P Nelson Figueroa leads the Leones del Escogido to a 9 – 0 win over the Aguilas Cibaeñas and a three games to none lead in the Dominican League finals. Figueroa pitches 8 scoreless innings, while Jorge Cantu hits a two-run homer in the 2nd to start the Lions’ attack.

Two all-time greats pass away today, as long-time Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver dies at 82 and St. Louis Cardinals slugger Stan Musial is a victim of Alzheimer’s disease at 92 later in the day. Both were members of the Hall of Fame.

2013 – The Criollos de Caguas win the opening game of the Puerto Rican League finals defeating Mayagüez, 5 – 4. Ramon Castro and Henry Ramos both go 3 for 4 for the winners, with Cole McCurry getting the win.

2013 – Rosters for the 2013 World Baseball Classic are officially announced. The tournament will once again be star-studded, with reigning American League MVP Miguel Cabrera playing for Venezuela, Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey pitching for Team USA, and All-Stars such as Robinson Cano, Carlos Beltran, Adrian Gonzalez and Yadier Molina all committing to their respective national teams. Among players donning less familiar uniforms will be P Bruce Chen, who will toil for China after representing his native Panama in previous editions of the tournament, and 1B Anthony Rizzo who will be suiting up for Italy.

The Nationals, facing a glut of outfielders, send Mike Morse to Seattle as part of a three-team trade. C John Jaso goes from Seattle to Oakland, while the Nats repatriate pitching prospect A.J. Cole as well as Blake Treinen.

The Mariners acquire Michael Morse from the Nationals in a three-way trade that sends catcher John Jaso to the A’s, who deal minor league pitchers A.J. Cole and Blake Treinen, and a player to be named later to Washington. The 30 year-old outfielder/first baseman, obtained to provide additional punch to Seattle’s middle-of-the-order, spent the first four years of his big league career playing for the Northwest team.

2013 – The Nationals sign Yankees closer Rafael Soriano to a two-year contract for $28 million.

After watching their bullpen implode in the NLDS last season, the Nationals sign Rafael Soriano to a two-year, $28 million deal to be the club’s closer. The 33 year-old right-handed reliever, who had a league-leading 45 saves for the Rays in 2011, filled in for the injured Mariano Rivera last season and saved 42 games for the Yankees.

Wearing a Cubs jersey and a backward blue baseball cap, Clark, the Cubs’ new mascot makes his debut at Chicago’s Advocate Illinois Masonic’s Pediatric Developmental Center. Clark the Cub, named after the street located behind Wrigley Field’s home plate, is being touted as the great-grandson of franchise’s first mascot, Joa, a live bear used as a good luck charm in 1916, nine years after the franchise officially adopted Cubs as the team’s name.

Major League Baseball announces changes to its drug testing program. Players will now be subject to unannounced in-season blood tests for human growth hormone and baseline testosterone readings will be taken for all players to make it easier to detect the use of synthetic testosterone. The new procedures, which have the support of the Players Association, go into effect immediately.