2018 – The first Cactus League and Grapefruit League games of spring training are played today with Major League Baseball paying tribute to the victims of the horrific school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL as all players wear special caps. Proceeds from the sale of this autographed memorabilia will go to a fund dedicated to the victims. Some teams also go further by inviting students and school personnel to meet players and perform various roles at the games as a show of solidarity.

ByTom

2018 – The first Cactus League and Grapefruit League games of spring training are played today with Major League Baseball paying tribute to the victims of the horrific school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL as all players wear special caps. Proceeds from the sale of this autographed memorabilia will go to a fund dedicated to the victims. Some teams also go further by inviting students and school personnel to meet players and perform various roles at the games as a show of solidarity.

2016 – For the second time in a week, the Orioles are said to have signed a top-rank free agent who has fallen through the cracks because of draft choice compensation tied to his signature. After inking Yovani Gallardo to a three-year deal, the O’s are said to be bringing CF Dexter Fowler on board with an offer of $35 million over three years. However, two days later, Fowler will announce that he has in fact rejected the offer and instead accepted a one-year deal worth $13 million to return to the Cubs.

ByTom

2016 – For the second time in a week, the Orioles are said to have signed a top-rank free agent who has fallen through the cracks because of draft choice compensation tied to his signature. After inking Yovani Gallardo to a three-year deal, the O’s are said to be bringing CF Dexter Fowler on board with an offer of $35 million over three years. However, two days later, Fowler will announce that he has in fact rejected the offer and instead accepted a one-year deal worth $13 million to return to the Cubs.

Jose Reyes becomes the first player disciplined under baseball’s new domestic violence policy when he is placed on paid leave until the completion of criminal proceedings, stemming from his arrest following an argument with his wife at a Hawaiian resort in late October. The 32-year-old All-Star shortstop, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of abuse of a family member, will not report to spring training with the Rockies.

ByTom

Jose Reyes becomes the first player disciplined under baseball’s new domestic violence policy when he is placed on paid leave until the completion of criminal proceedings, stemming from his arrest following an argument with his wife at a Hawaiian resort in late October. The 32-year-old All-Star shortstop, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of abuse of a family member, will not report to spring training with the Rockies.

2015 – The Red Sox outbid a number of other team to sign Cuban defector Yoan Moncada to a contract that includes a $31.5 million signing bonus. The Red Sox will need to pay a penalty almost equal to that amount for exceeding their bonus cap for international signees, which had $1.8 million remaining, but seemingly do not care as they see the young infielder as a future All-Star. For now though, the 19-year-old will be headed to the minor leagues for at couple of seasons before getting a chance to justify his lavish contract.

ByTom

2015 – The Red Sox outbid a number of other team to sign Cuban defector Yoan Moncada to a contract that includes a $31.5 million signing bonus. The Red Sox will need to pay a penalty almost equal to that amount for exceeding their bonus cap for international signees, which had $1.8 million remaining, but seemingly do not care as they see the young infielder as a future All-Star. For now though, the 19-year-old will be headed to the minor leagues for at couple of seasons before getting a chance to justify his lavish contract.

The “bloody sock” by Schilling in Game 2 of the 2004 World Series is sold at auction for $92,613.

The “bloody sock” by Schilling in Game 2 of the 2004 World Series is sold at auction for $92,613.

ByTom

The famous “bloody sock” worn by P Curt Schilling in Game 2 of the 2004 World Series is sold at auction for $92,613. Schilling had loaned the item to the Hall of Fame, but had used it as collateral against a loan to set up his video game company, 38 Studios, which went bankrupt last year. Schilling defaulted on payments, prompting the bank to sell it in order to recover some of its loss.

Their line-up already depleted by off-season trades, the Marlins lose another key player when C Jeff Mathis is struck by a foul tip off the bat of St. Louis’ Matt Holliday at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, FL. Mathis suffers a broken right collarbone, putting him on the shelf for six to ten weeks, while the Fish have no other catcher in camp with any major league experience to speak of.

