Long-time New York Yankees P Andy Pettitte announces his retirement at a press conference, after hesitating all off-season about whether to return to play another year in the Bronx. The Yankees have signed veterans Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia as potential replacements, but Pettitte’s decision still leaves a gaping hole in the team’s starting rotation.
The Baltimore Orioles sign DH Vladimir Guerrero to a one-year contract, while the Yankees sign 3B Eric Chavez who will attempt a comeback after being plagued by back injuries for the past four years and announcing his retirement early last season.
In a SRO news conference at Yankee Stadium, Andy Pettitte becomes the first ‘Core of Four’ teammate, a group which includes shortstop Derek Jeter, catcher Jorge Posada, and closer Mariano Rivera, to announce his retirement. The 38 year-old southpaw, who compiled a 240-138 record during his sixteen years in the major leagues, tells the reporters, “my body would get to where it needs to be, but my heart’s not where it needs to be.”
The Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame announces its 2011 class. For the third straight year, only players from the Caribbean Series host nation are honored. This time, it is Roberto Alomar, Carlos Baerga, Candy Maldonado and Luis DeLeon who get the nod.
A judge in the Dominican Republic denies bail to P Alfredo Simon, who has been detained for a month for his implication in a fatal shooting on New Year’s eve. The decision means that Simon is likely to stay in jail for another year while the investigation continues.
The Caribes de Anzoátegui win the Venezuelan League title with an 8 – 7 win over Tigres de Aragua in the seventh game of the finals. Series MVP 1B Luis Jimenez and OF Cesar Suarez hit 1st-inning homers to give the Caribes the lead they will never relinquish, and C Josh Kroeger adds a three-run blast. Reliever Alex Herrera is the winner and José Cabrera gets the save.
The Cubs sign two Cuban defectors who once played for the junior national team, OF Rubi Silva and C Yaniel Cabeza, both 21 and already veterans of the Serie Nacional.
The Twins plan to remove the 14 pine trees located behind the center field wall that were planted last season to be the batter’s eye at Target Field. The evergreens, which possibly will be relocated inside the newly opened ballpark, made it difficult for hitters to pick up the ball from the pitcher’s hand due to the movement of the conifers in the wind and the shadows cast during afternoon contests.
The Pirates repatriate western Pennsylvania native Joe Beimel and reunite him with his former manager, Clint Hurdle, when they sign him to a one-year contract.
Desperate for pitching, the Yankees sign veteran Bartolo Colon, who did not pitch in the majors last year, to a minor league contract. He will be given a chance to make the team out of spring training after playing well in the Dominican League this winter, and will prove a godsend when Phil Hughes goes down with an injury early in the season.
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