2017 – The Commissioner’s office issues its ruling in the investigation of improprieties committed by the Atlanta Braves by willingly circumventing international signing rules from 2015 through 2017. Former General Manager John Coppolella receives a lifetime ban, and 12 prospects in the organization are declared free agents. The Braves are also forbidden from signing any prospect for a bonus of more than $10,000 in the 2019-20 signing period, their bonus pool will be cut by 50% the following year, and they will lose a third-round selection in the 2018 amateur draft while sanctions against other employees are expected to follow. The scam involved secretly diverting bonuses declared for certain prospects towards others governed by signing pool limits, in order to make it appear as if the team had not exceeded these limits.

ByBaseball

2017 – The Commissioner’s office issues its ruling in the investigation of improprieties committed by the Atlanta Braves by willingly circumventing international signing rules from 2015 through 2017. Former General Manager John Coppolella receives a lifetime ban, and 12 prospects in the organization are declared free agents. The Braves are also forbidden from signing any prospect for a bonus of more than $10,000 in the 2019-20 signing period, their bonus pool will be cut by 50% the following year, and they will lose a third-round selection in the 2018 amateur draft while sanctions against other employees are expected to follow. The scam involved secretly diverting bonuses declared for certain prospects towards others governed by signing pool limits, in order to make it appear as if the team had not exceeded these limits.

The White Sox sign 1B Adam LaRoche to a two-year free agent deal worth $25 million, where he will share the 1B and DH jobs with Rookie of the Year Jose Abreu.

ByBaseball

The White Sox sign 1B Adam LaRoche to a two-year free agent deal worth $25 million, where he will share the 1B and DH jobs with Rookie of the Year Jose Abreu.

To mark the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s enrollment at the university, UCLA announces it will retire the number 42 in his honor across all sports in which varsity teams compete and renames its athletic facilities the “Jackie Robinson Athletics and Recreation Complex.”

ByBaseball

To mark the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s enrollment at the university, UCLA announces it will retire the number 42 in his honor across all sports in which varsity teams compete and renames its athletic facilities the “Jackie Robinson Athletics and Recreation Complex.”

Michael Weiner, executive director of the MLBPA, dies of brain cancer at age 51. The architect of the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement and highly respected by players, owners and Major League Baseball top executives alike, he is succeeded by former player Tony Clark.

ByBaseball

Michael Weiner, executive director of the MLBPA, dies of brain cancer at age 51. The architect of the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement and highly respected by players, owners and Major League Baseball top executives alike, he is succeeded by former player Tony Clark.

All-Star reliever Joe Nathan agrees to a reported two-year deal worth $14.5 million to save games for the Rangers. The signing will give Neftali Feliz, the team’s current closer, the opportunity to be shifted to the reigning American League champion’s starting rotation.

ByTom

All-Star reliever Joe Nathan agrees to a reported two-year deal worth $14.5 million to save games for the Rangers. The signing will give Neftali Feliz, the team’s current closer, the opportunity to be shifted to the reigning American League champion’s starting rotation.

According to Dutch police, Mariners outfielder Greg Halman was stabbed to death early this morning in Rotterdam. The 24 year-old Dutch player’s younger brother, Jason, is arrested for the killing but is released from custody, and eventually freed, because of a psychosis that had been induced in part by his use of marijuana was deemed responsible for the singular event with only a remote chance of any reoccurrence.

ByTom

According to Dutch police, Mariners outfielder Greg Halman was stabbed to death early this morning in Rotterdam. The 24 year-old Dutch player’s younger brother, Jason, is arrested for the killing but is released from custody, and eventually freed, because of a psychosis that had been induced in part by his use of marijuana was deemed responsible for the singular event with only a remote chance of any reoccurrence.

The Tigers’ Justin Verlander wins the American League Most Valuable Player Award the first starter since Roger Clemens in 1986

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Tigers’ Justin Verlander adds the American League Most Valuable Player Award to the Cy Young Award he won a week ago after a dominating season in which he led Detroit to the AL Central title. He is the first pitcher to win the award in the AL since reliever Dennis Eckersley in 1992, and the first starting pitcher to do so since Roger Clemens in 1986­. He secures 13 of 28 first-place votes to finish ahead of Boston’s Jacoby Ellsbury, Toronto’s Jose Bautista and New York’s Curtis Granderson in a bunched-up vote.

The Pirates sign free agent IF Clint Barmes to a two-year deal, the Orioles ink IF Matt Antonelli and the Rangers add former Twins closer Joe Nathan for two years with an option for a third. That moves means that Neftali Feliz, the Rangers’ closer for the last two seasons, will move to the starting rotation in 2012.

ByBaseball

The Pirates sign free agent IF Clint Barmes to a two-year deal, the Orioles ink IF Matt Antonelli and the Rangers add former Twins closer Joe Nathan for two years with an option for a third. That moves means that Neftali Feliz, the Rangers’ closer for the last two seasons, will move to the starting rotation in 2012.

Eleven years after resigning from his last managerial position, former Houston (1994-96) and Anaheim (1997-99) manager Terry Collins is selected to replace Jerry Manuel, the team’s former manager fired a day after the season ended. The 61 year-old new skipper, known in the past for alienating some of his players due to his old school approach, compiled a 444-434 won-loss record, finishing second five of his six years in the dugout.

ByTom

Eleven years after resigning from his last managerial position, former Houston (1994-96) and Anaheim (1997-99) manager Terry Collins is selected to replace Jerry Manuel, the team’s former manager fired a day after the season ended. The 61 year-old new skipper, known in the past for alienating some of his players due to his old school approach, compiled a 444-434 won-loss record, finishing second five of his six years in the dugout.