade Rumors ' list of the Top 50 free agents. You'll find capsule bios and early predictions on where will each will eventually sign. And even if the crystal ball cracks, or clouds over, it'll be fun watching all the comings and goings -- especially once the unexpected occurs.

...you share it with Jake Gibbs , a two-sport star in college, who never quite lived up to expectations in the pros. A standout quarterback at Ole Miss, he also helped lead the school to the 1959 Southeast Conference baseball title. In a time when baseball was still the number-one sport -- and paid the best money -- he signed for a $100,000 bonus with Yankees in 1961, spuring offers from the AFL's Oilers and NFL's Browns. A quarterback's strong arm seemed to translate best to being a catcher. But his batting skills didn't develop in time to position him as Elston Howard's successor when the Mantle-Maris era Yankee dynasty aged out. Jake spent six years as a backup catcher, and except for 1970, never batted over .260 or hit more than five home runs. He later returned to Ole Miss as its baseball coach and also spent time as a minor league manager in the Yankee organization. Jake has made a few appearances at Old Timers Day, including when I saw him in 2014. Who ...

With the World Series over, it's time to get back to more images under the sun. In this case, an A train on the elevated 4 line approaching the 161st Street Station, just behind Yankee Stadium. Whether it's the 4, the (below-ground) B or D, or Metro North Railroad, just a short walk west of the Stadium, the train remains the best way to get to a Yankee game.

...that Derek Jeter showed he was here to stay. OK, I probably shouldn't paraphrase The Beatles. On the other, he did, if you will, teach the band, as the on-field leader, the heart and soul of the most recent Yankees dynasty. Five World Series rings. Excellence, symbolized by Jeter being unanimously named American League Rookie of the Year on this date in 1996. No one has worn the pinstripes with more class, elegance and passion.   These images are from the Yankees-Blue Jays game on July 27th, 2014.

Johnny Evers -- of "Tinker to Evers to Chance" fame -- was the Cubs 2nd baseman on their 1908 champions (the uniform displayed here is from '09). In 12 seasons with the Cubs, he played on four pennant winners and two World Series champs. Evers was inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame in 1946. Will there be a catch-phrase as famous attached to the 2016 Cubs? Something recognizing the heroics of Zobrist, Schwarber, Lester and Chapman... There's manager Joe Maddon and team president Theo Epstein -- the savvy executive who, between Boston and Chicago, ended a combined 194 years' worth of championship drought.

If a game deserves this cliche, we had it last night, "One for the ages!" On a roller-coaster night at Progressive Field, with the Cubs trying to pull away from the Indians, and Cleveland repeatedly battling back, Ben Zobrist delivered the biggest hit of the night. His RBI double in the top of the 10th drove in Albert Almora Jr. with the go-ahead run. Chicago then added another -- which proved so crucial when the Indians scored in the bottom of the inning. The final score was 8-7 Cubs. The 108 year drought ends -- with many heroes, from Kyle Hendricks to Aroldis Chapman, Dexter Fowler, and, yes, the Cubs' biggest free agent signing from last winter... the man with the game winning RBI -- and World Series MVP Award, Ben Zobrist.

That would be Addison Russell. The Cubs shortstop drove in a World Series record-tying six runs -- highlighted by a 3rd inning grand slam -- as Chicago pounded the Indians 9 - 3 to force a seventh and deciding game of the World Series. After losing Sunday night at Wrigley, Cleveland had the chance to close it out Tuesday on their home turf. But the Cubs jumped out of the gate with three runs in the top of the 1st off Josh Tomlin. The Indians never recovered. So, it's all hands on deck tonight. One game to decide everything. Cleveland goes with their best, Corey Kluber. The Cubs counter with the NL ERA champ Kyle Hendricks. But would anyone be surprised if it really came down to the battle of onetime Yankee relievers, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman? ( This image of Russell comes from the Cubs/Mets game in July .)

...you share it with the first Brazilian-born player to appear in the World Series: Paulo Orlando of the Royals. A rookie and part-timer when he made history with the 2015 World Champs, he batted over .300 this year. Give him credit for picking up America's game under unusual circumstances. Most ballplayers in Brazil are the children of Japanese immigrants. Orlando isn't -- although his baseball roots have a Japanese influence. His mother worked for a Japanese-Brazilian doctor, who recommended the young man try the game. Other familiar names on the 1st November cake and cards list: Fernando Valenzuela , one of the most famous and successful Mexican pitchers in baseball history. He won 173 games in 17 big league seasons -- including 21 (with 20 complete games) in 1986. Coco Crisp , the speedy outfielder whose career has come full circle. A rookie with the 2004 Indians, he was traded back to Cleveland during the 2016 season and has been an important contributor to a club ...