Nick Johnson, finalizing a $5.75 million, one-year deal, returns to the Yankees to become the team’s designated hitter, a void created by the departure of Hideki Matsui. Prior to the start of the 2004 season, the Bronx Bombers dealt the 31 year-old first baseman to the Expos in exchange for right-handed starter Javier Vazquez, who was recently reacquired by the club in a trade with Atlanta.

2009 – The Angels sign P Fernando Rodney for two years and the Athletics sign OF Coco Crisp for one year.

2005 – Several free agents agree to contracts terms: OF Johnny Damon with the New York Yankees (four-year); OF Juan Encarnación (three-year) and 2B Junior Spivey (one-year) with the St. Louis Cardinals; OF Reggie Sanders (two-years) and P Joe Mays (one-year) with the Kansas City Royals; C John Flaherty with the Boston Red Sox (one-year); OF Endy Chavez with the New York Mets (one-year), and IF Jose Vizcaino with the San Francisco Giants (one-year).

Free agent outfielder J.D. Drew, who hit .305 with 31 home runs and 118 RBI for the Atlanta Braves, signs a five-year, $55 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. After being traded by the Cardinals to Atlanta last season, Drew, well-known to be injury prone, played in a career-high 145 games.

The San Francisco Giants sign Eric Davis as a free agent. The veteran outfielder, who played for the Cardinals the past two seasons, will end his 17-year career with San Francisco in 2001.

Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Brewers sign free agent OF Jeffrey Hammonds to a three-year contract, and the Minnesota Twins sign OF Quinton McCracken to a one-year contract.

1999 – The New York Mets obtain pitcher Mike Hampton and outfielder Derek Bell from the Houston Astros in exchange for outfielder Roger Cedeño and pitchers Octavio Dotel and Kyle Kessel.