The Marlins hire the former steroids-tainted superstar Barry Bonds, who joins the staff of newly hired manager Don Mattingly as the team’s hitting coach. Some see the return of the 51 year-old all-time home king to baseball as a way for him to enhance his Hall of Fame chances, but his presence in Miami may also be beneficial for a 71-91 team that finished next to last in the majors in runs and home runs, and last in walks.

1B Joey Votto of the Reds is named the winner of the Tip O’Neill Award as the top Canadian baseball player for the fifth time in six years.

The Diamondbacks make a splash on the free agent market as they shell out $206 million to sign P Zack Greinke for six years. Greinke’s annual salary of $34.3 million will make him the highest-paid player in the game.