• Gomes and Brantley lost their gold glove battles.
• In other award news, Corey Kluber is one of three finalists for AL Cy Young, an award I think he should win. Michael Brantley is one of three finalists for AL MVP, an award I don't think anybody not named "Trout" should get votes for. Full lists of finalists here.
• ICYMI, Terry Francona signed a longer-term deal with the Indians yesterday. Bastian shared Tito's thoughts on how the deal came together. In CastroTurf, Castrovince says managers still matter. GM Chris Antonetti dropped a solid joke into his thoughts on things:
Antonetti asked on conference call what Tito excels at most: "Other than wearing out a path in the grass from the dugout to pitchers mound?"
— August Fagerstrom (@AugustF_ABJ) November 4, 2014
* As expected, Pablo Sandoval declined the Giants' qualifying offer. Somebody might actually accept this year, though, says Anthony Castrovince. It is my opinion that only Cuddyer should.
• Jason Kipnis, trying to get better, has picked up boxing. Earlier this week talonk profiled Kipnis, and that near-the-middle spot in our 2014 in Review series is a sad reminder that he couldn't crack LGT's top 10 Indians MVP voting (after winning that honor last year).
• MLB free agency opened yesterday, and as expected, every team signed Scott "Nobody" Barnes.
• I think Marlon Byrd might hate light blue:
Byrd previously could block deals to TOR, TB, KC, SEA. Not sure if any of those are on the new list. #Phillies
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) November 4, 2014
• At Fangraphs, Jeff Sullivan took a look at the Cubs' future.
• After 412 home runs and over a hundred million dollars, Alfonso Soriano announced that he is planning to retire. He turned 38 in January.
• And finally, a reminder that things are in pretty good shape:
Remember, over the last two years the Indians have won more games than: Yankees Red Sox Rays Royals Rangers Angels Mariners Blue Jays
— Jon (@WFNYJon) November 4, 2014