» June 4, 1996:
Pitching dominates the baseball draft as 14 of the first 22 selections are moundsmen. Clemson pitcher Kris Benson is the top choice, going to Pittsburgh, while the Twins pick power hitting Travis Lee from San Diego State as the 2nd choice. The Cards follow with Wichita State P Braden Looper. Picking 14th, the White Sox take lefty Bobby Seay, but will declare him a free agent in August when the can't reach an agreement with his agent, Scott Boras. Lee, John Patterson (Expos), and Matt White (Giants) will also not sign and become free agents: the four will ink contracts with the Devil Rays and Diamondbacks, with White getting a $10.2 bonus, the largest in history. The Marlins use their 1st pick, 9th overall, on college player of the year, Mark Kotsay, and will ink him to a $1,125,000 contract. The Royals take high schooler Dee Brown in the first round. Boston picks Shea Hillenbrand in the 10th round.
» October 11, 1996:
The Arizona Diamondbacks sign Travis Lee to a 4-year, $10 million contract. Lee, selected by the Twins in this year's amateur draft, was declared a free agent on September 24th because Minnesota failed to offer him a contract within 15 days of the end of the draft. Arizona outbid several other teams for Lee's services. Lee's deal will be voided by major league officials next week, and have to be reworked.
» March 31, 1998:
The Arizona Diamondbacks drop a 9–2 decision to the Rockies in their first game ever. P Andy Benes is tagged with the loss, and rookies Travis Lee, who gets three hits, and Karim Garcia hit home runs. Vinny Castilla drives in five runs for Colorado.
» June 9, 1999:
Arizona defeats the Cubs, 8-7, as 1B Travis Lee gets five hits, including a double and triple. Diamondbacks P Byung-Hyun Kim is ejected from the game after a bandage containing heat balm flies out of his shirt sleeve. Kim claims he used such a bandage during games in Korea, but forgot to take it off when he entered the contest.
» July 26, 1999:
The Diamondbacks bring up Mexican star Erubiel Durazo, 25, to replace slumping 1B Travis Lee. Durazo, who contract was purchase from Monterrey Sultans last December after he hit .350, tore up the minors (AA El Paso, .403, 14 home run in 64 games; AAA Tucson, .407, 10 home run, 30 G). He'll do the same in ML hitting .329, 11 homers, in 52 games.
» July 26, 2000:
The Phillies deal ace Curt Schilling, sending him to the Diamondbacks for 1B Travis Lee, and pitchers Omar Daal, Vicente Padilla, and Nelson Figueroa.
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