The expansion draft starts with several transactions.

ByBaseball

The expansion draft starts with several transactions. Two pitchers who appeared in the World Series a month earlier, Tony Saunders (Florida Marlins) and Brian Anderson (Cleveland Indians), are the first players taken. Saunders, the first player chosen overall, heads a list of new Tampa Bay Devil Rays team members that includes Quinton McCracken, Bubba Trammell, Albie López and Terrell Wade. Tampa Bay also obtains John Flaherty from the San Diego Padres in exchange for Brian Boehringer and Andy Sheets; Kevin Stocker from the Philadelphia Phillies for Bobby Abreu; Fred McGriff from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for a player to be named, and signs free agent P Roberto Hernández. The Arizona Diamondbacks, meanwhile, who signed free agent Jay Bell to a five-year contract yesterday, select Jeff Suppan, Jorge Fabregas and Karim Garcia, and acquire Travis Fryman from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Joe Randa, Gabe Alvarez and Matt Drews]. They also obtain Devon White from the Florida Marlins for Jesus Martinez.

National League Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez goes from the Expos to the Boston Red Sox 

National League Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez goes from the Expos to the Boston Red Sox 

ByThis Day in Baseball

In various trades, the Colorado Rockies acquire second baseman Mike Lansing from the Montreal Expos for pitcher Jake Westbrook and two prospects; the Florida Marlins send reliever Robb Nen to the San Francisco Giants for Joe Fontenot, Mike Pageler and Mike Villano; the New York Yankees obtain third baseman Scott Brosius from the Oakland Athletics to complete the earlier Kenny Rogers deal, and the Seattle Mariners sign free agent second baseman Joey Cora. But the transaction that makes perhaps the biggest headlines is National League Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez going from the Expos to the Boston Red Sox for young pitchers Carl Pavano and Tony Armas, Jr..

After annually alternating the schedule of the League Championship Series between the divisions, with a 2-3 format in the best-of-five series (1969-84) and a 2-3-2 format in the best-of-seven matchups (1985-1997), the LCS home-field advantage will now be awarded to the team with the best record. In the series that features the wild-card winner, the divisional winner will receive home-field advantage, regardless of which team has the best record.

ByBaseball

After annually alternating the schedule of the League Championship Series between the divisions, with a 2-3 format in the best-of-five series (1969-84) and a 2-3-2 format in the best-of-seven matchups (1985-1997), the LCS home-field advantage will now be awarded to the team with the best record. In the series that features the wild-card winner, the divisional winner will receive home-field advantage, regardless of which team has the best record.

1997 – Larry Walker of the Colorado Rockies is named National League MVP, becoming the first Canadian in either league to win the honor. Walker, who hit .366 with 49 home runs and 130 RBI, caps off a big week for Canada. Earlier in the week, pitchers Roger Clemens of the Toronto Blue Jays and Pedro Martinez of the Montreal Expos each won the Cy Young Award.

ByBaseball

1997 – Larry Walker of the Colorado Rockies is named National League MVP, becoming the first Canadian in either league to win the honor. Walker, who hit .366 with 49 home runs and 130 RBI, caps off a big week for Canada. Earlier in the week, pitchers Roger Clemens of the Toronto Blue Jays and Pedro Martinez of the Montreal Expos each won the Cy Young Award.

Ken Griffey, Jr. becomes the ninth unanimous pick for the American League MVP Award

ByThis Day in Baseball

Ken Griffey, Jr. becomes the ninth unanimous pick for the American League MVP Award. Griffey hit .304 for Seattle, led the AL with 56 home runs, and led the majors with 147 RBI. He receives all 28 first-place votes and 392 points in balloting to become the first unanimous AL pick since Frank Thomas in 1993, and the 13th unanimous selection overall.

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Outfielder Moises Alou is acquired for pitchers Oscar Henriquez, Manny Barrios and Mark Johnson. Alou’s four seasons in Houston are marked with superb play and controversy. In three of those years, he averages 31 homers, 115 RBIs and a .331 batting average. In the other year, he misses the entire season with a knee injury that leaves others questioning his commitment to the team. 

ByTom

1997 – Outfielder Moises Alou is acquired for pitchers Oscar Henriquez, Manny Barrios and Mark Johnson. Alou’s four seasons in Houston are marked with superb play and controversy. In three of those years, he averages 31 homers, 115 RBIs and a .331 batting average. In the other year, he misses the entire season with a knee injury that leaves others questioning his commitment to the team. 

Beginning to dismantle their World Champion team, the Marlins trade Moises Alou to the Astros for two pitchers, Oscar Henriquez and Manuel Barrios, and a player to be named later. The outfielder had helped lead Florida to the postseason, batting .292 with 23 home runs and 115 RBIs.

ByBaseball

Beginning to dismantle their World Champion team, the Marlins trade Moises Alou to the Astros for two pitchers, Oscar Henriquez and Manuel Barrios, and a player to be named later. The outfielder had helped lead Florida to the postseason, batting .292 with 23 home runs and 115 RBIs.