2012

The Mets trade Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey to Toronto, provided the Jays can reach a contract extension with Dickey. They will do so on December 17th, the two sides agreeing to a two-year deal worth $25 million, that will make the deal official. Cs Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas accompany Dickey to Toronto, while Cs Travis d’Arnaud and John Buck and Ps Noah Syndergaard and Wuilmer Becerra head to the Big Apple.

Torii Hunter signs a two-year, $26 million contract with the Tigers, the team the free-agent clearly wanted to play for after leaving the Angels. The deal, completed in less than an hour, brings the well-respected Gold Glove outfielder to the Motor City in the pursuit of a World Championship, a prize yet to be realized in the All-Star’s 16-year major league career.

2012 – The Phillies sign Ps Mike Adams and John Lannan as free agents. In Adams’s case, his two-year, $12 million deal bypasses options to become a closer, so he can set up for Jonathan Papelbon.

Aníbal Sánchez agrees to a five-year, $80 million deal to remain with the Detroit Tigers, helping keep their 2012 World Series rotation intact.

Kevin Youkilis, best known for being a member of the Red Sox World Championship teams in 2004 and 2007, signs a one-year, $12 million deal with the Yankees, once considered the ‘Evil Empire’ by his former club. The 33 year-old infielder, who was traded to Chicago’s south side by Boston in June, will help fill the void at third base while Alex Rodriguez recuperates from hip surgery.

In other signings, the Yankees retain OF Ichiro Suzuki by agreeing to a two-year deal with the outfielder they acquired from Seattle at the trading deadline, while the Cardinals add utility player Ty Wigginton, also with a two-year deal.

Arizona signs P Brandon McCarthy for two years and $15 million after tests confirm that he is fully recovered from having been struck in the head by a line drive on September 5th.

The Angels finalize deals with Ps Joe Blanton and Sean Burnett.