November 27

2015 – The Blue Jays sign free agent pitcher J.A. Happ, who pitched for them from 2012 to 2014, for three years and $36 million. Happ is coming off a great second half with the Pirates.

2013 – The Twins, who finished in last place with the worst starting pitcher ERA in the majors last year, begin to address the problem with a rare dip in the free agent pool, signing P Ricky Nolasco to a multi-year deal.

Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz, coming off the best season of his career, is handed a 25-game suspension at the start of next season for testing positive for amphetamines.

Marvin Miller, who served as head of the Major League Baseball Players Association from 1966 to 1983, dies at 95. A veteran union organizer from the steel industry, Miller made the union highly powerful, leading to the first collective bargaining agreement in professional sports in 1968 and other breakthroughs such as salary arbitration and free agency in the 1970s. These advances required a number of strikes, which made Miller a vilified figure among owners. Lingering bitterness explains while Miller failed to secure election to the Hall of Fame by a small margin in recent years.

The Mariners trade P Josh Lueke to Tampa Bay for C John Jaso.

New Houston Astros owner Jim Crane decides to clean house in the front office with the team coming off the worst season in franchise history. Both team President Tal Smith and GM Ed Wade get the axe. The new President is George Postolos, while assistant GM Dave Gottfried takes over for Wade on an interim basis while a search for a permanent replacement begins.

The Brewers and Jason Kendall agree to a one-year contract that guarantees $4.25 million and includes a vesting option for 2009. The 33 year-old catcher, who split time with the A’s and Cubs last season, replaces recently traded Johnny Estrada behind the plate.

2001 – The major league owners vote unanimously to extend commissioner Bud Selig’s contract through 2006.

The major league owners vote unanimously to extend baseball commissioner Bud Selig’s contract through 2006. The former Brewers’ owner, who had held the top spot on an interim basis since 1992, was given the title on a permanent basis midway through the 1998 season.