Melvin, Wedge top managers

Bob Melvin and Eric Wedge barely made a ripple as players. Backup catchers, they both batted a pedestrian .233 in the big leagues.

All that time spent pondering on the bench paid off. Far more successful in the dugout than on the field, they were honored Wednesday as managers of the year.

Wedge became the first Cleveland manager to win the American League award, chosen by a wide margin after the Indians and Boston tied for the best record in baseball. Melvin was the first Arizona manager to get the National League prize, picked after leading his young team to the top mark in the league.

Stay-Rod?

In a startling turn of events, Alex Rodriguez spoke with the Steinbrenner family and New York officials and told them he wants to stay in pinstripes.

His longtime agent, Scott Boras, wasn’t involved in the talks. Yankees officials sounded confident the negotiations could lead to an agreement.

•Hideki Matsui had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, and the Yankees outfielder is expected to be ready for the start of spring training.

Rays’ new stadium gets support

Despite money woes that have lawmakers scrambling to pay for state programs, Gov. Charlie Crist said that he thinks the state should try to figure out a way to help the Tampa Bay Rays build a new waterfront ballpark in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The Rays earlier this month announced plans for a $450 million, open-air downtown stadium, but it’s not clear how it might be paid for.

•Relief pitcher Al Reyes’ $2.3 million option was exercised by Tampa Bay.

Clearing the bases

Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka might miss Boston’s March 25-26 series against the Oakland Athletics at the Tokyo Dome because his wife is expecting to deliver their second baby around that time. … Relief pitcher Randy Choate and the Milwaukee Brewers agreed to a one-year contract. Choate’s split contract would pay him $500,000 in the majors and $75,000 in the minors.