2012 – The Rangers sign Japanese P Yu Darvish to a 6-year, $60 million deal. Combined with the record $51.7 million posting fee, Texas will shell almost $112 million to secure the services of Darvish.
The Rockies acquire 1B Chad Tracy, the son of manager Jim Tracy, in a deal with the Rangers for former top draft pick Greg Reynolds. Colorado also signs 3B Casey Blake as a free agent.
The Mariners sign Japanese P Hisashi Iwakuma to a one-year contract as a free agent. Iwakuma had gone through the posting system a year ago, but the 2008 Pacific League MVP failed to agree on a contract with the winning bidders, the Oakland A’s. For their part, the Yankees announce they have been unable to reach an agreement with SS Hiroyuki Nakajima, whose rights they secured through the posting system last month; Nakajima will return to play for the Seibu Lions this season.
The Cubs trade Carlos Zambrano to the Marlins for right-hander Chris Volstad and cash. The 30 year-old right-hander will join fellow Venezuelan Ozzie Guillen, Miami’s new manager, who has been publicly supportive during the combative hurler’s controversial moments, which have included firing a ball into the outfield and physically fighting with teammates.
Major League Season Recap 2011 World Series – St. Louis Cardinals NL over Texas Rangers AL 4 games to 3 World Series MVP – David Freese Babe Ruth Award – David Freese Championship Series ALCS Texas Rangers over Detriot Tigers 4 games to 2 ALCS MVP – Nelson Cruz NLCS St. Louis Cardinals over Milwaukee Brewers 4 games to 2…
2011 – Ron Santo, former Chicago Cubs third baseman in the 1960s, who died last year, is the lone player elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. He receives 15 of 16 votes from members of the “Golden Era” Committee.
The Tigers’ Justin Verlander adds the American League Most Valuable Player Award to the Cy Young Award he won a week ago after a dominating season in which he led Detroit to the AL Central title. He is the first pitcher to win the award in the AL since reliever Dennis Eckersley in 1992, and the first starting pitcher to do so since Roger Clemens in 1986. He secures 13 of 28 first-place votes to finish ahead of Boston’s Jacoby Ellsbury, Toronto’s Jose Bautista and New York’s Curtis Granderson in a bunched-up vote.
Clayton Kershaw is named by the BBWAA as the National League’s Cy Young Award recipient, easily outpointing Philadelphia’s Roy Halladay, who had won the prestigious pitching prize last year. The 23 year-old southpaw earned the NL’s triple crown by posting a 2.28 ERA, striking out 248 opponents, and notching the most victories in the circuit, along with Arizona’s Ian Kennedy, with a record of 21-5.
2011 – A court in the Dominican Republic clears Orioles pitcher Alfredo Simon of all charges related to a December 31st shooting incident for which Simon was detained for two months this winter. The case is dropped after witnesses fail to appear at two scheduled hearings.
The Giants bolster their anemic offense by acquiring OF Melky Cabrera from Kansas City for Ps Jonathan Sanchez and Ryan Verdugo.
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