The Nationals pick up outfielder Josh Willingham and pitcher Scott Olsen from the Marlins for prospect Emilio Bonifacio and minor leaguers Jake Smolinski and P.J. Dean.

ByBaseball

The Nationals pick up outfielder Josh Willingham and pitcher Scott Olsen from the Marlins for prospect Emilio Bonifacio and minor leaguers Jake Smolinski and P.J. Dean.

Although the team has declined to comment, several newspapers and internet sites report the Mets’ new ballpark will be known as Citi Field. The deal with CitiCorp, the nation’s largest bank, may be worth as much as $20 million annually for 20 years, making it the richest naming rights agreement in sports history, exceeding the 32-year, $300 million contract between the NFL’s Texans and Reliant Energy Inc.

ByBaseball

Although the team has declined to comment, several newspapers and internet sites report the Mets’ new ballpark will be known as Citi Field. The deal with CitiCorp, the nation’s largest bank, may be worth as much as $20 million annually for 20 years, making it the richest naming rights agreement in sports history, exceeding the 32-year, $300 million contract between the NFL’s Texans and Reliant Energy Inc.

2005 – John Shelby is hired by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a first base and outfield coach, becoming the third member of Jim Tracy’s staff with the Los Angeles Dodgers to join him in Pittsburgh. Shelby, like pitching coach Jim Colborn and bench coach Jim Lett, was a member of Tracy’s staff in Los Angeles last season. Shelby is a former major league outfielder who played for the Orioles, Dodgers and Tigers, and was a Dodgers coach for eight seasons, six of them as first base coach. He had been on the Dodgers’ coaching staff since 1998 after previously managing four seasons in the organization’s farm system.

ByBaseball

2005 – John Shelby is hired by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a first base and outfield coach, becoming the third member of Jim Tracy’s staff with the Los Angeles Dodgers to join him in Pittsburgh. Shelby, like pitching coach Jim Colborn and bench coach Jim Lett, was a member of Tracy’s staff in Los Angeles last season. Shelby is a former major league outfielder who played for the Orioles, Dodgers and Tigers, and was a Dodgers coach for eight seasons, six of them as first base coach. He had been on the Dodgers’ coaching staff since 1998 after previously managing four seasons in the organization’s farm system.

|

Johan Santana (20-6, 265, 2.61), winning the American League top pitching honor with 28 first-place votes, becomes the 18th unanimous Cy Young winner selected by the BBWAA. The 25 year-old Venezuelan southpaw joins Jim Perry (1970) and Frank Viola (1988) as the only Twin hurlers to earn the award.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Johan Santana (20-6, 265, 2.61), winning the American League top pitching honor with 28 first-place votes, becomes the 18th unanimous Cy Young winner selected by the BBWAA. The 25 year-old Venezuelan southpaw joins Jim Perry (1970) and Frank Viola (1988) as the only Twin hurlers to earn the award.

Roy Halladay of the Blue Jays easily wins the American League Cy Young Award, garnering 26 of 28 first-place votes. The 26 year-old right-hander finished the season 22-7, including winning 15 straight decisions from May 1 to July 27.

ByBaseball

Roy Halladay of the Blue Jays easily wins the American League Cy Young Award, garnering 26 of 28 first-place votes. The 26 year-old right-hander finished the season 22-7, including winning 15 straight decisions from May 1 to July 27.

Barry Bonds becomes the first player in major league history to win the Most Valuable Player Award five times. The 38 year-old Giant left fielder, who also won the award with the Pirates in 1990 and ’92 and with San Francisco in 1993 and last season, was the National League’s batting champion with a .370 average and broke 1941 Ted Williams’ on-base percentage record with an amazing .582 OBP.

ByBaseball

Barry Bonds becomes the first player in major league history to win the Most Valuable Player Award five times. The 38 year-old Giant left fielder, who also won the award with the Pirates in 1990 and ’92 and with San Francisco in 1993 and last season, was the National League’s batting champion with a .370 average and broke 1941 Ted Williams’ on-base percentage record with an amazing .582 OBP.

St. Louis first baseman Mark McGwire tells ESPN he plans to retire, ending his 16-year big league career. The prolific home run hitter, who ranks fifth all-time with 583 career homers, decided not to sign the two-year, $30 million extension the Cardinals had offered.

ByThis Day in Baseball

St. Louis first baseman Mark McGwire tells ESPN he plans to retire, ending his 16-year big league career. The prolific home run hitter, who ranks fifth all-time with 583 career homers, decided not to sign the two-year, $30 million extension the Cardinals had offered.

Toronto trades pitchers Pat Hentgen and Paul Spoljaric to the Cardinals in exchange for P Lance Painter, C Alberto Castillo and P Matt DeWitt.

ByBaseball

Toronto trades pitchers Pat Hentgen and Paul Spoljaric to the Cardinals in exchange for P Lance Painter, C Alberto Castillo and P Matt DeWitt.

|

Larry Dierker is named National League Manager of the Year, outpacing San Diego’s Bruce Bochy, whose team eliminated Houston in the playoffs. He’s the second Astro skipper to claim the award. 

ByTom

1998 – Larry Dierker is named National League Manager of the Year, outpacing San Diego’s Bruce Bochy, whose team eliminated Houston in the playoffs. He’s the second Astro skipper to claim the award.