New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles Tickets

Yankees News:

Derek Jeter has been picking up his share of hardware this offseason, but he missed out on the crown jewel of awards on Tuesday, as Justin Morneau captured the American League Most Valuable Player Award.

Jeter finished with 306 points to Morneau's 320, receiving 12 first-place votes to Morneau's 15. Jeter also earned 14 second-place votes, a fourth-place vote and a sixth-place vote.

"To really appreciate the kind of work he does, you have to see him on a regular basis," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "We've had players who have come over from different organizations, and after a month or so, they've come to me and said, 'I always knew he was a good player, but I never realized how good he was.'"

Morneau received eight second-place votes, three third-place votes and two fourth-place votes. The only other players listed on all 28 ballots were Boston's David Ortiz, who finished third, and Chicago's Jermaine Dye, who finished fifth. Oakland's Frank Thomas, who came in fourth, was named on 26.

Jeter, a seven-time All-Star, ranked second in the American League with a .343 batting average and 118 runs scored, fourth with a .417 on-base percentage and sixth with 34 stolen bases. Jeter also drove in 97 runs out of the No. 2 spot in New York's lineup.

"When he knocks in a run, it's different than when a home run hitter does it," Torre said. "A home run hitter can get himself two or three quick RBIs, where Derek, for the most part, is knocking them in one at a time."

Jeter came through when his team needed him to this season, batting .381 with runners in scoring position. That ranked second among all American League players with at least 100 such at-bats, trailing only Texas' Michael Young, who hit .412. Mauer hit .360 with RISP, while Dye hit .351, Morneau .323 and Ortiz .288.

Orioles News:

The Orioles may not have done much during the week, but they were as busy as possible during Thursday's Rule 5 Draft. Baltimore picked one player in the draft -- reliever Alfredo Simon -- and traded him to Philadelphia for cash considerations and catcher Adam Donachie, another Rule 5 selection.

The Phillies coveted Simon, who came from the Rangers organization, and contacted the Orioles about him before the draft. And Baltimore, in turn, knew that Donachie would likely slide to Philadelphia's pick. Donachie is the third catcher the Orioles acquired this offseason and was picked to add organizational depth behind the plate.

"We're not sure if we'll carry three catchers," said Jim Duquette, the team's vice president of baseball operations. "But because it's an area we don't have depth in, we liked him enough that we wanted to take a look at him and see. If we like him enough and he doesn't make the club, we can always try to work out a trade."

Simon, formerly known as Carlos Cabrera, has a 29-33 record and a 4.33 ERA for his Minor League career. He's made two stops above Class A -- one at Double-A and one at Triple-A -- and has a 3-14 record with a 5.65 ERA. Donachie is a .247 hitter in the Minors, and he's played his entire career in Kansas City's organization.

Donachie, a right-handed hitter, reached Double-A last season for the first time in his career and batted .191 in 29 games. Baltimore will likely invite at least five catchers to Spring Training: Major League veterans Ramon Hernandez and Paul Bako, Donachie, and top Minor League backstops J.R. House and Eli Whiteside.