1997 – The Royals acquire 1B Jeff Conine from the Marlins in exchange for P Blaine Mull.
1997 – The Royals acquire 1B Jeff Conine from the Marlins in exchange for P Blaine Mull.
Free agent first baseman Andres Galarraga signs a three-year $24.8 million contract with the Atlanta Braves, ending a five-year stint with the Colorado Rockies that helped put Colorado on the baseball map. Galarraga batted .316 with 172 home runs and 579 RBI with the Rockies, including a National League batting crown in 1993, consecutive RBI titles in 1996 and 1997, and a home run title in 1997.
Free agent first baseman Andres Galarraga signs a three-year $24.8 million contract with the Atlanta Braves, ending a five-year stint with the Colorado Rockies that helped put Colorado on the baseball map. Galarraga batted .316 with 172 home runs and 579 RBI with the Rockies, including a National League batting crown in 1993, consecutive RBI titles in 1996 and 1997, and a home run title in 1997.
Jeff Conine, another player who exploded after expansion in 1992, is dealt to the Kansas City Royals by the cost-cutting Florida Marlins.
Jeff Conine, another player who exploded after expansion in 1992, is dealt to the Kansas City Royals by the cost-cutting Florida Marlins.
National League Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez goes from the Expos to the Boston Red Sox
In various trades, the Colorado Rockies acquire second baseman Mike Lansing from the Montreal Expos for pitcher Jake Westbrook and two prospects; the Florida Marlins send reliever Robb Nen to the San Francisco Giants for Joe Fontenot, Mike Pageler and Mike Villano; the New York Yankees obtain third baseman Scott Brosius from the Oakland Athletics to complete the earlier Kenny Rogers deal, and the Seattle Mariners sign free agent second baseman Joey Cora. But the transaction that makes perhaps the biggest headlines is National League Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez going from the Expos to the Boston Red Sox for young pitchers Carl Pavano and Tony Armas, Jr..
The expansion draft starts with several transactions.
The expansion draft starts with several transactions. Two pitchers who appeared in the World Series a month earlier, Tony Saunders (Florida Marlins) and Brian Anderson (Cleveland Indians), are the first players taken. Saunders, the first player chosen overall, heads a list of new Tampa Bay Devil Rays team members that includes Quinton McCracken, Bubba Trammell, Albie López and Terrell Wade. Tampa Bay also obtains John Flaherty from the San Diego Padres in exchange for Brian Boehringer and Andy Sheets; Kevin Stocker from the Philadelphia Phillies for Bobby Abreu; Fred McGriff from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for a player to be named, and signs free agent P Roberto Hernández. The Arizona Diamondbacks, meanwhile, who signed free agent Jay Bell to a five-year contract yesterday, select Jeff Suppan, Jorge Fabregas and Karim Garcia, and acquire Travis Fryman from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Joe Randa, Gabe Alvarez and Matt Drews]. They also obtain Devon White from the Florida Marlins for Jesus Martinez.
The Arizona Diamondbacks sign free agent shortstop Jay Bell to a five-year contract.
The Arizona Diamondbacks sign free agent shortstop Jay Bell to a five-year contract.
The Atlanta Braves sign free agent shortstop Walt Weiss to a three-year contract.
The Atlanta Braves sign free agent shortstop Walt Weiss to a three-year contract.
After annually alternating the schedule of the League Championship Series between the divisions, with a 2-3 format in the best-of-five series (1969-84) and a 2-3-2 format in the best-of-seven matchups (1985-1997), the LCS home-field advantage will now be awarded to the team with the best record. In the series that features the wild-card winner, the divisional winner will receive home-field advantage, regardless of which team has the best record.
After annually alternating the schedule of the League Championship Series between the divisions, with a 2-3 format in the best-of-five series (1969-84) and a 2-3-2 format in the best-of-seven matchups (1985-1997), the LCS home-field advantage will now be awarded to the team with the best record. In the series that features the wild-card winner, the divisional winner will receive home-field advantage, regardless of which team has the best record.
1997 – Larry Walker of the Colorado Rockies is named National League MVP, becoming the first Canadian in either league to win the honor. Walker, who hit .366 with 49 home runs and 130 RBI, caps off a big week for Canada. Earlier in the week, pitchers Roger Clemens of the Toronto Blue Jays and Pedro Martinez of the Montreal Expos each won the Cy Young Award.
1997 – Larry Walker of the Colorado Rockies is named National League MVP, becoming the first Canadian in either league to win the honor. Walker, who hit .366 with 49 home runs and 130 RBI, caps off a big week for Canada. Earlier in the week, pitchers Roger Clemens of the Toronto Blue Jays and Pedro Martinez of the Montreal Expos each won the Cy Young Award.
Ken Griffey, Jr. becomes the ninth unanimous pick for the American League MVP Award
Ken Griffey, Jr. becomes the ninth unanimous pick for the American League MVP Award. Griffey hit .304 for Seattle, led the AL with 56 home runs, and led the majors with 147 RBI. He receives all 28 first-place votes and 392 points in balloting to become the first unanimous AL pick since Frank Thomas in 1993, and the 13th unanimous selection overall.
