2016 – For the sixth time in seven years, Reds 1B Joey Votto is named the recipient of the Tip O’Neill Award given out by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame to honor the best baseball player in Canada. Votto hit .326 with a National League-leading .434 OBP, 29 homers and 97 RBIs in an outstanding all-around season for the last-place club.

2016 – For the sixth time in seven years, Reds 1B Joey Votto is named the recipient of the Tip O’Neill Award given out by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame to honor the best baseball player in Canada. Votto hit .326 with a National League-leading .434 OBP, 29 homers and 97 RBIs in an outstanding all-around season for the last-place club.

2016 – The Braves continue their off-season rebuild of their starting rotation. After signing 40-something free agents Bartolo Colon and R.A. Dickey last month, they trade three young players – Luke Dykstra, Chris Ellis and John Gant – to the Cardinals in return for veteran Jaime Garcia.

2016 – The Braves continue their off-season rebuild of their starting rotation. After signing 40-something free agents Bartolo Colon and R.A. Dickey last month, they trade three young players – Luke Dykstra, Chris Ellis and John Gant – to the Cardinals in return for veteran Jaime Garcia.

2016 – Major League Baseball owners and the Players’ Association agree on a new five-year Collective Bargaining Agreement. Highlights of the deal include: a raise in the threshold for luxury tax payments to $195 million in 2017, gradually rising to reach $210 million in 2021; the All-Star Game will no longer determine home field advantage for the World Series; and teams will no longer forfeit a first-round pick in the amateur draft if they sign a premium free agent. There is no agreement on instituting an international draft; instead, teams will have an annual $6 million bonus pool limit for international signings. The deal ensures that labor peace in MLB will have exceeded a quarter of a century by the time the agreement expires.

2016 – Major League Baseball owners and the Players’ Association agree on a new five-year Collective Bargaining Agreement. Highlights of the deal include: a raise in the threshold for luxury tax payments to $195 million in 2017, gradually rising to reach $210 million in 2021; the All-Star Game will no longer determine home field advantage for the World Series; and teams will no longer forfeit a first-round pick in the amateur draft if they sign a premium free agent. There is no agreement on instituting an international draft; instead, teams will have an annual $6 million bonus pool limit for international signings. The deal ensures that labor peace in MLB will have exceeded a quarter of a century by the time the agreement expires.

2016 – OF Yoennis Cespedes re-signs with the Mets for four years and $110 million. This averages out to $27.5 million per year, the most ever for a position player. He had opted out of the remaining two years of his contract to have another stab at free agency.

2016 – OF Yoennis Cespedes re-signs with the Mets for four years and $110 million. This averages out to $27.5 million per year, the most ever for a position player. He had opted out of the remaining two years of his contract to have another stab at free agency.

Representatives of the Players’ Association and major league owners meet in Irving, TX to renew the Collective bargaining agreement, which is set to expire at the end of the week. At issue are free agent compensation and particularly the qualifying offer system, the possibility of extending the amateur draft to international players, a possible raise in the threshold for luxury tax payments, roster size, the level of the minimum salary, revenue sharing and salary arbitration.

Representatives of the Players’ Association and major league owners meet in Irving, TX to renew the Collective bargaining agreement, which is set to expire at the end of the week. At issue are free agent compensation and particularly the qualifying offer system, the possibility of extending the amateur draft to international players, a possible raise in the threshold for luxury tax payments, roster size, the level of the minimum salary, revenue sharing and salary arbitration.

Ralph Branca, most famous for giving up the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” to Bobby Thomson while pitching for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1951 three-game playoff, passes away in Rye, NY at the age of 90. Branca was an All-Star in his own right, and a twenty-game winner, but observers usually reduced his career to one unfortunate moment.

Ralph Branca, most famous for giving up the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” to Bobby Thomson while pitching for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1951 three-game playoff, passes away in Rye, NY at the age of 90. Branca was an All-Star in his own right, and a twenty-game winner, but observers usually reduced his career to one unfortunate moment.

The Diamondbacks and Mariners pull off a five-player trade, with P Taijuan Walker and IF Ketel Marte headed to Arizona in return for 2B Jean Segura, OF Mitch Haniger and P Zac Curtis.

The Diamondbacks and Mariners pull off a five-player trade, with P Taijuan Walker and IF Ketel Marte headed to Arizona in return for 2B Jean Segura, OF Mitch Haniger and P Zac Curtis.

President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to broadcaster Vin Scully, the voice of the Dodgers for the past 67 seasons. The recently retired play-by-play announcer joins other baseball notables, including Hank Aaron, Moe Berg, Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Ted Williams, and Stan Musial, to have received the nation’s highest civilian honor.

President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to broadcaster Vin Scully, the voice of the Dodgers for the past 67 seasons. The recently retired play-by-play announcer joins other baseball notables, including Hank Aaron, Moe Berg, Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Ted Williams, and Stan Musial, to have received the nation’s highest civilian honor.

OF Mike Trout of the Angels wins his second AL MVP Award, finishing ahead of Boston’s Mookie Betts. In the National League, second-year 3B Kris Bryant of the Cubs is a runaway winner one year after being named the league’s Rookie of the Year.

OF Mike Trout of the Angels wins his second AL MVP Award, finishing ahead of Boston’s Mookie Betts. In the National League, second-year 3B Kris Bryant of the Cubs is a runaway winner one year after being named the league’s Rookie of the Year.