2001
» The Orioles sign free agent OF Marty Cordova to a 3-year contract.
2000
» The Rockies sign free agent P Denny Neagle to a 5-year contract.
The Mariners sign free agent P Jeff Nelson to a 3-year contract.
1998
» The Mets trade P Willie Blair to the Tigers in exchange for IF Joe Randa.
The Orioles sign free agent 2B Delino DeShields to a 3-year contract.
1997
» The Rockies sign free agent P Darryl Kile to a 3-year contract.
1992
» The Yankees sign free agent SS Spike Owen to a 3-year contract.
The Astros new owner Drayton McLane, Jr. signs free agent P Greg Swindell to a 4-year contract worth $17 million.
1990
» Reliever Dave Righetti signs as a free agent with the Giants. San Francisco now has spent $33 million for free agents Righetti, Willie McGee, and Bud Black since the end of the season.
1988
» The Orioles trade veteran 1B Eddie Murray to the Dodgers for pitchers Ken Howell and Brian Holton and infield prospect Juan Bell.
1981
» Oakland signs free-agent OF-1B Joe Rudi, who hit just .180 in 49 games for the Red Sox last season, to a 2-year contract.
1978
» The annual ML draft is held at Orlando, FL. Only seven players are selected.
1976
» Aurelio Rodriguez becomes the first American League 3B since 1959 to beat out Brooks Robinson for the Gold Glove Award. Other Newcomers on TSN fielding team include 3B Mike Schmidt, OF Dwight Evans, and C Jim Sundberg, who would combine to win 24 awards.
1975
» Ted Turner enters a tentative purchase agreement to buy the Atlanta Braves.
1974
» In a dismal trade for Montreal, the Expos trade OF Ken Singleton and P Mike Torrez to the Orioles for P Dave McNally, OF Rich Coggins, and a minor league pitcher.
1973
» The Reds trade P Ross Grimsley to the Orioles for OF Merv Rettenmund and INF Junior Kennedy. Grimsley will win 18 in 1974 for the Orioles.
1969
» The Yankees trade 1B Joe Pepitone to the Astros for 1B Curt Blefary.
The Cubs send OF Boots Day to the Cardinals for P Rich Nye.
The Yankees send veteran P Al Downing and C Frank Fernandez to Oakland for 1B Danny Cater and C Ossie Chavarria.
1968
» The Dodgers trade P Mike Kekich (2–10) to the Yankees for OF Andy Kosco.
The Astros trade 3B Bob Aspromonte, who lost his job to Doug Rader, to the Braves for infielder Orlando Martinez. Aspro was the last original Colt 45 on Houston's roster, and when he retires, he will be the last original Brooklyn Dodger.
Houston also swaps P Mike Cuellar, and infielders Elijah Johnson and Enzo Hernandez to the Orioles for outfielders Curt Blefary and John Mason. Cuellar, 8-11 this past season, will average 20 wins a year for five years in Baltimore. Except for the Frank Robinson trade, this ranks as the best for the O's.
1965
» Masanori Murakami, 4-1 this year, does not renew his contract with the Giants, signing instead with the Nankai Hawks of Osaka for $40,000.
1964
» Baseball approves a free-agent draft. At their winter meetings in Houston, the minor league and major league organizations establish a system, basically like that of professional football, which will take effect in January 1965 and be held every four months thereafter. Choices will be exercised by clubs in inverse order of their previous year's standing. Draftees must be included in their club's 40-man roster or be susceptible to claim at the waiver price the following season.
The majors also restore to the commissioner's office all powers rescinded after Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis's death in 1944. Principally, they waive their right to take legal action in the event of disagreements with the commissioner and grant him authority to judge whether actions taken by the owners in concert are, automatically "in the best interests of baseball." Voting for the annual All-Star teams is turned back to the fans.
The Dodgers trade OF Frank Howard, P Phil Ortega, P Pete Richert, and 3B Ken McMullen to the Senators for P Claude Osteen, IF John Kennedy, and cash.
