In a swap of outfielders, the Reds send Dmitri Young to the Tigers in exchange for Juan Encarnacion. Cincinnati also gets P Luis Pineda in the deal.

ByTom

In a swap of outfielders, the Reds send Dmitri Young to the Tigers in exchange for Juan Encarnacion. Cincinnati also gets P Luis Pineda in the deal.

The Mariners and Padres complete a six-player deal that sends P Brett Tomko, SS Ramon Vazquez and C Tom Lampkin to San Diego. C Ben Davis, IF Alex Arias and P Wascar Serrano move to Seattle.

ByTom

The Mariners and Padres complete a six-player deal that sends P Brett Tomko, SS Ramon Vazquez and C Tom Lampkin to San Diego. C Ben Davis, IF Alex Arias and P Wascar Serrano move to Seattle.

Former USC P Mark Prior wins the Golden Spikes Award as the top amateur baseball player in the US. Prior signed a five-year contract with the Cubs after being selected in the June draft.

ByTom

Former USC P Mark Prior wins the Golden Spikes Award as the top amateur baseball player in the US. Prior signed a five-year contract with the Cubs after being selected in the June draft.

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2000 – Disappointments Mitch Meluskey, Roger Cedeno and Chris Holt are sent to the Detroit Tigers for catcher Brad Ausmus and pitchers Doug Brocail and Nelson Cruz. It’s the second trip to Houston for both Ausmus and Brocail. Meluskey leaves with a .291 career average and 15 homers but questions arose about his abilities behind the plate. Holt leaves with a 21-42 record. 

ByTom

2000 – Disappointments Mitch Meluskey, Roger Cedeno and Chris Holt are sent to the Detroit Tigers for catcher Brad Ausmus and pitchers Doug Brocail and Nelson Cruz. It’s the second trip to Houston for both Ausmus and Brocail. Meluskey leaves with a .291 career average and 15 homers but questions arose about his abilities behind the plate. Holt leaves with a 21-42 record. 

Alex Rodriguez signs the richest contract in sports history, a ten-year deal with the Rangers worth $252 million. The quarter billion dollars doubles the previous high of $126 million paid by the NBA’s Timberwolves to Kevin Garnett in a six-year agreement signed in October, 1997.

Alex Rodriguez signs the richest contract in sports history, a ten-year deal with the Rangers worth $252 million. The quarter billion dollars doubles the previous high of $126 million paid by the NBA’s Timberwolves to Kevin Garnett in a six-year agreement signed in October, 1997.

ByTom

Alex Rodriguez signs the richest contract in sports history, a ten-year deal with the Rangers worth $252 million. The quarter billion dollars doubles the previous high of $126 million paid by the NBA’s Timberwolves to Kevin Garnett in a six-year agreement signed in October, 1997.

The Tigers obtain P Chris Holt, OF Roger Cedeno, and C Mitch Meluskey from the Astros for C Brad Ausmus and pitchers Doug Brocail and Nelson Cruz. Houston catchers threw out 22% of base stealers in 2000, while Ausmus gunned down 42%.

ByTom

The Tigers obtain P Chris Holt, OF Roger Cedeno, and C Mitch Meluskey from the Astros for C Brad Ausmus and pitchers Doug Brocail and Nelson Cruz. Houston catchers threw out 22% of base stealers in 2000, while Ausmus gunned down 42%.

1998 – The Reds sign free agent P Steve Avery, the Athletics sign the much-traveled IF-OF Tony Phillips and the Mets sign 1B-3B Todd Zeile to a three-year contract.

ByTom

1998 – The Reds sign free agent P Steve Avery, the Athletics sign the much-traveled IF-OF Tony Phillips and the Mets sign 1B-3B Todd Zeile to a three-year contract.