2000 – The Reds send four players – pitcher Brett Tomko, outfielder Mike Cameron and two minor leaguers to the Mariners and agree to a contract extension to obtain Seattle’s superstar Ken Griffey Jr. Junior’s nine-year $116.5 million contract is the richest package in history, but in the current market is considered quite a bargain.
Houston signs veteran pitcher and former Cy Young winner Dwight “Doc” Gooden to a free agent contract. He pitches in the debut of Enron Field but gets into only one game during the regular season before he is sent to Tampa Bay.
November 2, 1999 Ken Griffey Jr., who wants to be nearer his family in Orlando, asks the Mariners to move him to a team that is closer to Florida. The superstar outfielder will get his wish in February when Seattle trades him to the Reds for Mike Cameron, Antonio Perez, and Brett Tomko,…
1999 – In a ten-player megatrade, the Texas Rangers send outfielder Juan Gonzalez, pitcher Danny Patterson and catcher Gregg Zaun to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Ps Justin Thompson, Alan Webb and Francisco Cordero, OF Gabe Kapler, C Bill Haselman, and IF Frank Catalanotto.
On February 2, 1999 San Diego Padres’ outfielder Greg Vaughn becomes the first player traded in major league history after hitting 50 home runs during the season. The slugger is dealt to the Cincinnati Reds, along with Mark Sweeney for Reggie Sanders, Damian Jackson, and Josh Harris. Vaughn spent one season in Cincinnati hitting .245…
1999 – The New York Yankees trade highly-touted third base prospect Mike Lowell to the Florida Marlins for three minor league pitchers – Mark Johnson, Ed Yarnall and Todd Noel. Lowell, named minor league player of the year last season, is expendable after Scott Brosius’ outstanding 1998 performance.
1999 – Houston signs four players to minor league deals but all will see action with the Astros. Pitchers Brian Williams and Jeff McCurry come to terms along with outfielders Alex Diaz and Ryan Thompson. Williams, in his second tour as an Astro, plays the biggest role going 2-1 in 50 games out of the bullpen. For McCurry, it was a nice 29th birthday present, having been born in Tokyo, Japan on this day in 1970.
The Astros swap catcher Brad Ausmus and pitcher C.J. Nitkowski to Detroit for five players including catcher Paul Bako and pitcher Brian Powell. Ironically, both players Houston traded away would return to the Astros organization.
The Detroit Tigers sign free agent Gregg Jefferies to a two-year contract and trade outfielder Luis Gonzalez to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Karim Garcia.
The Indians trade OF Geronimo Berroa to the Tigers for P Tim Worrell and minor league OF Dave Roberts.
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