January 28

Clearing up a logjam in the outfield, the Rockies trade OF Corey Dickerson and 3B Kevin Padlo to the Rays in return for Ps Jake McGee and German Marquez.

In an Oklahoma City ceremony, Cy Young Award recipient Dallas Keuchel receives the Warren Spahn Award, an honor given baseball’s top left-handed pitcher. The 28 year-old southpaw, who posted a 20-8 record along with an ERA of 2.48 for the Astros this season, is the first Oklahoman to collect the prestigious pitching prize named in honor of the crafty left-hander.

Major League Baseball announces it has approved the use of a new pitcher’s cap with extra padding to try to cut back on injuries from liners to the mound. The headgear, which is a half-inch thicker in the front than a standard cap and an inch thicker on the sides, will be optional for players in the majors and minor leagues, although it is expected to find more users in youth leagues.

The Los Angeles Dodgers announce the launch of SportsNet LA, their own regional sports network on Time Warner Cable. The deal is a prelude to a long-rumored $7 billion deal that will award Time Warner broadcast rights for Dodger games for the next 25 years. However, the Commissioner’s office is concerned about the proposed deal, as its annual value is well above that used for revenue sharing purposes, which will result in the Dodgers pocketing a huge financial windfall if no adjustments are made. The dispute may end up in court if no resolution is found.

The Twins plan to remove the 14 pine trees located behind the center field wall that were planted last season to be the batter’s eye at Target Field. The evergreens, which possibly will be relocated inside the newly opened ballpark, made it difficult for hitters to pick up the ball from the pitcher’s hand due to the movement of the conifers in the wind and the shadows cast during afternoon contests.

P Francisco Liriano leads the Leones del Escogido to the Dominican League championship, striking out 10 batters in 5 innings in a 5 – 3 win over the Gigantes del Cibao, in the 9th and decisive game of the finals. Wladimir Balentien hits a solo home run, Joaquin Arias goes 2 for 4 and Santiago Casilla picks up the save for the winners. Gustavo Chacin is the losing pitcher. It is the first time in 15 seasons that a team other than the Águilas Cibaeñas or Tigres del Licey has won the title.

The Phillies sign veteran Cuban P Jose Contreras to a one-year contract. A starter for most of his career, he will start the year in the bullpen.

Four new members are voted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame: Paul Quantrill (the all-time Canadian-born leader with 841 games pitched), former Toronto Blue Jays infielder Roberto Alomar (who just fell short of election to the Baseball Hall of Fame), sabermetrician Allan Roth and owner Calvin Griffith (the latter two being Montreal natives).