The Marlins hire the former steroids-tainted superstar Barry Bonds, who joins the staff of newly hired manager Don Mattingly as the team’s hitting coach. Some see the return of the 51 year-old all-time home king to baseball as a way for him to enhance his Hall of Fame chances, but his presence in Miami may also be beneficial for a 71-91 team that finished next to last in the majors in runs and home runs, and last in walks.

ByTom

The Marlins hire the former steroids-tainted superstar Barry Bonds, who joins the staff of newly hired manager Don Mattingly as the team’s hitting coach. Some see the return of the 51 year-old all-time home king to baseball as a way for him to enhance his Hall of Fame chances, but his presence in Miami may also be beneficial for a 71-91 team that finished next to last in the majors in runs and home runs, and last in walks.

1B Joey Votto of the Reds is named the winner of the Tip O’Neill Award as the top Canadian baseball player for the fifth time in six years.

ByTom

1B Joey Votto of the Reds is named the winner of the Tip O’Neill Award as the top Canadian baseball player for the fifth time in six years.

New Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro selects veteran Indians executive Ross Atkins for the team’s general manager position and executive vice-president of baseball operations. The 42 year-old North Carolina native, a close friend of Shapiro from working with him in Cleveland, becomes the seventh GM in franchise history.

ByTom

New Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro selects veteran Indians executive Ross Atkins for the team’s general manager position and executive vice-president of baseball operations. The 42 year-old North Carolina native, a close friend of Shapiro from working with him in Cleveland, becomes the seventh GM in franchise history.

Reports indicate that the Red Sox have landed one of the biggest catches of the off-season, signing free agent P David Price for 7 years and $217 million. If confirmed, it will be the largest deal ever for a pitcher. In other signing news, the Twins come to an agreement with Korean 1B Byung Ho Park, whose rights they acquired through the posting system, on a four-year contract worth $12 million.

ByTom

Reports indicate that the Red Sox have landed one of the biggest catches of the off-season, signing free agent P David Price for 7 years and $217 million. If confirmed, it will be the largest deal ever for a pitcher. In other signing news, the Twins come to an agreement with Korean 1B Byung Ho Park, whose rights they acquired through the posting system, on a four-year contract worth $12 million.

The Dodgers, the first club to break the color barrier when Jackie Robinson made his major league debut in 1947, hire their first minority manager in franchise history. Dave Roberts, the team’s former center fielder and most recently the Padres’ bench coach for the past two seasons, takes over the reins from the new Marlins skipper Don Mattingly, who left Los Angeles after guiding the club to three consecutive NL West titles.

ByTom

The Dodgers, the first club to break the color barrier when Jackie Robinson made his major league debut in 1947, hire their first minority manager in franchise history. Dave Roberts, the team’s former center fielder and most recently the Padres’ bench coach for the past two seasons, takes over the reins from the new Marlins skipper Don Mattingly, who left Los Angeles after guiding the club to three consecutive NL West titles.

After finishing last season with the largest payroll in major league history, at $298.3 million, the Dodgers are assigned the largest luxury tax bill ever, $43.7 million. This amount is slightly less than the $50 million in salary that the Dodgers paid to players who did not even appear with them during the season. Only three other teams exceeded the threshold of $189 million, with the Yankees having to fork out $26 million in penalties and the Red Sox and Giants a little over $1 million each.

ByTom

After finishing last season with the largest payroll in major league history, at $298.3 million, the Dodgers are assigned the largest luxury tax bill ever, $43.7 million. This amount is slightly less than the $50 million in salary that the Dodgers paid to players who did not even appear with them during the season. Only three other teams exceeded the threshold of $189 million, with the Yankees having to fork out $26 million in penalties and the Red Sox and Giants a little over $1 million each.

2015 – The Blue Jays sign free agent pitcher J.A. Happ, who pitched for them from 2012 to 2014, for three years and $36 million. Happ is coming off a great second half with the Pirates.

ByTom

2015 – The Blue Jays sign free agent pitcher J.A. Happ, who pitched for them from 2012 to 2014, for three years and $36 million. Happ is coming off a great second half with the Pirates.

2015 – The Dodgers hire Dave Roberts as their new manager, to replace Don Mattingly. With the highest salary mass in the major leagues, the Dodgers take a chance on the first minority manager in team history, whose experience as a skipper consists of one game in an interim capacity with the Padres last season.

ByTom

2015 – The Dodgers hire Dave Roberts as their new manager, to replace Don Mattingly. With the highest salary mass in the major leagues, the Dodgers take a chance on the first minority manager in team history, whose experience as a skipper consists of one game in an interim capacity with the Padres last season.

OF Bryce Harper of the Nationals is a unanimous winner of the 2015 National League Most Valuable Player Award after leading the major leagues in both on-base percentage and slugging percentage. In the American League, Blue Jays 3B Josh Donaldson is honored after leading the circuit in runs scored and RBIs.

ByBaseball

OF Bryce Harper of the Nationals is a unanimous winner of the 2015 National League Most Valuable Player Award after leading the major leagues in both on-base percentage and slugging percentage. In the American League, Blue Jays 3B Josh Donaldson is honored after leading the circuit in runs scored and RBIs.