February 16

Miami-Dade County and the city of Miami, FL sue former Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria for failure to execute a clause in the contract through which the governments provided funding for the construction of Marlins Park, which called for Loria to pay a 5% equity on any profit from the sale of the team. Through what the city and county call “fuzzy math”, Loria claims to have made a loss on the sale, even though he received $1.2 billion for the team, having bought it for $158 million in 2002.

The Mets agree to a deal with free agent SP Jason Vargas, who is coming off the best season of his career at 35. Vargas will be paid $16 million over two seasons, as long as he passes a physical exam.

2014 – One of the remaining prize free agents still on the market, P A.J. Burnett, signs a two-year deal with the Phillies worth up to $33.5 million with performance bonuses. Burnett is coming off two very good seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates that have re-energized his career. He says he chose the Phils over the Bucs because they are located a mere hour and a half from his hometown in Maryland.

After an appearance at a local winter festival, Guido’s costume, worn by one of the Brewers’ racing sausages, goes missing. A seven-foot Italian sausage impersonator will be seen later in the night frequenting bars in Milwaukee, signing autographs.

2013 – It looks like there will be no salary arbitration hearings this year, as two of the remaining unsigned players who had filed for arbitration sign deals with their teams. P Homer Bailey agrees to a $5.35 million deal with the Reds, while P Clayton Richard signs on the dotted line for $5.2 million with the Padres. The only unsigned player remaining is P Darren O’Day, but he has agreed to a contract with the Orioles, with only a physical examination required to make it final. Since arbitration was implemented in 1974, there had never been a year with fewer than three hearings being held.

Albert Pujols’ self-imposed deadline for reaching agreement on a long-term contract extension with the St. Louis Cardinals expires without a deal. Pujols, who is seeking $300 million over 10 years, states that there will be no more negotiations during the season in order to avoid a potential distraction. The three-time National League MVP is slated to become a free agent next fall.

Late tonight, Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera is arrested in Fort Pierce, FL and charged with driving under the influence and refusing to cooperate with police officers. In October 2009, Cabrera was arrested for threatening his wife while intoxicated as the Tigers were playing a crucial series to determine the AL Central champion.

Rickie Weeks and the Brewers come to terms on a $38.5 million, four-year deal that includes a 2015 option based on plate appearances which could increase the total value of the contract to $50 million. The 28 year-old second baseman broke a franchise record last season with 754 trips to the plate, mostly as the team’s leadoff hitter.

Speaking to reporters at the Phillies’ spring training complex, a tearful Dallas Green, former big league manager and senior adviser to general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr., thanks everyone for their support after the shooting death of his granddaughter. Nine year-old Christina Taylor Green was one of six victims killed five weeks ago in a shooting rampage during U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords’ ‘Congress on Your Corner’ gathering outside of a Tucson supermarket.