Avoiding salary arbitration, catcher Paul Lo Duca signs a three-year, $18 million deal to remain with the Florida Marlins. Lo Duca was acquired by Florida, along with relief pitcher Guillermo Mota and outfielder Juan Encarnación, in a trading deadline blockbuster trade which sent starter Brad Penny, first baseman Hee Seop Choi and pitching prospect Bill Murphy to the Dodgers.

ByTom

Avoiding salary arbitration, catcher Paul Lo Duca signs a three-year, $18 million deal to remain with the Florida Marlins. Lo Duca was acquired by Florida, along with relief pitcher Guillermo Mota and outfielder Juan Encarnación, in a trading deadline blockbuster trade which sent starter Brad Penny, first baseman Hee Seop Choi and pitching prospect Bill Murphy to the Dodgers.

In a news conference at Dodger Stadium, general manager Paul DePodesta announces the team has signed former Red Sox starter Derek Lowe to a $36 million, four-year deal. Lowe, who has the second most wins over the past three years, is the first pitcher to win three deciding decisions in post-season history.

ByTom

In a news conference at Dodger Stadium, general manager Paul DePodesta announces the team has signed former Red Sox starter Derek Lowe to a $36 million, four-year deal. Lowe, who has the second most wins over the past three years, is the first pitcher to win three deciding decisions in post-season history.

2005 – The Arizona Diamondbacks trade five-time Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson to the New York Yankees in a three-team deal that includes the Los Angeles Dodgers. Shawn Green, Javier Vazquez and Dioner Navarro also move in the transaction. Arizona receives Vazquez, Navarro and Brad Halsey from the Yankees, and later sends Navarro and three minor league prospects to Los Angeles for Green.

ByTom

2005 – The Arizona Diamondbacks trade five-time Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson to the New York Yankees in a three-team deal that includes the Los Angeles Dodgers. Shawn Green, Javier Vazquez and Dioner Navarro also move in the transaction. Arizona receives Vazquez, Navarro and Brad Halsey from the Yankees, and later sends Navarro and three minor league prospects to Los Angeles for Green.

The Diamondbacks trade recently acquired catcher Dioner Navarro and hurlers William Juarez, Danny Muegge, and Beltran Perez to the Dodgers for 32 year-old outfielder Shawn Green (.266, 28, 86). In an effort to rebound from last season’s 51-111 record, Arizona has also signed free-agent third baseman Troy Glaus and starting pitcher Russ Ortiz during the offseason.

ByTom

The Diamondbacks trade recently acquired catcher Dioner Navarro and hurlers William Juarez, Danny Muegge, and Beltran Perez to the Dodgers for 32 year-old outfielder Shawn Green (.266, 28, 86). In an effort to rebound from last season’s 51-111 record, Arizona has also signed free-agent third baseman Troy Glaus and starting pitcher Russ Ortiz during the offseason.

Carlos Beltran

Center fielder Carlos Beltran becomes the tenth $100 million player in major league history as the 27-year-old native of Puerto Rico agrees to a seven-year deal for $119 million with the New York Mets. The five-tool player, who had his market value increase in the postseason by helping the Houston Astros come within a win of the first World Series appearance in franchise history, goes to New York after Houston refuses to include a no-trade clause in their very attractive monetary offer to keep him on the club.

ByTom

2005 – Center fielder Carlos Beltran becomes the tenth $100 million player in major league history as the 27-year-old native of Puerto Rico agrees to a seven-year deal for $119 million with the New York Mets. The five-tool player, who had his market value increase in the postseason by helping the Houston Astros come within a win of the first World Series appearance in franchise history, goes to New York after Houston refuses to include a no-trade clause in their very attractive monetary offer to keep him on the club.

After ending a 17-year Fall Classic drought, the St. Louis Cardinals and manager Tony LaRussa agree to a contract extension. LaRussa, who piloted the team to 105 wins this season and has been in the postseason five of the nine seasons with St. Louis, is now signed through 2007.

ByTom

After ending a 17-year Fall Classic drought, the St. Louis Cardinals and manager Tony LaRussa agree to a contract extension. LaRussa, who piloted the team to 105 wins this season and has been in the postseason five of the nine seasons with St. Louis, is now signed through 2007.

Free agent pitcher Kevin Millwood signs a one-year contract with the Cleveland Indians. The 30-year-old starter missed nearly all of the last two months this past season with the Philadelphia Phillies due to acute tendonitis in his right elbow.

ByTom

Free agent pitcher Kevin Millwood signs a one-year contract with the Cleveland Indians. The 30-year-old starter missed nearly all of the last two months this past season with the Philadelphia Phillies due to acute tendonitis in his right elbow.

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Hopes of retaining free agent center fielder Carlos Beltran are dashed when the deadline to re-sign him expires. Beltran had rejected a reported seven-year $105 million dollar offer, the richest in club history, before signing with the New York Mets a few days later. 

ByTom

Hopes of retaining free agent center fielder Carlos Beltran are dashed when the deadline to re-sign him expires. Beltran had rejected a reported seven-year $105 million dollar offer, the richest in club history, before signing with the New York Mets a few days later. 

Boston Red Sox owner John Henry calls Doug Mientkiewicz

ByTom

Boston Red Sox owner John Henry calls Doug Mientkiewicz to discuss the defensive replacement’s possession of the game ball caught at first base for the last out of the 2004 World Series. Larry Lucchino, the club’s president, has made it clear he wants the team to have ownership of the historic ball. The ball now resides in a safe deposit box along with the back-up infielder’s Olympic gold medal.

Commissioner Bud Selig announces Major League Baseball and the Players Association will donate $1 million to help the victims of last month’s tsunami in Southeast Asia.

ByTom

Commissioner Bud Selig announces Major League Baseball and the Players Association will donate $1 million to help the victims of last month’s tsunami in Southeast Asia.