Phillies pick up LHP Lee’s $9M option (AP)

The Philadelphia Phillies have picked up Cliff Lee's $9 million option for 2010. The team announced the expected move on Friday, two days after losing the World Series to the New York Yankees. Lee's contract expires after next season, though general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said the team is open to signing the star left-hander to a long-term deal.

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Phillies pick up LHP Lee’s $9M option (AP)

La Russa weighing future with Cardinals (AP)

Nearly two weeks after his team was swept in the first round of the playoffs, Tony La Russa is still trying to decide whether he wants to return for a 15th season as St. Louis Cardinals manager. In a telephone interview Thursday with The Associated Press, La Russa promised the team he'd make a decision fairly soon.

More here: La Russa weighing future with Cardinals (AP)

Pedro hoping to start Game 3 for Phils (AP)

Pedro Martinez wants the ball in another big game. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel will consider giving the three-time Cy Young Award winner the start in Game 3. Martinez was the only pitcher out of the three possible starting candidates that did not pitch Thursday in a 5-4 loss to the Colorado Rockies that evened the best-of-five series at a game apiece.

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Pedro hoping to start Game 3 for Phils (AP)

Ibanez’s HR in 10th gets Phils past Mets (AP)

Charlie Manuel sounded like a proud father after the Philadelphia Phillies' latest dramatic win. "My team always comes back," the manager said. "That's what's good about them." Raul Ibanez hit a three-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning and Philadelphia beat the New York Mets 6-3 on Thursday night, handing its NL East rivals another difficult loss.

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Ibanez’s HR in 10th gets Phils past Mets (AP)

Cards’ Pujols wins second NL MVP award (AP)

Albert Pujols convinced himself and voters what’s worthy of the NL MVP award. The St. Louis star became a two-time winner Monday, outdistancing Philadelphia slugger Ryan Howard in a result that’s sure to renew a debate Pujols once raised himself: What qualifies as “most valuable”? Pujols won despite the Cardinals’ fourth-place finish in the NL Central, the lowest spot for an NL MVP winner since…

More here: Cards’ Pujols wins second NL MVP award (AP)

Brewers win 4-1, cut Phils’ lead to 2-1 (AP)

J.J. Hardy and the Milwaukee Brewers kept their postseason hopes alive for another day. All it took was a little patience. Back home at Miller Park, the Brewers got three hits from Hardy and a sharp outing from Dave Bush to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 Saturday night and stave off elimination in the NL division series.

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Phillies beat Sabathia to take 2-0 lead (AP)

With one more loss to the Phillies, CC Sabathia and the Milwaukee Brewers will have all winter to rest. Brett Myers rankled Sabathia with a pesky at-bat and dominated the rest of the Brewers from the mound, and Philadelphia beat Milwaukee 5-2 on Thursday night behind Shane Victorino’s grand slam for a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five NL playoff series.

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Phillies beat Sabathia to take 2-0 lead (AP)