ByTom

Their line-up already depleted by off-season trades, the Marlins lose another key player when C Jeff Mathis is struck by a foul tip off the bat of St. Louis’ Matt Holliday at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, FL. Mathis suffers a broken right collarbone, putting him on the shelf for six to ten weeks, while the Fish have no other catcher in camp with any major league experience to speak of.

The group featuring former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre announces it is bowing out of the bidding for the team because current owner Frank McCourt will not include the parking lots outside Dodger Stadium in the package. McCourt built his now-threatened fortune by operating parking lots in large cities. Torre’s group states that by keeping control of this key resource, McCourt will make it impossible for the winning bidders to manage the team’s assets effectively. The group, which was among the favorites to emerge as the new owners at the end of the court-supervised process, leaves the door open to a re-engagement if the terms of the sale are changed to include the disputed lots.

ByTom

The group featuring former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre announces it is bowing out of the bidding for the team because current owner Frank McCourt will not include the parking lots outside Dodger Stadium in the package. McCourt built his now-threatened fortune by operating parking lots in large cities. Torre’s group states that by keeping control of this key resource, McCourt will make it impossible for the winning bidders to manage the team’s assets effectively. The group, which was among the favorites to emerge as the new owners at the end of the court-supervised process, leaves the door open to a re-engagement if the terms of the sale are changed to include the disputed lots.

Ryan Braun becomes the first major league player to successfully appeal a positive PED test when arbitrator Shyam Das rules in his favor with regard to a positive test performed during the 2011 postseason. The test showed a testosterone level so high as to be almost unimaginable without outside interference. The three-man pannel chaired by Das rules that the fact that proper protocol was not followed in collecting and storing the sample prior to testing, makes it impossible to be certain that it has not been subject to tampering at some point. Braun had proclaimed his innocence all along, and now no longer faces a 50-game suspension.

ByTom

Ryan Braun becomes the first major league player to successfully appeal a positive PED test when arbitrator Shyam Das rules in his favor with regard to a positive test performed during the 2011 postseason. The test showed a testosterone level so high as to be almost unimaginable without outside interference. The three-man pannel chaired by Das rules that the fact that proper protocol was not followed in collecting and storing the sample prior to testing, makes it impossible to be certain that it has not been subject to tampering at some point. Braun had proclaimed his innocence all along, and now no longer faces a 50-game suspension.

2011 – The first injury reports come out of spring training, with the Cardinals getting the worst news. Starting pitcher Adam Wainwright, runner-up for the Cy Young Award last season, has a “significant injury” to his pitching elbow and will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the entire season. Also out indefinitely is Dodgers P Vicente Padilla who will undergo surgery on his forearm tomorrow. Finally, Brewers starting C Jonathan Lucroy fractures the little finger of his throwing hand during drills and will be out from four to six weeks.

ByTom

2011 – The first injury reports come out of spring training, with the Cardinals getting the worst news. Starting pitcher Adam Wainwright, runner-up for the Cy Young Award last season, has a “significant injury” to his pitching elbow and will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the entire season. Also out indefinitely is Dodgers P Vicente Padilla who will undergo surgery on his forearm tomorrow. Finally, Brewers starting C Jonathan Lucroy fractures the little finger of his throwing hand during drills and will be out from four to six weeks.

The Atlanta Braves sign 18-year-old Dominican shortstop Edward Salcedo to a contract. Considered as one of the top talents available on the international market, the youngster receives a signing bonus of $1.6 million. Although expected to begin his professional career with the Class-A Rome Braves, he will be assigned to the Rookie-level DSL Braves instead. Salcedo first signed with the Cleveland Indians in 2007, but the contract was voided when it was discovered that he was underage. He will fail to develop as a star, however.

ByTom

The Atlanta Braves sign 18-year-old Dominican shortstop Edward Salcedo to a contract. Considered as one of the top talents available on the international market, the youngster receives a signing bonus of $1.6 million. Although expected to begin his professional career with the Class-A Rome Braves, he will be assigned to the Rookie-level DSL Braves instead. Salcedo first signed with the Cleveland Indians in 2007, but the contract was voided when it was discovered that he was underage. He will fail to develop as a star, however.