In a decision which team general manager Neal Huntington calls easy, the Pirates pick up John Russell’s contract option for this season. The sophomore skipper went 67-95 in his first season with the last-place Bucs.

ByTom

In a decision which team general manager Neal Huntington calls easy, the Pirates pick up John Russell’s contract option for this season. The sophomore skipper went 67-95 in his first season with the last-place Bucs.

Avoiding arbitration, the Nationals and Ryan Zimmerman (.283, 14, 51) agree to a one-year, $3.3 million contract. The 24 year-old third baseman is Washington’s all-time leader in almost every offensive category, including homers, RBI, runs, and hits, as well as contests played, since the franchise relocated from Montreal four seasons ago.

ByTom

Avoiding arbitration, the Nationals and Ryan Zimmerman (.283, 14, 51) agree to a one-year, $3.3 million contract. The 24 year-old third baseman is Washington’s all-time leader in almost every offensive category, including homers, RBI, runs, and hits, as well as contests played, since the franchise relocated from Montreal four seasons ago.

At 11:25 a.m., the last remaining piece of Shea Stadium, the ramp to section 5, is demolished, marking the end of the New York venue where the Mets played for 44 years. The footprint of the old ballpark will become a parking lot for the team’s new home, the $800-million Citi Field, which will open in April.

ByTom

At 11:25 a.m., the last remaining piece of Shea Stadium, the ramp to section 5, is demolished, marking the end of the New York venue where the Mets played for 44 years. The footprint of the old ballpark will become a parking lot for the team’s new home, the $800-million Citi Field, which will open in April.

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2009 – Routine physicals at the beginning of spring training sometimes reveal the unexpected. Returning pitcher Mike Hampton is told he has an irregular heartbeat and is sent back to Houston for tests and a minor procedure. Doctors then determine no procedure was necessary and fly him back to Florida the next day. 

ByTom

2009 – Routine physicals at the beginning of spring training sometimes reveal the unexpected. Returning pitcher Mike Hampton is told he has an irregular heartbeat and is sent back to Houston for tests and a minor procedure. Doctors then determine no procedure was necessary and fly him back to Florida the next day. 

BUD SELIG chastises Alex Rodriguez

ByTom

“While Alex deserves credit for publicly confronting the issue, there is no valid excuse for using such substances, and those who use them have shamed the game.” – BUD SELIG, commenting Alex Rodriguez’s admission of using PEDs.Three days after Alex Rodriguez apologizes for using steroids, commissioner Bud Selig chastises the Yankee superstar, and all the other players, who used such substances, for bringing shame to the game. The third baseman’s apology followed a SI.com report that he was one of 104 players who tested positive in tests taken in 2003 to determine the extent of steroid use in the national pastime.

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Miguel Tejada pleads guilty lying to congressional investigators about performance enhancing drugs

ByTom

2009 – Miguel Tejada pleads guilty in Washington D.C. to lying to congressional investigators about performance enhancing drugs. He claims he also purchased but did not use human growth hormone which he bought from former Oakland teammate Adam Piatt. He is later sentenced to one year probation, 100 hours of community service and a $5,000 fine. 

Alex Rodriguez publicly admits to using steroids from 2001 to 2003

Alex Rodriguez publicly admits to using steroids from 2001 to 2003

ByTom

2009 – 12-time All-Star and 3-time MVP Alex Rodriguez publicly admits to using steroids from 2001 to 2003, while a member of the Texas Rangers. Rodriguez apologizes for his past errors; he had not commented on the issue since Sports Illustrated had broken a story about a positive 2003 test two days earlier.

Oliver Perez agrees to a $36 million, three-year deal to stay with the Mets. The 29 year-old inconsistent southpaw, who has posted a 26-20 record with New York since being obtained from Pittsburgh during the 2006 season, will be part of the team’s starting rotation.

ByTom

Oliver Perez agrees to a $36 million, three-year deal to stay with the Mets. The 29 year-old inconsistent southpaw, who has posted a 26-20 record with New York since being obtained from Pittsburgh during the 2006 season, will be part of the team’s starting rotation.

Garrett Atkins (.286, 21, 99) avoids arbitration, agreeing to a one-year deal with the Rockies. The 29 year-old third baseman’s $7.05 million contract makes him the second-highest paid player on the team, trailing only Todd Helton.

ByTom

Garrett Atkins (.286, 21, 99) avoids arbitration, agreeing to a one-year deal with the Rockies. The 29 year-old third baseman’s $7.05 million contract makes him the second-highest paid player on the team, trailing only Todd Helton.

Justin Verlander (11-17, 4.84) agrees to a one-year contract worth $3,675,000 to stay with the Tigers, a dramatic increase from last season. The 2006 AL Rookie of the Year’s original five-year contract, which slated the right-hander for a $600,000 salary in 2009, could be terminated if he had enough service time to become eligible for arbitration.

ByTom

Justin Verlander (11-17, 4.84) agrees to a one-year contract worth $3,675,000 to stay with the Tigers, a dramatic increase from last season. The 2006 AL Rookie of the Year’s original five-year contract, which slated the right-hander for a $600,000 salary in 2009, could be terminated if he had enough service time to become eligible for arbitration.