2013 – Reports indicate that the Twins have signed their second free agent starting pitcher in less than a week, coming to an agreement with Phil Hughes on a three-year contract worth $24 million. Hughes will still need to be pass a physical exam before the deal becomes official.

2013 – It took eight months, but the Dominican Republic national team players who swept through the 2013 World Baseball Classic finally get their parade as fans line the streets of Santo Domingo to greet them after President Danilo Medina holds a reception at the National Palace where they receive their championship rings. With the tournament ending in the middle of spring training, the winning nation was unable to properly honor its heroes at the time.

2013 – The Twins, who finished in last place with the worst starting pitcher ERA in the majors last year, begin to address the problem with a rare dip in the free agent pool, signing P Ricky Nolasco to a multi-year deal.

2013 – The MVP awards in Nippon Pro Baseball come as no surprise. Masahiro Tanaka of the Rakuten Golden Eagles is the unanimous winner of the 2013 Pacific League Most Valuable Player Award after going 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA, the only pitcher in NPB annals to lead in wins without losing a game. Meanwhile, Wladimir Balentien of the Yakult Swallows takes home the 2013 Central League Most Valuable Player Award, the first player ever to win from a last-place team; Balentien had set a new NPB home run record with 60.

The Athletics acquire P Fernando Abad from Washington in return for minor league OF John Wooten, while the Pirates send OF Alex Dickerson to San Diego and receive OF Jaff Decker and P Miles Mikolas in a trade of prospects,

The Cardinals ink veteran SS Jhonny Peralta to a four-year deal as a free agent, while the Dodgers sign P Dan Haren for one year.

2013 – After making do with makeshift solutions at catcher all of last year, the Yankees decide to sign seven-time All-Star Brian McCann to a five-year, $85 million contract.

The Mets sign OF Chris Young to a one-year contract.

In a trade of former top prospects coming off disappointing seasons, the Cardinals send 3B David Freese to the Angels in return for OF Peter Bourjos. P Fernando Salas also heads to Los Angeles, while minor league OF Randal Grichuk will go to St. Louis.

Michael Weiner, executive director of the MLBPA, dies of brain cancer at age 51. The architect of the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement and highly respected by players, owners and Major League Baseball top executives alike, he is succeeded by former player Tony Clark.