Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun won the NL Most Valuable Player Award on Tuesday after helping lead the Brewers to their first division title in nearly 30 years.
The left fielder received 20 of 32 first-place votes and 388 points in voting announced by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
“I’m not going to pretend like I wasn’t anxious or nervous because I was,” Braun said. “It’s honestly difficult to put into words how much this means to me.”
Los Angeles center fielder Matt Kemp, who came close to winning the Triple Crown, received 10 first-place votes and finished with 332 points. Braun’s teammate Prince Fielder finished third with 229 points, and Arizona’s Justin Upton finished fourth with 214 points.
Braun led the NL with a .597 slugging percentage and had a chance to overtake Jose Reyes for the batting title on the last day of the season but finished second with a .332 average. The four-time All-Star had 33 homers, 111 RBI, 109 runs scored and stole 33 bases as Milwaukee won a franchise-best 96 games. His 77 extra-base hits was tops in the league.
“This really is a dream,” Braun said. “This is beyond my wildest dreams to be in this position at this point in my career.”
The 28-year-old Braun is the first Brewers player to win the MVP award in the National League and first since Robin Yount won in 1989, when Milwaukee was in the AL East.
Labor deal agreement
Baseball players and owners signed an agreement for a new labor contract, a deal that makes baseball the first North American professional major league to start blood testing on human growth hormone and expands the playoffs to 10 teams by 2013.
The five-year collective bargaining agreement makes changes owners hope will increase competitive balance by pressuring large-market teams to rein in spending on amateur draft picks and international signings.
Other highlights of the deal include: players will be required to play in the All-Star game unless injured or excused; instant replay will be expanded to include decisions on foul lines and traps, subject to an agreement with umpires; players, managers and coaches may not use smokeless tobacco products during televised interviews and may not carry them in their uniforms; players arrested for DWI will be required to undergo mandatory evaluation; and players will start wearing improved batting helmets manufactured by Rawlings by 2013.
An initial positive test for HGH would result in a 50-game suspension, the same as a first positive urine test for a performance-enhancing substance.
The sides will explore in-season testing, but the union wants to make sure it doesn’t interfere with players’ health and safety. Union Executive Director Michael Weiner said scientists told baseball the current blood test can only detect HGH in the blood from 48 to 72 hours.
The deal, which must be ratified by players and owners, is the first contract since Weiner replaced Donald Fehr as union leader last year.
Marlins acquire LeBlanc
The Miami Marlins acquired left-hander Wade LeBlanc from the San Diego Padres for catcher John Baker.
LeBlanc went 5-6 with a 4.63 ERA for the Padres last season, winning three of his last four decisions. In parts of four seasons with the Padres, LeBlanc went 17-22 with a 4.54 ERA, starting 52 times and coming in as a reliever twice.
Baker was limited to 16 games last season after having elbow reconstruction surgery in September 2010. He was 2 for 13, all but one of those at-bats coming as a pinch-hitter. In 212 career games with the Marlins, Baker batted .271 with 14 home runs and 89 RBI.
Rangers introduce Nathan
Back-to-back AL championships got the Texas Rangers another prize in closer Joe Nathan.
The Rangers’ new closer was formally introduced his after agreeing to a $14.5 million, two-year deal that includes a third-year option.
The right-hander spent the past eight years with the Minnesota Twins, but missed the 2010 season after Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow.
Nathan has worn No. 36 throughout his major league career, including San Francisco (1999-2000, 2002-03). He was presented with a Rangers No. 63 jersey for now. Though he might not be back, free agent C.J. Wilson has worn No. 36 for the Rangers.
Astros sale complete
The sale of the Houston Astros to Jim Crane from Drayton McLane has been completed.
Baseball owners unanimously approved the long-delayed sale of the team Thursday, a transaction that requires the franchise to move from the NL Central to the AL West in 2013.
