December 1

2018 – Rumors of a blockbuster trade between the Mariners and Mets emerge today, with Seattle sending 2B Robinson Cano and closer Edwin Diaz and a lot of money to New York in return for two veterans , OF Jay Bruce and P Anthony Swarzak, and three prospects, Gerson Bautista, Justin Dunn and Jarred Kelenic. The M’s are in the midst of a purge of high-priced veterans after missing the postseason yet again last season.

Former teammates Greg Holland and Mike Moustakas win the Comeback Player of the Year Award, in the NL and AL respectively. The two played together with the Kansas City Royals for many years, but missed all or most of 2016 with injuries; Moustakas came back to set the Royals franchise home run record with 38, while Holland saved 41 games to help lead the Rockies to the postseason after joining them as a free agent.

News leaks out of New York that Aaron Boone is the successful candidate in the Yankees’ protracted search for a new manager after the firing of Joe Girardi following the 2017 ALCS. Six candidates reached the interview chase, but it’s the former third-generation player with no coaching or managing experience who has reportedly come out on top, due to his outstanding communications skills and ability to relate to today’s players.

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.

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.

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.

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 Mariners sign the 2014 American League Home Run leader, OF Nelson Cruz, to a four-year contract worth $57 million.

Claudio Liverziani becomes the first three-time MVP in the Italian Baseball League, following a .291/.444/.472 season, with 30 runs and 20 RBI in 38 games for Fortitudo Bologna. Liverziani had missed the 2010 and 2011 seasons after a positive test for amphetamines. The IBL also issues its Gold Gloves: C Riccardo Bertagnon, 1B Alex Sambucci, 2B Alessandro Vaglio, SS Juan Carlos Infante, 3B Francesco Fuzzi, OF Alex Romero, OF Stefano Desimoni, OF Liverziani and P Yomel Rivera.

The Spanish Baseball Hall of Fame announces its 2015 class: umpires Xavier Mateu and Javier Menéndez and coaches José Antonio Peña and Higinio Gutiérrez.