1984 – The San Francisco Giants send pitcher Fred Breining and outfielder Max Venable to the Montreal Expos in exchange for first baseman Al Oliver. Because Breining is found to be injured, the Giants will send pitcher Andy McGaffigan to Montreal on March 31st to complete the trade.
1984 – Pedro Guerrero becomes the highest-paid player in Dodgers history when he signs a five-year, seven-million dollar contract to play in Los Angeles.
1984 – Houston signs infielder Enos Cabell, back from Detroit, as a free agent. A popular Astro during his six seasons (1975-1980) which he spent mostly as a third baseman, Cabell becomes the regular first baseman and bats .310 with eight homers. He is dealt to the Dodgers early in the 1985 season.
After five months of discussion, the Mets and Keith Hernandez, who was eligible for free-agency at the end of the season, come to terms on an $8 million, five-year contract. The deal makes the first baseman the second-highest paid player in franchise history, earning slightly less than George Foster’s $10 million, five-year pact signed precisely two years ago.
After vetoing a trade to Oakland, two-time All-Star Dusty Baker is waived by the Dodgers. The 35 year-old outfielder will sign as a free agent, hitting .294 in 100 games, with the Giants, before ending his career with the A’s, the team he had refused to play for when dealt last season.
1984 – After losing Type A free agent Tom Underwood to the Orioles, Oakland grabs pitcher Tim Belcher from the Yankees as compensation. The number-one selection in the June 1983 draft, Belcher did not sign with Minnesota and was available in the January draft. The Yankees signed him on February 2nd, only to lose him because they had already submitted their list of 26 protected players, a blunder which will cost general manager Murray Cook his job.
The Yankees obtain third baseman Toby Harrah and minor leaguer Rick Brown from the Indians for Dan Boitano, rookie outfielder Otis Nixon, and minor leaguer Guy Elston. The team’s new third baseman will hit just .217 in the one season he plays for the Bronx Bombers, but Nixon will go on to have a solid 17-year major league career, leaving the game in 1999 with a lifetime batting average of .270.
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