2018 – The notoriously young Braves, who featured two of the three youngest regulars in the majors in 2018 in Ronald Acuna and Ozzie Albies, add some experience in planning a run for the big prize in 2019 by signing veteran free agents Josh Donaldson and Brian McCann to one-year deals. The 35-year-old McCann is a native of Georgia who spent his first 9 seasons with the Braves, making this a true homecoming.

ByTom

2018 – The notoriously young Braves, who featured two of the three youngest regulars in the majors in 2018 in Ronald Acuna and Ozzie Albies, add some experience in planning a run for the big prize in 2019 by signing veteran free agents Josh Donaldson and Brian McCann to one-year deals. The 35-year-old McCann is a native of Georgia who spent his first 9 seasons with the Braves, making this a true homecoming.

The Diamondbacks sign Cuban defector OF Yasmani Tomas to a six-year deal worth $68.5 million after a bidding war involving a number of teams.

ByTom

The Diamondbacks sign Cuban defector OF Yasmani Tomas to a six-year deal worth $68.5 million after a bidding war involving a number of teams.

2013 – The MVP awards in Nippon Pro Baseball come as no surprise. Masahiro Tanaka of the Rakuten Golden Eagles is the unanimous winner of the 2013 Pacific League Most Valuable Player Award after going 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA, the only pitcher in NPB annals to lead in wins without losing a game. Meanwhile, Wladimir Balentien of the Yakult Swallows takes home the 2013 Central League Most Valuable Player Award, the first player ever to win from a last-place team; Balentien had set a new NPB home run record with 60.

ByTom

2013 – The MVP awards in Nippon Pro Baseball come as no surprise. Masahiro Tanaka of the Rakuten Golden Eagles is the unanimous winner of the 2013 Pacific League Most Valuable Player Award after going 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA, the only pitcher in NPB annals to lead in wins without losing a game. Meanwhile, Wladimir Balentien of the Yakult Swallows takes home the 2013 Central League Most Valuable Player Award, the first player ever to win from a last-place team; Balentien had set a new NPB home run record with 60.

Evan Longoria signs a contract extension with the Tampa Bay Rays that will make him a member of the team until 2023, adding 6 years to his contract worth an additional $100 million.

ByTom

Evan Longoria signs a contract extension with the Tampa Bay Rays that will make him a member of the team until 2023, adding 6 years to his contract worth an additional $100 million.

Postseason shares as announced, and the members of the World Champions Giants receive a record $377,022.64 each for their role in winning the title. Even discredited OF Melky Cabrera, suspended after a positive test for PEDs and kicked off the team before its run to the title, gets a full share because of a rule in the collective bargaining agreement. Members of the Detroit Tigers receive $284,274.50 each, the second-highest total for a runner-up.

ByTom

Postseason shares as announced, and the members of the World Champions Giants receive a record $377,022.64 each for their role in winning the title. Even discredited OF Melky Cabrera, suspended after a positive test for PEDs and kicked off the team before its run to the title, gets a full share because of a rule in the collective bargaining agreement. Members of the Detroit Tigers receive $284,274.50 each, the second-highest total for a runner-up.

2010 – The Dodgers sign free agent pitcher Jon Garland to a one-year deal. Garland pitched briefly for the Dodgers in 2009 before going 14-12 for the Padres last season.

ByTom

2010 – The Dodgers sign free agent pitcher Jon Garland to a one-year deal. Garland pitched briefly for the Dodgers in 2009 before going 14-12 for the Padres last season.

New York Yankees Public Address announcer Bob Sheppard officially retires at the age of 99
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New York Yankees Public Address announcer Bob Sheppard officially retires at the age of 99

ByTom

New York Yankees Public Address announcer Bob Sheppard officially retires at the age of 99. Known as the “Voice of God,” Sheppard had been the Yankees PA announcer from 1951 to 2007 before his deteriorating health forced him to step down. He briefly returned in 2008 to announce the Yankees lineup for the final game at the old Yankee Stadium.

The Toronto Blue Jays sign free agent shortstop Alex Gonzalez to a contract. Gonzalez started the last season with the Cincinnati Reds before being traded to the Boston Red Sox where he took over for Nick Green.

ByTom

The Toronto Blue Jays sign free agent shortstop Alex Gonzalez to a contract. Gonzalez started the last season with the Cincinnati Reds before being traded to the Boston Red Sox where he took over for Nick Green.

2007 – The Lotte Giants hire Jerry Royster as their manager. Royster, a former major league and longtime minor league manager and major league player, is the first foreigner ever hired to manage a team in the Korea Baseball Organization. Another Lotte-owned team, the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Pro Baseball, had their best run ever thanks to an American manager, Bobby Valentine.

ByTom

2007 – The Lotte Giants hire Jerry Royster as their manager. Royster, a former major league and longtime minor league manager and major league player, is the first foreigner ever hired to manage a team in the Korea Baseball Organization. Another Lotte-owned team, the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Pro Baseball, had their best run ever thanks to an American manager, Bobby Valentine.