Hiromitsu Ochiai and Mutsuo Minagawa are elected to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. Ochiai was the only three-time Triple Crown winner in Nippon Pro Baseball and later guided the Chunichi Dragons to the 2007 Japan Series title. Minagawa was a six-time All-Star who had a career record of 221-139.

ByTom

Hiromitsu Ochiai and Mutsuo Minagawa are elected to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. Ochiai was the only three-time Triple Crown winner in Nippon Pro Baseball and later guided the Chunichi Dragons to the 2007 Japan Series title. Minagawa was a six-time All-Star who had a career record of 221-139.

2011 – The Yankees ink their first free agent of the off-season, signing reliever Rafael Soriano to a three-year contract worth $35 million. While Soriano will be the set-up man for Mariano Rivera this year, he excelled as the Rays’ closer last season, and is expected to be in line to take over for the great Rivera when he eventually retires.

ByTom

2011 – The Yankees ink their first free agent of the off-season, signing reliever Rafael Soriano to a three-year contract worth $35 million. While Soriano will be the set-up man for Mariano Rivera this year, he excelled as the Rays’ closer last season, and is expected to be in line to take over for the great Rivera when he eventually retires.

2011 – Diamondbacks minor league OF Alfredo Marte is suspended for 50 games after testing positive for stanozolol, a performance-enhancing substance.

ByTom

2011 – Diamondbacks minor league OF Alfredo Marte is suspended for 50 games after testing positive for stanozolol, a performance-enhancing substance.

Trevor Hoffman announces his retirement after 18 seasons

Trevor Hoffman announces his retirement after 18 seasons

ByThis Day in Baseball

Trevor Hoffman, who staked his claim as the all-time saves leader in the majors thanks to an outstanding change-up, announces his retirement after 18 seasons. He recorded his 600th save with the Brewers last season, and retires with 601, but had a tough year overall and found little interest in his services for next season. He will not hold the saves record for long, however, as Mariano Rivera has 559 and will pass him before the end of the coming season.

2011 – Edgar Renteria, the MVP of the last World Series, signs a one-year deal with the Reds. He states in an interview that he had to choose Cincinnati because the Giants’ offer of half the salary and a back-up role was “a total disrespect”. The Reds also sign OF Fred Lewis, who was the Blue Jays’ starting LF last year.

ByTom

2011 – Edgar Renteria, the MVP of the last World Series, signs a one-year deal with the Reds. He states in an interview that he had to choose Cincinnati because the Giants’ offer of half the salary and a back-up role was “a total disrespect”. The Reds also sign OF Fred Lewis, who was the Blue Jays’ starting LF last year.

Baseball is also in mourning after today’s shooting at a supermarket near Tucson, AZ, which leaves 6 persons dead and US representative Gabrielle Giffords among those seriously injured. 9-year-old Christina-Taylor Green, daughter of Los Angeles Dodgers scout John Green and grand-daughter of former player and executive Dallas Green, is one of the victims.

ByTom

Baseball is also in mourning after today’s shooting at a supermarket near Tucson, AZ, which leaves 6 persons dead and US representative Gabrielle Giffords among those seriously injured. 9-year-old Christina-Taylor Green, daughter of Los Angeles Dodgers scout John Green and grand-daughter of former player and executive Dallas Green, is one of the victims.

The Rangers trade P Ryan Kelly to the Athletics in return for Guillermo Moscoso. Moscoso had been designated for assignment by the Rangers when they signed free agent Adrian Beltre a few days ago.

ByTom

The Rangers trade P Ryan Kelly to the Athletics in return for Guillermo Moscoso. Moscoso had been designated for assignment by the Rangers when they signed free agent Adrian Beltre a few days ago.

2011 – The Cubs and Rays engineer a big trade, with P Matt Garza, author of a no-hitter last season, OF Fernando Perez and a minor league pitcher to be named headed to Chicago in return for a slew of prospects. Those include P Chris Archer, OF Brandon Guyer, SS Hak-Ju Lee, C Robinson Chirinos and OF Sam Fuld, the only one in the group with major league experience. Archer and Guyer were the Cubs’ 2010 minor league player and pitcher of the year, respectively.

ByTom

2011 – The Cubs and Rays engineer a big trade, with P Matt Garza, author of a no-hitter last season, OF Fernando Perez and a minor league pitcher to be named headed to Chicago in return for a slew of prospects. Those include P Chris Archer, OF Brandon Guyer, SS Hak-Ju Lee, C Robinson Chirinos and OF Sam Fuld, the only one in the group with major league experience. Archer and Guyer were the Cubs’ 2010 minor league player and pitcher of the year, respectively.

2011 – P Brian Bannister, who played for the Royals last season, signs a one-year deal with an option for 2012 to play for the Yomiuri Giants of the Japanese Central League.

ByTom

2011 – P Brian Bannister, who played for the Royals last season, signs a one-year deal with an option for 2012 to play for the Yomiuri Giants of the Japanese Central League.