A busy old offseason as salaries move past the $4m mark and the big boys continue to exert their financial influence, most notably the World Champs. We tried to sign Pascual Perez with an initial asking price of $2.2m AAV but were quickly shoved aside in the bidding war that ensued and which they eventually won.
Here are the transactions of note:
OF Chet Lemon: Red Sox, 4 years / $22.8m / AAV $4.56m
P Pascual Perez: Red Sox, 4 years / $18.2m / AAV $4.54m
2B Willie Randloph: Dodgers, 5 years / $22.4m / AAV $4.48m
P JR Richard: Royals, 3 years / $12.5m / AAV $4.16m
1B Jack Clark: Cardinals, 4 years / $16.5m / AAV $4.12m
C Ernie Whitt: Giants, 4 years / $16.3m / AAV $4.08m
3B Howard Johnson: Cubs, 3 years / $11.7m / AAV $3.91m
OF Jerry Mumphrey: White Sox, 4 years / $14.6m / AAV $3.64m
OF Fred Lynn: Mariners, 4 years / $12.8m / AAV $3.20m
2B Tony Phillips: Blue Jays, 4 years / $12.4m / AAV $3.09m
SS Hubie Brooks: Giants, 4 years / $11.4m / AAV $2.84m
P John Candelaria: Tigers, 4 years / $10.1m / AAV $2.52m
OF Tom Brunansky: Dodgers, 3 years / $7.6m / AAV $2.52m
SS Roy Smalley: Yankees, 4 years / $9.2m / AAV $2.29m
OF Lee Lacy: Phillies, 1 year / $2.3m / AAV $2.28m
OF Lyman Bostock: Angels, 3 years / $2.5m / AAV $1.24m (extension)
C Ron Hassey: Tigers, 2 years / $5.9m / AAV $1.96m
OF Eddie Milner: Tigers, 2 years / $3.8m / AAV $1.89m
P Bart Johnson: White Sox, 1 year / $1.9m / AAV $1.88m
1B Darrell Evans: Twins, 3 years / $5.5m / AAV $1.85m
C Ozzie Virgil: Phillies, 3 years / $5.2m / AAV $1.72m
P Storm Davis: Blue Jays, 3 years / $5.1m / AAV $1.69m
P Mike Witt: Tigers, 4 years / $4.9m / AAV $1.64m
OF Dave Parker: Cardinals, 1 year / $1.6m / AAV $1.64m
1B Greg Walker: Mets, 3 years / $4.8m / AAV $1.59m
P Bert Blyleven: Royals, 1 year / $1.6m / AAV $1.60m
OF Dave Henderson: Reds, 4 years / $6.2m / AAV $1.55m
P Tom Henke: Giants, 3 years / $4.6m / AAV $1.52m
C Lance Parrish: Cardinals, 1 year / $1.4m / AAV $1.36m
2B Bobby Grich: Angels, 2 years / $2.5m / AAV $1.24m (extension)
3B Chris Alvarez from Tigers to Yankees for 1B Cecil Cooper (retaining 90%)
OF James McCollom and P Rocky Childress from Cardinals to Royals for C Tony Pena
OF Darrin Jackson from Orioles to Indians for P Dennis Lamp (retaining 40%)
3B Bob Zambrano from Cubs to Royals for 3B George Brett
OF Darnell Coles and C Jim Puzy from Blue Jays to White Sox for P Mike Moore
P Ron Darling from Mariners to Giants for P Jay Tibbs and P Don Schultze
P Dave Wehrmeister from Blue Jays to Phillies for C Rich Gedman (retaining 30%)
3B Davey Lopes from Astros to Giants for P Mark Portugal and P Brian Fisher
2B Jerry Browne from Orioles to Blue Jays for P Charlie Hough (retaining 55%)
SS Mariano Duncan and P Dave Leiper from Indians to Twins for P Sid Fernandez (retaining 90%)
P Britt Burns and cash from Yankees to Phillies for C Ed Hearn
P Frank Tanana (retaining 60%) from Rangers to Mets for 3B Chris James and P Drew Hall
We go 11-7 in Spring Training and suffer no injuries of any importance.
BNN see the league returning to its close and competitive ways with the Red Sox, A’s and Reds narrowly coming out on top in the other groups.
In our division they cannot separate ourselves and the Expos, with the Cubs and Cards close at hand.
