Curt Schilling agrees to terms to stay with the World Champion Red Sox. The $8 million, one-year deal includes an additional $5 million in bonuses, $3 million based on innings pitched, and another $2 million based on the right-hander’s weight.
Greg Maddux, breaking a tie with former Orioles third baseman Brooks Robinson and veteran hurler Jim Kaat for the most Gold Gloves in a career, wins his 17th, an honor bestowed by managers and coaches in each league for fielding excellence at the player’s given position. The 41 year-old future Hall of Famer, now with the Padres, has been selected every year as the top fielding pitcher in the National League since 1990, except for 2003, when Mike Hampton of the Braves won the honor.
At their annual meeting, baseball’s general managers vote 25-5 in favor of using instant replays on a limited basis. The proposal, which owners, players, and umpires will need to approve of making the use of video a reality, would be utilized only in determining home run calls in doubt due to possible fan interference, balls clearing the fence, and balls near or over the foul pole.
Curt Schilling agrees to terms to stay with the World Champion Red Sox. The $8 million, one-year deal includes an additional $5 million in bonuses, $3 million based on innings pitched, and another $2 million based on the right-hander’s weight.
In an effort to replace relievers Francisco Cordero (Reds) and Scott Linebrink (White Sox), who were lost to free agency, the Brewers sign David Riske. The 31 year-old right-handed hurler, who after a rocky start pitched effectively for the Royals last season, agrees to a three-year contract to play for Milwaukee.
The Pirates name former third base coach John Russell as their 38th manager in franchise history. The Bucs’ new skipper, the 2006 International League Manager of the Year, managed the Red Barons, the triple-A Phillies affiliate located in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, for the past two seasons.
The Dodgers hire Brooklyn-born Joe Torre as their 26th manager in franchise history, the eighth since the club moved to the West Coast from their new manager’s hometown. The former Yankee manager was replaced in New York this week by Joe Girardi, who had been initially pursued by Los Angeles to replace the team’s skipper, Grady Little.
In response to Hank Steinbrenner’s sarcastic remark about Alex Rodriguez entering the Hall of Fame as a member of the Mud Hens rather than as a Yankee, the Toledo Triple A team frivolously offers the free agent a contract. The minor league deal includes a bonus for hitting 75 home runs next season and leading the affiliate of the Tigers to ten consecutive International League titles.
In an interview aired on MSNBC, Barry Bonds said he is prepared to boycott his induction, when elected, into the Hall of Fame if the museum accepts the ball he hit for his record-breaking 756th career home run marked with a permanent asterisk. Fashion designer Marc Ecko, who bought the historic sphere for $752,467, released the results of an internet poll he conducted on www.vote756.com, in which nearly half the fans (47%) voted in favor of sending it to Cooperstown after branding the ball.
Ria Cortesio, professional baseball’s only active female umpire and sixth overall, is released after nine years of making calls in the minors. The 31 year-old crew chief, whose mask is in the Hall of Fame, worked the Futures Game and Home Run Derby at the 2006 All-Star Game played in Pittsburgh, and she was on the bases for an exhibition game between the Diamondbacks and Cubs during spring training.
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