ESPN and ESPN2 will broadcast the World Baseball Classic, offering 16 live telecasts that include the semifinals on March 18th and the championship game on March 20th.

ByTom

ESPN and ESPN2 will broadcast the World Baseball Classic, offering 16 live telecasts that include the semifinals on March 18th and the championship game on March 20th.

2006 – Veteran Mike Piazza agree to a $2 million, one-year contract with the San Diego Padres, giving the defending NL West champions a 12-time All-Star catcher they think can still contribute.

ByTom

2006 – Veteran Mike Piazza agree to a $2 million, one-year contract with the San Diego Padres, giving the defending NL West champions a 12-time All-Star catcher they think can still contribute.

2006 – The Oakland Athletics sign Mark Ellis to a two-year, $6 million contract, rewarding their second baseman for his strong comeback season last year from a major shoulder injury.

ByTom

2006 – The Oakland Athletics sign Mark Ellis to a two-year, $6 million contract, rewarding their second baseman for his strong comeback season last year from a major shoulder injury.

In a three-team, multi-player trade, the Cleveland Indians send center fielder Coco Crisp, reliever David Riske and catcher Josh Bard to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for reliever Guillermo Mota, catcher Kelly Shoppach, infielder Andy Marte, a player to be named later and cash considerations. Cleveland then sends reliever Arthur Rhodes to the Philadelphia Phillies in return for outfielder Jason Michaels. The deal is temporarily held up because of Cleveland’s concerns about Mota’s health. If he goes on the disabled list, Cleveland will add a pitcher from Boston’s minor league system.

ByTom

In a three-team, multi-player trade, the Cleveland Indians send center fielder Coco Crisp, reliever David Riske and catcher Josh Bard to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for reliever Guillermo Mota, catcher Kelly Shoppach, infielder Andy Marte, a player to be named later and cash considerations. Cleveland then sends reliever Arthur Rhodes to the Philadelphia Phillies in return for outfielder Jason Michaels. The deal is temporarily held up because of Cleveland’s concerns about Mota’s health. If he goes on the disabled list, Cleveland will add a pitcher from Boston’s minor league system.

Five players avoid salary arbitration by agreeing to one-year contracts: pitcher Mark Prior with the Chicago Cubs; pitcher Vicente Padilla and outfielder Gary Matthews with the Texas Rangers; reliever Jorge Julio with the New York Mets, and reliever Jesús Colome with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

ByTom

Five players avoid salary arbitration by agreeing to one-year contracts: pitcher Mark Prior with the Chicago Cubs; pitcher Vicente Padilla and outfielder Gary Matthews with the Texas Rangers; reliever Jorge Julio with the New York Mets, and reliever Jesús Colome with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

The multi-player deal between Boston and Cleveland, held up by Guillermo Mota’s physical results, the delay of another trade in which the Indians will obtain Jason Michaels from the Phillies, and Commissioner Bud Selig’s needed approval of any transaction worth at least $1 million, is finally completed. Eight players are exchanged, including Indians outfielder Coco Crisp, reliever David Riske, and backstop Josh Bard going to the Red Sox for recently acquired third base prospect Andy Marte, catcher Kelly Shoppach, and a player to be named later (minor league right-hander Randy Newsom).

ByTom

The multi-player deal between Boston and Cleveland, held up by Guillermo Mota’s physical results, the delay of another trade in which the Indians will obtain Jason Michaels from the Phillies, and Commissioner Bud Selig’s needed approval of any transaction worth at least $1 million, is finally completed. Eight players are exchanged, including Indians outfielder Coco Crisp, reliever David Riske, and backstop Josh Bard going to the Red Sox for recently acquired third base prospect Andy Marte, catcher Kelly Shoppach, and a player to be named later (minor league right-hander Randy Newsom).

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2006 – The end may be near for Jeff Bagwell’s 15-year run in Houston. The Astros announce they have filed an insurance claim to recover $15.6 million of the $24 million remaining on Bagwell’s contract, asserting he has not recovered sufficiently from shoulder surgery last year to throw a baseball. Bagwell disputes the allegation and wants to play in spring training which would jeopardize the claim. Bagwell had recently been examined by noted surgeon Dr. James Andrews. 

ByTom

2006 – The end may be near for Jeff Bagwell’s 15-year run in Houston. The Astros announce they have filed an insurance claim to recover $15.6 million of the $24 million remaining on Bagwell’s contract, asserting he has not recovered sufficiently from shoulder surgery last year to throw a baseball. Bagwell disputes the allegation and wants to play in spring training which would jeopardize the claim. Bagwell had recently been examined by noted surgeon Dr. James Andrews. 

Two-time American League MVP Frank Thomas agrees a one-year deal with the Oakland Athletics, and first baseman Ben Broussard avoids salary arbitration by signing a one-year contract with the Cleveland Indians.

ByTom

Two-time American League MVP Frank Thomas agrees a one-year deal with the Oakland Athletics, and first baseman Ben Broussard avoids salary arbitration by signing a one-year contract with the Cleveland Indians.

Fidel Castro confirms that his country will play in the 2006 World Baseball Classic in Cuba’s first official reaction to the U.S. government’s decision allowing the communist country to participate.

ByTom

Fidel Castro confirms that his country will play in the 2006 World Baseball Classic in Cuba’s first official reaction to the U.S. government’s decision allowing the communist country to participate.