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2015 – Outfielder Colby Rasmus surprises the front office by agreeing to a qualifying offer for the 2016 season. Since the collective bargaining feature began, no MLB player had opted for the offer rather than become a full free agent. The Astros offered in anticipation that Rasmus would decline and cost his new team a draft pick to sign him. Instead, the Astros are on the hook for a $16.9 million one-year deal. The Georgia native hit .206 with 15 homers in his final full season before retirement. 

ByTom

2015 – Outfielder Colby Rasmus surprises the front office by agreeing to a qualifying offer for the 2016 season. Since the collective bargaining feature began, no MLB player had opted for the offer rather than become a full free agent. The Astros offered in anticipation that Rasmus would decline and cost his new team a draft pick to sign him. Instead, the Astros are on the hook for a $16.9 million one-year deal. The Georgia native hit .206 with 15 homers in his final full season before retirement. 

Shohei Ohtani, the first two-way player in the major leagues since Babe Ruth, wins the 2018 American League Rookie of the Year Award, beating out teammates Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres of the Yankees. In the National League, OF Ronald Acuna wins the award, finishing in front of fellow young outfield phenom Juan Soto and P Walker Buehler.

ByBaseball

Shohei Ohtani, the first two-way player in the major leagues since Babe Ruth, wins the 2018 American League Rookie of the Year Award, beating out teammates Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres of the Yankees. In the National League, OF Ronald Acuna wins the award, finishing in front of fellow young outfield phenom Juan Soto and P Walker Buehler.

2016 – The Athletics trade veteran IF Danny Valencia, whose job was taken over by rookie Ryon Healy late in the season, to the Mariners in return for P Paul Blackburn. Valencia and DH Billy Butler had been in a clubhouse fight late in the year, and both are now gone from the A’s.

ByBaseball

2016 – The Athletics trade veteran IF Danny Valencia, whose job was taken over by rookie Ryon Healy late in the season, to the Mariners in return for P Paul Blackburn. Valencia and DH Billy Butler had been in a clubhouse fight late in the year, and both are now gone from the A’s.

The Braves trade slick-fielding SS Andrelton Simmons and minor league C Jose Briceno to the Angels in return for veteran SS Erick Aybar and pitching prospects Chris Ellis and Sean Newcomb, while the Mariners acquire reliever Joaquin Benoit from San Diego for minor leaguers Enyel De Los Santos and Nelson Ward.

ByBaseball

The Braves trade slick-fielding SS Andrelton Simmons and minor league C Jose Briceno to the Angels in return for veteran SS Erick Aybar and pitching prospects Chris Ellis and Sean Newcomb, while the Mariners acquire reliever Joaquin Benoit from San Diego for minor leaguers Enyel De Los Santos and Nelson Ward.

Winners of the Silver Slugger Awards are announced, with first-time winners dominating the squads, as there are five in the American League and four more in the National League. In contrast, C Brian McCann and 1B Miguel Cabrera both win the award for the 6th time.

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Winners of the Silver Slugger Awards are announced, with first-time winners dominating the squads, as there are five in the American League and four more in the National League. In contrast, C Brian McCann and 1B Miguel Cabrera both win the award for the 6th time.

The Tigers acquire OF Anthony Gose from the Blue Jays in return for prospect Devon Travis, while the Yankees send C Francisco Cervelli to Pittsburgh for P Justin Wilson.

ByBaseball

The Tigers acquire OF Anthony Gose from the Blue Jays in return for prospect Devon Travis, while the Yankees send C Francisco Cervelli to Pittsburgh for P Justin Wilson.

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw is the unanimous winner of the National League Cy Young Award after going a dominant 21-3, 1.77. In the American League, Corey Kluber of the Indians, owner of an 18-9 record and a 2.44 narrowly beats out Felix Hernandez for the Award.

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Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw is the unanimous winner of the National League Cy Young Award after going a dominant 21-3, 1.77. In the American League, Corey Kluber of the Indians, owner of an 18-9 record and a 2.44 narrowly beats out Felix Hernandez for the Award.

Clint Hurdle becomes the second Buc skipper, joining Jim Leyland (1990, ’92), to be selected as the National League Manager of the Year by the BBWAA, after guiding the 94-68 Pirates to the Wild Card and their first winning season since 1992. The Pittsburgh pilot was named first on 25 of 30 writers’ ballots, easily out-distancing runner-ups Don Mattingly of the Dodgers and the Braves’ Fredi Gonzalez for the award.

ByBaseball

Clint Hurdle becomes the second Buc skipper, joining Jim Leyland (1990, ’92), to be selected as the National League Manager of the Year by the BBWAA, after guiding the 94-68 Pirates to the Wild Card and their first winning season since 1992. The Pittsburgh pilot was named first on 25 of 30 writers’ ballots, easily out-distancing runner-ups Don Mattingly of the Dodgers and the Braves’ Fredi Gonzalez for the award.

Terry Francona, who never received a first-place vote for the award after guiding Boston to two World Championships in his eight seasons with the club, is named the American League’s Manager of the Year by the BBWAA. The Indian skipper, who helped the much-improved Wild Card Tribe reach the playoffs for the first time in six years, receives 15 of the 30 writers’ first-place votes, with John Farrell of the Red Sox finishing second, having his name on the top of a dozen ballots.

ByTom

Terry Francona, who never received a first-place vote for the award after guiding Boston to two World Championships in his eight seasons with the club, is named the American League’s Manager of the Year by the BBWAA. The Indian skipper, who helped the much-improved Wild Card Tribe reach the playoffs for the first time in six years, receives 15 of the 30 writers’ first-place votes, with John Farrell of the Red Sox finishing second, having his name on the top of a dozen ballots.