Minnesota acquires versatile Cesar Tovar from the Reds for P Jerry Arrigo. Tovar will play eight seasons in Minnesota.
1963
» Cleveland trades OF Willie Kirkland to the Orioles for OF Al Smith and an estimated $25,000.
Detroit P Jim Bunning is traded to the Phillies with C Gus Triandos for OF Don Demeter and P Jack Hamilton. Not a smart move for Detroit as Bunning will win 75 games for Philley over the next four seasons.
1958
» The American Association expands to 10 teams by admitting Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth from the Texas League. This effectively denudes the Texas League, leaving it with five teams and a vacancy.
The Dodgers trade OF Gino Cimoli to the Cardinals for OF Wally Moon and RHP Phil Paine.
1957
» The White Sox send fan-favorite Minnie Minoso and infielder Fred Hatfield to the Indians for P Early Wynn and OF Al Smith. Wynn coming off his 1st losing season, will rebound with the White Sox, topping the American League in wins and innings in 1959. The trade was the first for the new Indians' GM Frank Lane.
ML baseball kills the bonus rule and raises the minimum salary to $7,000.
1952
» Detroit trades P Virgil Trucks, who tossed two no-hitters during the year, along with P Hal White and OF Johnny Groth, to the Browns in exchange for 2B Owen Friend, OF Bob Nieman, and OF/C J.W. Porter.
1946
» W.G. Bramham retires as head of the minors. George Trautman will replace him.
The Reds trade pitcher Ed Heusser to Brooklyn for veteran Augie Galan.
1943
» After one disappointing season in Washington, the Senators sell veteran slugger Indian Bob Johnson to the Red Sox. Griffith will later call it the worst trade he ever made. Johnson will have two solid years in Fenway before retiring.
1940
» MacPhail continues his dealing and gets his catcher. The Dodgers trade for Mickey Owen, giving Gus Mancuso and $85,000 to the Cardinals.
The Cubs swap SS Bobby Mattick and OF Jim Gleeson to the Reds for SS Billy Myers. Myers will split his time between Chicago and the minors in '41 and quit in 1942 rather than take a pay cut.
1936
» The Dodgers trade Lonny Frey to the Cubs for Woody English and Roy Henshaw. The Boston Bees buy Vince DiMaggio from San Diego (PCL). The Dodgers get Cookie Lavagetto and Ralph Birkofer from Pittsburgh in exchange for Ed Brandt.
1931
» Bump Hadley, Jackie Hayes, and Sad Sam Jones are traded from Washington to the White Sox for Carl Reynolds and John Kerr.
1927
» Pirates OF Paul Waner noses out Frank Frisch for National League MVP honors with 72 points to 66. Rogers Hornsby, Cubs P Charlie Root, and Giants SS Travis Jackson also score high.
1915
» Former Giant owner Andrew Freedman dies at the age of 55. He owned the team for seven years, firing a Steinbrennian 16 managers during his reign.
1914
» Walter Johnson accepts a $6,000 bonus from the FL Chicago Whales and signs a three-year contract for $17,500 per year. Clark Griffith threatens to take Johnson to court, claiming he has paid Johnson for the reserve option in his contract. American League Prexy Ban Johnson asserts that Johnson was on the market and is "damaged goods," worth getting rid of. Griffith travels to Coffeyville, KS, to persuade his franchise player that the option clause is legal and binding. Two weeks later Griffith signs Johnson for three years at $12,500 per year and returns the bonus to the Feds.
1899
» Buck Ewing, Cincinnati manager for five years, is released.
1886
» The St. Louis Maroons trade 1B Alex McKinnon to Pittsburgh for 1B Otto Shomberg and $400.
1885
» The National League Metropolitans franchise is sold to millionaire Erastus Wiman. The Metropolitan Exhibition Company receives $25,000 for the transaction.