As part of its 100th Anniversary festivities, the Indians present three-time All-Star Jim Thome with his very own bobblehead doll. The first baseman is one of seven current Cleveland players who will be part of the bobblehead doll promotional giveaways to celebrate the club’s centennial this season.

Free agent signings include outfielder Brian Hunter by the Philadelphia Phillies and infielder Ron Coomer by the Chicago Cubs. Coomer will go on the disabled list April 4th with a knee injury, opening the door for Julio Zuleta.

In an effort to authenticate autographed and game-used merchandise sold by its licensees, Major League Baseball hires Arthur Andersen, an accounting company, to assure the authenticity of approximately 40,000 items this season. The memorabilia will have a tamper-proof hologram and an ID number with a company official observing the removal of the item being physically taken from the player or event.

The Chicago White Sox announce that pitcher Bill Simas will miss the entire season following ligament replacement surgery on his elbow last month.

The Montreal Expos agree to a one-year contract to telecast 55 games this season – 46 on Réseau des sports, 12 on The Sports Network, and three on both. The approximately $2 million pact with French-language RDS ends the year-long local television blackout imposed by owner Jeffrey Loria which resulted in the departure of Dave van Horne, a respected play-by-play announcer, and the loss of the team’s main sponsor, Labatt Brewery, which cited the lack of local TV rights as a factor in ending its 15-year relationship with the club.

The Expos agree to a one-year contract with RDS and TSN to telecast 55 games (46 on RDS, 12 on TSN, and three on both) this year. The approximately $2 million pact with French-language Reseau des Sports ends the year-long local television blackout which resulted in the departure of Dave Van Horne, a respected play-by-play announcer, and the loss of the team’s primary sponsor, Labatt Brewery, which cited the lack of local TV rights as a factor in ending its 15-year relationship with the club.

The Indians, to fill the void created by Manny Ramirez’s departure to Boston, sign Juan Gonzalez to a one-year, $10-million deal. The two-time American League MVP leaves the Tigers after hitting .289 with only 67 RBIs in a disappointing injury-plagued season, after turning down a $143 million, eight-year contract extension stay in Detroit last year.

Free agent signings include outfielder Juan Gonzalez by the Cleveland Indians, and catcher Kelly Stinnett and infielder Wilton Guerrero by the Cincinnati Reds.

In a three-way deal, the Kansas City Royals obtain catcher A.J. Hinch, infielder Angel Berroa and cash from the Oakland Athletics, and pitcher Roberto Hernández from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays; Oakland receives P Cory Lidle from Tampa Bay, and outfielder Johnny Damon and infielder Mark Ellis from Kansas City, and Tampa Bay receives OF Ben Grieve from Oakland.

Needing only 145 hits to reach 3,000, Harold Baines agrees to a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox. The 21-season veteran, who will turn 42 during spring training, played with the Baltimore Orioles and White Sox last season. He will only get into 32 games with the club and add 11 hits before retiring.