2017 – Wade Davis reportedly agrees to the biggest deal ever offered a relief pitcher as he signs with the Rockies for $52 million over three years. This works out to an annual salary of $17.3 million, besting the $17.2 million given by the Yankees to Aroldis Chapman last year.

2014 – The Yankees trade P Shawn Kelley to the Padres in return for P Johnny Barbato.

2011 – Former major league pitcher Rosman Garcia is killed when his car skids off the road and hits a tree outside of Caracas, Venezuela. He was playing for the Tigres de Aragua in the Venezuelan League at the time.

The Mets sign LF Jason Bay to a four-year deal worth approximately $66 million.

The Giants sign Mark DeRosa to a two-year deal. The versatile player may be used at third base next season, displacing Pablo Sandoval to first, or could fill in at a number of positions.

In an attempt to permit Cuba to participate in the 16-team World Baseball Classic, Venezuela offers to host the Group C teams in place of the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and suggests the finals be played in Canada, rather than in San Diego’s Petco Park. The changes in venue would mean Castro’s charges would avoid playing on U.S. soil, and not be subject to the U.S. Treasury Department regulations which ban the team due to American trade and financial embargoes.

2005 – Elrod Hendricks is remembered as a “kind, wonderful person” today at a funeral attended by thousands in honor of the man who spent nearly four decades as a catcher and coach with the Baltimore Orioles. Baseball stars Eddie Murray, Cal Ripken, Jr. and Lee May, and former Orioles managers Earl Weaver and Mike Hargrove are among those filling the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in tribute to Hendricks, who died December 21st of a heart attack at age 64.

1977 – Melissa Ludtke, female Sports Illustrated sports writer, files suit against Major League Baseball, the Yankees and New York City officials for denying her access to the locker room to interview players during the 1977 World Series.