Major awards won’t be tied to bonuses

Baseball players no longer would receive bonuses for winning the most valuable player, Cy Young or rookie awards bestowed by the Baseball Writers’ Assn. of America under a rule passed Wednesday.

Starting in 2013, players with such bonus clauses in their contracts will be banned from receiving votes for any BBWAA awards. The lag time is designed to give agents and teams an opportunity to adapt to the ban; only a handful of players are under contract for 2013.

Hall of Fame voting is not affected, nor are manager of the year or non-BBWAA awards such as the World Series MVP or Gold Glove.

Free-agent reliever David Riske agreed to a $13-million, three-year contract with Milwaukee, moving to the Brewers after going 1-4 with four saves and a 2.45 earned-run average in 65 relief appearances last season for Kansas City. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Brewers designated outfielder Laynce Nix for assignment.

Boston Globe sportswriter Larry Whiteside, a pioneer for blacks over nearly a half-century in journalism, was honored with the Hall of Fame’s J.G. Taylor Spink Award for contributions to baseball writing.

Whiteside, who died in June at the age of 69 from complications of Parkinson’s disease, will be recognized during the Hall induction ceremonies July 27 in Cooperstown, N.Y.