Pat Gillick signs a three-year deal, becoming the Phillies’ general manager. The 68 year-old, who has held the same position with the Orioles, Blue Jays, and Mariners, has led his teams to two World Series titles and nine playoff appearances.
Showing that teams put a premium on pitching, the Boston Red Sox and reliever Mike Timlin agree to a one-year contract worth about $3.25 million, and the Seattle Mariners exercise their $6.25 million option on closer Eddie Guardado, choosing to keep him rather than explore an uncertain free agent market.
Former Baltimore Orioles manager Lee Mazzilli rejoins the New York Yankees as Joe Torre’s bench coach.
A bronze sculpture capturing the friendship of Pee Wee Reese and Jackie Robinson is unveiled at Brooklyn’s KeySpan Park, home of the Mets’ Single-A team. The William Behrends sculpture captures the moment when the Dodger captain showed support by putting his arm around his black teammate’s shoulder, hushing an unruly crowd hurling racial slurs at his teammate at Crosley Field in 1947.
Larry Bowa is hired by the New York Yankees as their third base coach for next season. A five-time All-Star shortstop, Bowa managed San Diego and the Phillies, and also coached for the Angels, Mariners and Phillies. Bowa is the first addition to Yankees manager Joe Torre’s coaching staff, which lost pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre, who retired, and bench coach Joe Girardi, who became manager of the Florida Marlins. Luis Sojo, who coached third base last season, is expected to be offered another job by the Yankees.
American League Gold Glove Award winners are announced. Players Kenny Rogers (P), Jason Varitek (C), Mark Teixeira (1B), Orlando Hudson (2B), Eric Chavez (3B), Derek Jeter (SS), Ichiro Suzuki (OF), Torii Hunter (OF) and Vernon Wells (OF) earn the honor.
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