2002 – The Boston Red Sox sign 43-year-old Rickey Henderson to a minor league contract. Last season with the San Diego Padres, Henderson had his 3000th career hit and broke the major league all-time records for walks and runs.
2002 – One day after the acquisition of the Montreal Expos by Major League Baseball as a result of the sale of the Florida Marlins to former Expos owner Jeffrey Loria, a number of personnel changes are announced: the Expos name Frank Robinson as manager, Tony Tavares as president of the club and Omar Minaya as the major leagues’ first Hispanic general manager; south of the border, former Expos manager Jeff Torborg will manage the Marlins with former Expos’ interim general manager Larry Beinfest as the GM and David Samson taking over the duties of team president.
2002 – Major League Baseball owners approve the sales of the Florida Marlins and Montreal Expos. Florida owner John Henry is selling the Marlins to Jeffrey Loria for $158.5 million, while Loria is selling the Expos to Baseball Expos LP, a limited partnership owned by the other 29 teams, for $120 million. The sales won’t officially close until later this week.
The Houston Astros file a motion in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, asking the court to determine whether the 30-year naming agreement with Enron signed in 1999 should continue. The team does not want to call its stadium Enron Field any longer due to the financial burden placed on many Houston-area residents caused by the bankrupt energy company’s disputable business practices.
Major League Baseball announces the withdrawal of its plan for contraction this upcoming season, but the sport is still determined to eliminate two teams in 2003. Attempts to contract the Minnesota Twins and Montreal Expos this season could not be accomplished due to a series of legal decisions and fierce opposition from the Players Association.
Troy Percival’s seven-year tenure with Anaheim, which is the longest on the current roster, will increase when the All-Star reliever signs a two-year contract extension to stay with the club. The 32 year-old right-hander, who is the Angels’ all-time leader with 210 career saves, converted 39 of 42 save opportunities last season.
2002 – The Minnesota Supreme Court refuses to consider an appeal of an injunction that forces the Twins to fulfill their Metrodome lease this year. The decision puts an end for this season any possibility of contraction in major league baseball.
2002 – New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada signs a five-year contract with the club. Terms are not announced, but Posada was asking for $7.75 million in arbitration, which would have made the 30-year-old the second best-paid catcher in major league history.
2002 – Six-time All-Star Kenny Lofton agrees to a $1.25 million, one-year contract with the Chicago White Sox. The 34-year center fielder, who has played with the Indians, Braves and Astros, has a .302 lifetime batting average in an 11-season career.
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