On January 20, 1984, the Chicago White Sox claim 39 year old Tom Seaver from the New York Mets as compensation for the loss of free agent pitcher Dennis Lamp to the Toronto Blue Jays.. The 39-year-old Seaver won only nine games in 1983, and the Mets left Seaver off their protected list…
On January 20, 1984, the Montreal Expos sign 42-year-old free agent Pete Rose. The veteran first baseman batted only .245 in 1983, the last of his five seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies. Rose will play only 95 games for the Expos before being traded to the Cincinnati Reds.
On January 10, 1984, Luis Aparicio, Don Drysdale, and Harmon Killebrew are elected to the Hall of Fame. Killebrew totaled 573 home runs to rank fifth on the all-time list, Drysdale won 209 games with a 2.95 era, and Aparicio led the American League in stolen bases nine straight seasons. Killebrew gains election in his…
The Padres, outbidding a dozen teams, come to terms with Yankee free-agent Goose Gossage, agreeing to a five-year deal with the right-handed reliever reportedly worth more than $5.5 million. During his four seasons in San Diego as the team’s closer, the 32 year-old will average close to 21 saves per season while winning 25 games, helping the Friars reach their first-ever World Series this year.
On January 5, 1984, the New York Yankees sign future Hall of Famer Phil Niekro to a two-year contract. Niekro, who went 11-10 with a 3.97 ERA for the Atlanta Braves in 1983, will fill a void in the Yankee rotation and allow the team to move Dave Righetti to the bullpen. Niekro will win…
1983 – Free agent Warren Cromartie signs a reported three-year, $2.5 million contract to play for the Yomiuri Giants of the Pacific League. The 30-year-old Cromartie, who hit .278 as a mainstay in the Montreal Expos’ outfield last season, is arguably the best American player to jump to Nippon Pro Baseball while still in his prime. He will play in Japan for seven seasons before returning for one more season in the major leagues with the Kansas City Royals in 1991.
Detroit Tigers sign free agent infielder Darrell Evans
Pittsburgh Pirates sign outfielder Amos Otis as a free agent
New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner fires manager Billy Martin for the third time
1983 – Forty-year-old Joe Morgan signs a one-year contract with the Oakland A’s – his 5th club since 1979.
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