January 10

2019 – A number of second-tier free agents find homes today, the most prominent being IF Jed Lowrie, coming off the best two seasons of his career at 34, who signs with the Mets for two years and $20 million. OF Jon Jay joins the White Sox for one year at $4 million while 2B Brian Dozier inks a one-year deal with Washington.

2018 – OF Jay Bruce agrees to a three-year contract worth $39 million to return to the Mets. Last year, Bruce played in the Big Apple until August, when he was dealt to Cleveland and helped the team achieve its record-setting 22-game winning streak. He hit 36 homers and drove in 101 runs between the two stops.

2015 – Two of the teams that have been the busiest this offseason, the Rays and the Athletics, complete another trade. Super utility player Ben Zobrist and SS Yunel Escobar head to Oakland, in return for C John Jaso, whose career began in Tampa, and prospects Boog Powell and Daniel Robertson.

Reliever Matt Thornton completes his two-year, $7 million deal with the Yankees. To make room for him on their roster, the Bronx Bombers designate veteran OF Vernon Wells for assignment.

The Rangers get some bad news as P Derek Holland needs to undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair cartilage damage on his knee after falling in stairs at home. He is expected to miss the start of the season as a result.

Major League Baseball announces changes to its drug testing program. Players will now be subject to unannounced in-season blood tests for human growth hormone and baseline testosterone readings will be taken for all players to make it easier to detect the use of synthetic testosterone. The new procedures, which have the support of the Players Association, go into effect immediately.

OF Justin Upton of the Diamondbacks vetoes a deal that would have sent him to the Mariners, invoking his no-trade clause. The D-Backs still have a glut of outfielders, but may need to focus on dealing another player given Upton’s unwillingness to leave the desert.

The Orioles look to the Far East once again to improve their pitching. A month after signing Japanese hurler Tsuyoshi Wada, they ink Taiwanese lefthander Wei-Yin Chen to a three-year contract. Chen was released by the Chunichi Dragons earlier and did not have to go through the posting system.

Cincinnati signs reliever Ryan Madson to a one-year deal, but he will miss the entire season and never pitch for the team; meanwhile the Cubs add lefty Paul Maholm and the Brewers repatriate righty Seth McClung.