The biggest off-season move prior to the 1998 season was Boston’s acquisition and subsequent signing of Pedro Martinez. He didn’t come cheaply–first costing the Red Sox &oumu;berprospect Carl Pavano, and then a $75 million, six-year contract–but he was absolutely the type of pitcher that Jimy Williams had to have if the Red Sox were to…
CUBA "This is something that Bud [Selig] and I have been talking about for years. Now that it has been made part of a policy announcement by the president, we need to sit down and talk to all the parties concerned. If everybody is satisfied, we can go forward." — Peter Angelos, Orioles owner "I…
ANAHEIM ANGELS Signed OF Matt Luke to a one-year contract. [1/12] Luke isn’t the world’s worst spare outfielder, except that he isn’t really a good match for the Angels. Left-handed power isn’t something a team with Mo Vaughn and Erstad and Edmonds needs, and a fifth outfielder who gets on base (like Orlando Palmeiro) is…
This year’s Rule 5 Draft was like the winter meetings as a whole, in that it wound up being almost completely a non-event. While previous Rule 5 efforts have seen teams snag some real prospects, Ken Phelps All-Stars, or pitchers who suddenly found an extra 8 mph on their fastball change teams, this year’s big…
ANAHEIM ANGELS Re-signed pitcher Jack McDowell and infielder Randy Velarde to one-year contracts. Signed infielder Craig Shipley to a minor-league contract. [12/7] Designated pitcher Allen Watson for assignment. [12/12] Acquired pitcher Mark Petkovsek from the St. Louis Cardinals for a PTBNL (who turned out to be catcher Matt Garrick). Designated catcher Ben Molina for assignment….
KEVIN BROWN SIGNS WITH LA "I’m in mourning. Not for the Padres, but for baseball." — Larry Lucchino, Padres president "This is an affront to baseball." — Sandy Alderson, MLB’s executive vice president "I don’t mean to criticize Kevin Brown, but it’s a truly tragic day for baseball. It’s extraordinary. It confirms my worst fears…
MO VAUGHN SIGNS IN ANAHEIM "Our ownership has established its desire to take this team to the next level, and Mo [Vaughn] is the type of individual who relishes that challenge." — Terry Collins, Angels manager "Some might look at this and think we’re done. That’s not the case." — Bill Bavasi, Angels GM "Maybe…
Pitcher Usage and Result Patterns? What are these, you ask? This is the end result of a conversation the two of us started up in the spring on how to evaluate starting pitchers in terms of how they’re used by their managers, and what that means in terms of results. We wanted to generate a…
Pitcher Usage and Result Patterns? What are these, you ask? This is the end result of a conversation the two of us started up in the spring on how to evaluate starting pitchers in terms of how they’re used by their managers, and what that means in terms of results. We wanted to generate a…
ANAHEIM ANGELS Released pitchers Jeff Juden and Rich Robertson. [11/16] Re-signed catcher Matt Walbeck to a two-year contract. [11/17] Signed first baseman Mo Vaughn to a six-year contract with club option for 2005. [11/25] The Angels were the team to make Mo Vaughn the most well-paid player in the majors, signing him for $80 million….
AWARDS "It adds confidence that people who watch the game and people who follow baseball acknowledged as good a season as I’ve had." — Kerry Wood, Cubs pitcher and NL ROY "It means a lot after a long season to get recognition like this. But at the same time it doesn’t change anything. It’s just…
ANAHEIM ANGELS Exercised their option on RHP Troy Percival and agreed upon an additional option for 2002. [10/19] Named Dick Pole pitching coach. [11/7] Percival remains one of the best closers in the game, and the Angels aren’t going to have to worry about him until 2002. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Exercised their options on LHP Brian…
PIAZZA SIGNS WITH METS "I might as well get booed by the best if I was going to get booed by anyone." — Mike Piazza, Mets catcher "I definitely had some growing pains coming here. Once I went through the ups and downs of New York, I definitely wanted to finish my career here." —…
The full results of this year’s IBA voting.
NLCS "When I hit it, I said, ‘Thank you, God, for this one.’ I didn’t have a monkey on my shoulders, but I really needed it, especially for the team to stay alive." — Andres Galarraga, Braves infielder, on his Game 4 grand slam "With Kevin Brown, you have to make him get the ball…
Pitcher Usage and Result Patterns? What are these, you ask? This is the end result of a conversation the two of us started up in the spring on how to evaluate starting pitchers in terms of how they’re used by their managers, and what that means in terms of results. We wanted to generate a…