The Braves sign free agent Cy Young Award and Gold Glove winner Greg Maddux to a five-year contract

The Braves sign free agent Cy Young Award and Gold Glove winner Greg Maddux to a five-year contract

The Braves sign free agent Cy Young Award and Gold Glove winner Greg Maddux to a five-year contract, and then trade pitchers Charlie Leibrandt and Pat Gomez to the Rangers in exchange for 3B Jose Oliva. Leibrandt (15-7) saw his star fall in Atlanta when he gave up 11th-inning extra base hits in the 1991 World Series and 1992 World Series. Maddux, who turned down a $28.5 million contract extension in mid-season with the Cubs, signs for $28 million, $6 million less than the Yankees offered.

The Colorado Rockies make their first trade a good one, sending OF Kevin Reimer to the Milwaukee Brewers for OF Dante Bichette. Bichette hit .287 for Milwaukee, but just .246 in the second half of the year, and will blossom into a hitting star in Colorado.

The Colorado Rockies make their first trade a good one, sending OF Kevin Reimer to the Milwaukee Brewers for OF Dante Bichette. Bichette hit .287 for Milwaukee, but just .246 in the second half of the year, and will blossom into a hitting star in Colorado.

Andres Galarraga

Colorado Rockies sign free agent Andres Galarraga

The Colorado Rockies sign free agent first baseman Andres Galarraga, who rejoins team manager Don Baylor, his hitting coach with the St. Louis Cardinals. Galarraga is coming off his second injury-plagued year, having missed 44 days of the season after being hit on the wrist by a Wally Whitehurst pitch in just the third game of the season. Galarraga, whose career seemed on the verge of extinction…