The Cubs re-signed 30 year-old free agent Kerry Wood to a one-year, $4.2 million deal which includes additional incentives for closing games. The fragile former right-handed starter, who turned down multi-year offers from other clubs to stay with Chicago, will be given an opportunity to become the club’s closer.

2004 – Receiving 21 of the 28 first-place votes, Vladimir Guerrero (.337, 39 HR, 126 RBI) wins the American League MVP Award. The 28-year old former Expos outfielder signed as a free agent with the Angels, after the Mets refused to guarantee his salary based on advice from their medical staff.

2003 – Hoping to add punch to their lineup, the Oakland Athletics trade catcher Ramón Hernandez and disgruntled outfielder Terrence Long to the San Diego Padres for outfielder Mark Kotsay.

Hoping to add punch to their outfield, the A’s trade catcher Ramon Hernandez and disgruntled flychaser Terrence Long to the Padres for outfielder Mark Kotsay. The deal is contingent upon Kotsay’s back gets a clean bill of health.

1999 – Arbitrator Alan Symonette rejects the owners’ attempt to dismiss the umpires’ grievance, giving the 22 umps booted as a result of last season’s disastrous mass resignation strategy a chance to get their jobs back. Symonette will hear the grievance beginning December 13th.

1997 – The Toronto Blue Jays sign free agent reliever Randy Myers to a three-year contract.

1996 – Less than three weeks after major league owners voted 18-12 against ratification of baseball’s new collective bargaining agreement, owners vote again and this time approve it by a vote of 26-4. The landmark agreement brings interleague play to the regular season for the first time, as well as revenue sharing among owners and a payroll tax on players.