2003 – Hoping to add punch to their lineup, the Oakland Athletics trade catcher Ramón Hernandez and disgruntled outfielder Terrence Long to the San Diego Padres for outfielder Mark Kotsay.

ByTom

2003 – Hoping to add punch to their lineup, the Oakland Athletics trade catcher Ramón Hernandez and disgruntled outfielder Terrence Long to the San Diego Padres for outfielder Mark Kotsay.

2003 – The Chicago Cubs trade first baseman Hee Seop Choi (who hit .210 with 10 home runs and 32 RBI) and Mike Nannini to the World Champion Florida Marlins in exchange for Gold Glove first baseman Derrek Lee (.271, 31, 92).

ByTom

2003 – The Chicago Cubs trade first baseman Hee Seop Choi (who hit .210 with 10 home runs and 32 RBI) and Mike Nannini to the World Champion Florida Marlins in exchange for Gold Glove first baseman Derrek Lee (.271, 31, 92).

2003 – 46-year-old relief pitcher Jesse Orosco agrees to a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks and will earn an $800,000 salary if he is added to the big league roster.

ByTom

2003 – 46-year-old relief pitcher Jesse Orosco agrees to a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks and will earn an $800,000 salary if he is added to the big league roster.

Eric Gagne, who saved 55 consecutive games for the Dodgers, becomes the ninth reliever to win a Cy Young Award. The runner-up is Jason Schmidt of the Giants, the pitcher with the NL’s best won-lost percentage (17-4, 77%) and an ERA of 2.34 to lead the circuit.

ByBaseball

Eric Gagne, who saved 55 consecutive games for the Dodgers, becomes the ninth reliever to win a Cy Young Award. The runner-up is Jason Schmidt of the Giants, the pitcher with the NL’s best won-lost percentage (17-4, 77%) and an ERA of 2.34 to lead the circuit.

MLB announces that the drug screens taken during the past baseball season tested positive in 5-to-7 percent of the 1,438 samples provided by the players. The results will set into motion a mandatory testing program for performance-enhancing drugs with punitive consequences for failure for the first time in baseball history.

ByBaseball

MLB announces that the drug screens taken during the past baseball season tested positive in 5-to-7 percent of the 1,438 samples provided by the players. The results will set into motion a mandatory testing program for performance-enhancing drugs with punitive consequences for failure for the first time in baseball history.

Roy Halladay of the Blue Jays easily wins the American League Cy Young Award, garnering 26 of 28 first-place votes. The 26 year-old right-hander finished the season 22-7, including winning 15 straight decisions from May 1 to July 27.

ByBaseball

Roy Halladay of the Blue Jays easily wins the American League Cy Young Award, garnering 26 of 28 first-place votes. The 26 year-old right-hander finished the season 22-7, including winning 15 straight decisions from May 1 to July 27.

Dontrelle Willis (14-6, 3.30), the only player in either league to be listed on every ballot, wins the National League Rookie of the Year award

Dontrelle Willis (14-6, 3.30), the only player in either league to be listed on every ballot, wins the National League Rookie of the Year award

ByThis Day in Baseball

Dontrelle Willis (14-6, 3.30), the only player in either league to be listed on every ballot, wins the National League Rookie of the Year award. The 21 year-old Marlins starter is named first on 17 of the 32 ballots cast by the writers, with Brewer outfielder Scott Podsednik (8) and Diamondback right-hander Brandon Webb (7) receiving the other first-place votes.

2003 – Promising Cincinnati Reds outfielder Dernell Stenson is kidnapped, robbed, and brutally murdered by four men in Scottsdale, Arizona, for reasons that are still unclear. He was 25.

ByBaseball

2003 – Promising Cincinnati Reds outfielder Dernell Stenson is kidnapped, robbed, and brutally murdered by four men in Scottsdale, Arizona, for reasons that are still unclear. He was 25.

Former Yankee captain Don Mattingly is named as the Bronx Bombers’ hitting coach, replacing Rick Down, who did not have his contract renewed last week. The 42 year-old, who retired due to back problems, will be a top candidate to replace Joe Torre as manager in 2005.

ByBaseball

Former Yankee captain Don Mattingly is named as the Bronx Bombers’ hitting coach, replacing Rick Down, who did not have his contract renewed last week. The 42 year-old, who retired due to back problems, will be a top candidate to replace Joe Torre as manager in 2005.

Miami-Dade County Commissioners approved a plan committing $73 million in tax money toward a new major league ballpark for the Marlins. The World Champions, who have agreed to change their name to the Miami Marlins if the city builds the ballpark, want to begin playing in the $325 million new park in 2007, but still don’t have a plan for raising $137 million needed as part of their commitment.

ByBaseball

Miami-Dade County Commissioners approved a plan committing $73 million in tax money toward a new major league ballpark for the Marlins. The World Champions, who have agreed to change their name to the Miami Marlins if the city builds the ballpark, want to begin playing in the $325 million new park in 2007, but still don’t have a plan for raising $137 million needed as part of their commitment.