2018 – 3B Mike Moustakas, one of the most prominent free agents still unsigned at this late date, agrees to one-year deal with his former team, the Royals that involves a massive pay cut. Coming off a year in which he set a new franchise record for homers in a season, he signs for $6.5 million after having turned down a qualifying offer of $17.4 million earlier this off-season.

ByTom

2018 – 3B Mike Moustakas, one of the most prominent free agents still unsigned at this late date, agrees to one-year deal with his former team, the Royals that involves a massive pay cut. Coming off a year in which he set a new franchise record for homers in a season, he signs for $6.5 million after having turned down a qualifying offer of $17.4 million earlier this off-season.

2018 – Ichiro Suzuki is returning to the place where his North American journey started, signing a one-year deal with the Mariners. The 44-year-old outfielder first played in the majors with Seattle back in 2001 and had his best seasons with the team.

ByTom

2018 – Ichiro Suzuki is returning to the place where his North American journey started, signing a one-year deal with the Mariners. The 44-year-old outfielder first played in the majors with Seattle back in 2001 and had his best seasons with the team.

2018 – To celebrate their 20th anniversary this year, the Diamondbacks announce that they will re-introduce a contraption dating back to the days before the team existed: a bullpen cart. The modified golf carts were popular in the 1970s and early 1980s, but had seemingly gone the way of the dodo since that time.

ByTom

2018 – To celebrate their 20th anniversary this year, the Diamondbacks announce that they will re-introduce a contraption dating back to the days before the team existed: a bullpen cart. The modified golf carts were popular in the 1970s and early 1980s, but had seemingly gone the way of the dodo since that time.

NFL quarterback Russell Wilson at the Yankees’ camp

ByTom

2018 – One of the biggest stories in spring training this year has been the presence of NFL quarterback Russell Wilson at the Yankees’ camp. Today, he gets to play in a game for the first time since he was a minor league infielder in 2011 as he pinch-hits for Aaron Judge in a Grapefruit League game against the Atlanta Braves. He strikes out against Max Fried, but does not look out of place as he takes a good cut to foul off a hard fastball and works the count to 2-2 before a swing and miss ends his lone at-bat. He will now return to his normal occupations.

Boston Red Sox owner John Henry officially petitions the city of Boston, MA to rename Yawkey Way
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Boston Red Sox owner John Henry officially petitions the city of Boston, MA to rename Yawkey Way

ByThis Day in Baseball

2018 – Boston Red Sox owner John Henry officially petitions the city of Boston, MA to rename Yawkey Way, which is located just outside Fenway Park. The street was named after former owner and Hall of Fame member Tom Yawkey, but history has not been kind to its namesake’s memory, as he is widely blamed for delaying the integration of the team, making them the last major league franchise to have am African-American player in its line-up, 12 years after Jackie Robinson broke the color line.

2018 – The MLBPA files a grievance against four teams – the Marlins, Rays, Pirates and A’s – accusing them of not investing the money they are obtaining through revenue sharing in the on-field product, as is specified in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. This action is the latest salvo in a war of words between players and ownership that was started by the slow free agent market, resulting in over 100 players still being unsigned when spring training opened two weeks ago.

ByTom

2018 – The MLBPA files a grievance against four teams – the Marlins, Rays, Pirates and A’s – accusing them of not investing the money they are obtaining through revenue sharing in the on-field product, as is specified in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. This action is the latest salvo in a war of words between players and ownership that was started by the slow free agent market, resulting in over 100 players still being unsigned when spring training opened two weeks ago.

2018 – Spring training is a time to clear out the cobwebs for everyone – including those who provide the entertainment between innings. Today, a Grapefruit League game between the Cardinals and Astros at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, FL is delayed for several minutes as the driver of a promotional car which made a drive-through around the field is unable to get it out as planned through a door in the outfield fence. A production truck is apparently parked too close behind the opening, making for too tight a turn. The driver tries to make something like a thirty-point turn before giving up and exiting through another gate at the opposing end of the field.

ByTom

2018 – Spring training is a time to clear out the cobwebs for everyone – including those who provide the entertainment between innings. Today, a Grapefruit League game between the Cardinals and Astros at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, FL is delayed for several minutes as the driver of a promotional car which made a drive-through around the field is unable to get it out as planned through a door in the outfield fence. A production truck is apparently parked too close behind the opening, making for too tight a turn. The driver tries to make something like a thirty-point turn before giving up and exiting through another gate at the opposing end of the field.

2018 – The first Cactus League and Grapefruit League games of spring training are played today with Major League Baseball paying tribute to the victims of the horrific school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL as all players wear special caps. Proceeds from the sale of this autographed memorabilia will go to a fund dedicated to the victims. Some teams also go further by inviting students and school personnel to meet players and perform various roles at the games as a show of solidarity.

ByTom

2018 – The first Cactus League and Grapefruit League games of spring training are played today with Major League Baseball paying tribute to the victims of the horrific school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL as all players wear special caps. Proceeds from the sale of this autographed memorabilia will go to a fund dedicated to the victims. Some teams also go further by inviting students and school personnel to meet players and perform various roles at the games as a show of solidarity.

2018 – The Rays find a taker for All-Star OF/DH Corey Dickerson, whom they designated for assignment on February 17th in an apparent cost-cutting move, sending him to the Pirates in return for P Daniel Hudson and minor league IF Tristan Gray.

ByTom

2018 – The Rays find a taker for All-Star OF/DH Corey Dickerson, whom they designated for assignment on February 17th in an apparent cost-cutting move, sending him to the Pirates in return for P Daniel Hudson and minor league IF Tristan Gray.

2018 – The Yankees address their lack of experienced infielders by acquiring 2B/3B Brandon Drury from the Diamondbacks, in return for a pair of prospects, IF Nick Solak and P Taylor Widener. The D-Backs immediately flip Solak and another prospect, P Anthony Banda, to Tampa Bay in return for OF Steven Souza, their second move in two days to address their failure to re-sign OF J.D. Martinez. For Tampa, the shedding of experienced players continues, as Souza is the third to leave in a span of four days, after P Jake Odorizzi and OF/DH Corey Dickerson.

ByTom

2018 – The Yankees address their lack of experienced infielders by acquiring 2B/3B Brandon Drury from the Diamondbacks, in return for a pair of prospects, IF Nick Solak and P Taylor Widener. The D-Backs immediately flip Solak and another prospect, P Anthony Banda, to Tampa Bay in return for OF Steven Souza, their second move in two days to address their failure to re-sign OF J.D. Martinez. For Tampa, the shedding of experienced players continues, as Souza is the third to leave in a span of four days, after P Jake Odorizzi and OF/DH Corey Dickerson.