Week In Review: 10/25/09 - 10/31-09

Baseball's hot stove season begins after the World Series, but we still had action during the last week of October. Manny Acta was hired to manage the Indians, which led to the Astros hiring Brad Mills.  Tony La Russa's extension with the Cardinals was announced; it's a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2011.  La Russa is bringing Mark McGwire with him as the Cards' new hitting coach. Jed Hoyer was announced as the Padres' new GM; he replaced Kevin Towers.  Hoyer signed a four-year contract with a club option for 2014.  Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd and manager Jim Tracy are close to three-year agreements. Catcher Kenji Johjima opted out of his Mariners contract on October 19th, leaving $16MM on the table.  On Tuesday he reached an agreement with the Hanshin Tigers for four years and around $21MM. The Rays re-signed outfielder Gabe Kapler to a one-year, $1.05MM deal, a slight raise on last year's salary.  The Astros re-upped...