Adrian Beltre agrees to a $96 million, six-year deal with the Rangers, the reigning American League champs. The acquisition of the All-Star third baseman will make incumbent Michael Young the team’s designated hitter, giving Texas a potent lineup and a much-improved defense.
Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven are voted into the Hall of Fame when the results of the 2011 Hall of Fame Election are announced. Alomar, twice a World Champion with the Toronto Blue Jays and a perennial Gold Glove winner at second base, makes it in his second year on the ballot. For workhorse pitcher Blyleven, it’s been harder. He started out at 17.5% in his first year of eligibility, and finally crossed the 75% threshold in his 14th year after a dedicated campaign on his behalf conducted through the internet. Once again, voters express their disgust with avowed steroid users, as Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro, both members of the 500 home run club, finish well down on the ballot.
Jeff Bagwell draws 41.7% of the vote in his first year on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot, which sets off a debate about Bagwell’s credentials and suspicions of steroid use. Bagwell insists he’s never used them and no accuser has comes forward with any proof yet that doesn’t seem to be good enough for some writers who declare their opposition.
The Braves and 2B Dan Uggla, acquired from Florida earlier this offseason, come to terms on a five-year contract extension worth $62 million. The Marlins had earlier balked at giving the 31-year-old such a long deal, prompting his trade to Atlanta.
The Orioles sign reliever Kevin Gregg, coming off a career-best 37 saves with Toronto, to a two-year contract.
David Price is selected this season’s recipient of the Warren Spahn Award, a recognition given annually to the best left-handed major league pitcher in Major League Baseball by the Oklahoma Sports Museum. The Rays’ 25 year-old All-Star southpaw compiled a 19-6 record along with an ERA of 2.72 for the AL East champs.
2011 – Accompanied by teammate Julio Lugo, Orioles P Alfredo Simon surrenders to police in a courthouse in Puerto Plata in relation to a fatal shooting on new year’s eve in the Dominican Republic. Simon concedes that he fired celebratory shots into the air to mark the new year near the two victims, but denies that these were the fatal shots; ballistics tests will be performed to confirm his story. He is detained and faces up to two years in jail for involuntary manslaughter, but will be released when investigators fail to find conclusive evidence linking his weapon to the deaths.
On January 2, 2011 P Dylan Owen of the Criollos de Caguas pitches seven no-hit innings and combines with teammates Eddy Ramos and Saul Rivera on a 5 – 0 no-hitter against the Gigantes de Carolina in the Puerto Rican League. A New York Mets farmhand, Owen pitched in AA and AAA last season. Source Baseball Reference January 2
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