2009 – 3B Scott Rolen re-signs with the Cincinnati Reds for two years. He had been acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays at the trading deadline last season.
For the second year in a row, the Korea Baseball Organization voids a trade by the Seoul Heroes. The cash-strapped Heroes had decided to send star flyhawk Taek-keun Lee (.311/.408/.467) to the LG Twins for two players and 2.5 billion won. The Heroes have been banned from making trades involving large sums of cash until their franchise fee has been paid off.
Two expensive underarchievers are traded for each other as the Cubs ship troublesome OF Milton Bradley to Seattle for P Carlos Silva, who won only 5 games in two years after signing a lucrative contract with the Mariners.
The Yankees sign free agent and former Yankee Nick Johnson to a one-year contract with an option for 2011. He is expected to play DH and bat second in place of Johnny Damon, whom the Yanks announce they will not seek to re-sign.
The Cubs trade outcast Milton Bradley to the Mariners in exchange for starting pitcher Carlos Silva (1-3, 8.60), Seattle’s very costly and underachieving right-hander. Chicago suspended the outspoken and unpopular outfielder for his criticism of the atmosphere surrounding the team as being the reason the club hasn’t won a World Series since 1908.
Avoiding arbitration, Ricky Nolasco and the Marlins agree to a $3.8 million, one-year deal, which is an increase of $1.4 million from last season. The team’s Opening Day starter posted a 13-9 record, compiling an ERA of 5.06 for the Fish last season.
2009 – The Mets sign Japanese right-handed reliever Ryota Igarashi to a two-year contract. Igarashi has spent his entire 11-year career in Nippon Pro Baseball with the Yakult Swallows.
The Orioles sign two free agents, reliever Mike Gonzalez formerly of the Braves, and 3B Garrett Atkins, who was with the Rockies.
The Dodgers sign utility player Jamey Carroll to a two-year contract.
In a deal, involving four teams and nine players, and resulting in two Cy Young Award winners getting traded, the Phillies send three top minor leaguers, Travis d’Arnaud, Kyle Drabek (son of former CYA winner Doug Drabek), and Michael Taylor, who will be traded to get A’s third baseman Brett Wallace, to the Blue Jays for Roy Halladay. After securing their new ace, Philadelphia sends their former ace, Cliff Lee, to the Mariners to restock their minor league system by getting prospects outfielder Tyson Gillies and right-handers Phillippe Aumont and Juan Ramirez from Seattle.