The Indians stunned the baseball world on Feb. 11, reaching agreement with the All-Star outfielder on a four-year, $48 million contract. Bourn, 30, also will be guaranteed a fifth year at $12 million if he reaches 550 plate appearances in 2016, bringing the potential value of his package to $60 million.

Free agent starting pitcher Joe Saunders reached a one-year deal with the Seattle Mariners on Feb. 7, 2013, the same day the team locked up ace Felix Hernandez to a long-term extension. Saunders began last season with the Arizona Diamondbacks before getting traded to Baltimore on Aug. 26.

On Jan. 24, the Arizona Diamondbacks finally traded Justin Upton. He'll play with his brother B.J. (right) in the Braves outfield. The D-backs got Martin Prado, pitcher Randall Delgado and prospects Zeke Spruill, Nick Ahmed and Brandon Drury.

The Phillies signed Delmon Young to a one-year deal for $750,000 on Jan. 22. His contract includes roster and performance bonuses that could bring the total value of the deal to $3.25 million. Young made $6.75 million last year, but off-field issues cost him a lucrative, multiyear deal. He was suspended without pay for seven days by Major League Baseball after an incident outside a New York City hotel last spring. Young later pleaded guilty to aggravated harassment for shouting an anti-Semitic slur and tackling a man to the ground.

Outfielder/first baseman Michael Morse was traded to Seattle on Jan. 16 in a three-team deal. Minor-league pitcher A.J. Cole went from Oakland to Washington and catcher John Jaso went from Seattle to Oakland. The Nats also will receive a player to be named later from Oakland..

On Jan. 15, closer Rafael Soriano agree to a two-year, $28 million deal with the Nationals. Soriano will take over as the Nats’ closer after Drew Storen struggled in the 2012 postseason. Soriano’s deal includes a $14 million vesting option for 2015, which will trigger if he appears in 120 games over the first two years of the deal.

The Texas Rangers agreed to a one-year deal with free-agent infielder/DH Lance Berkman on Jan. 5. Berkman had said that he wanted to spend more time with his family, and that considered an opportunity to become a voluntary assistant coach at Rice, his alma mater, but found it too hard to step away from the money. Berkman won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011.

The Boston Red Sox, moving to further deepen their bullpen, acquired right-handed All-Star Joel Hanrahan from the Pittsburgh Pirates in a six-player deal on Dec. 26. Boston also acquired infielder Brock Holt. The Red Sox gave up right-handers Mark Melancon and Stolmy Pimentel, infielder Ivan DeJesus Jr. and first baseman-outfielder Jerry Sands. Hanrahan, 31, served as the Pirates' closer the past two seasons, earning a combined 76 saves and producing a 2.24 ERA.Red Sox manager John Farrell says Hanrahan will be the Red Sox's closer.

Ohio native Nick Swisher will return to the Buckeye State for a four-year, $56 million deal with the Tribe. The deal was made on Dec. 23. Too bad for his wife JoAnna Garcia that there aren't many acting opportunities there.

Raul Ibanez, 40, returned to the team that drafted him in the 36th round of the 1992 draft, signing a one-year, $2.75 million deal with the Mariners on Dec. 22. The New York Yankees had been interested in bringing back Ibanez, who batted .240 with a .761 OPS last season and produced a series of heroics during the postseason.
 

Cody Ross, who won a World Series with the San Francisco Giants in 2010 and played for the Red Sox in 2012, signed a three-year, $26 million deal with the Diamondbacks on Dec. 22. He also has a $1 million option for 2016. Ross, 31, can play either corner-outfield position.

The Pittsburgh Pirates made a two-year, $12.75 deal with the free agent left-handed pitcher, but the deal was ultimately revised after Liriano hurt his right arm in December. He still could earn the original sum but will assume more risk under the revised terms. If he misses time next season because of an ongoing problem with his right arm, his first-year salary will be reduced. His second-year salary will remain the same as long as he is not sidelined because of the same specific injury.

Free agent catcher A.J. Pierzynski agreed to a one-year deal with the Texas Rangers on Dec. 20. The Rangers were in need of a left-handed hitter after losing Josh Hamilton to their division-rival Los Angeles Angels.

The Cubs agreed on Dec. 20 to pay free-agent right-hander Edwin Jackson $52 million over four years. They hope he'll help them short-term and still be effective in the latter part of his contract, when the team should be closer to contention. Jackson has averaged 199 innings over the past five seasons and produced an ERA-plus slightly above league-average (ERA-plus is ERA adjusted to a pitcher’s ballpark and league).

On Dec. 19, the Seattle Mariners acquired first baseman/designated hitter Kendrys Morales from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for left-handed pitcher Jason Vargas. Morales, 29, batted .273with 26 doubles, 22 home runs and 73 RBI in 134 games in 2012. He became expendable when the Angels signed free agent OF Josh Hamilton.
 

On Dec. 17, Toronto acquired 2012 NL Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey from the Mets and also agreed to a three-year deal with him that pays him $29 million through 2015 with a $12 million club option for 2016. The Jays also get catcher Josh Thole and minor league catcher Mike Nickeas. The Mets get catcher John Buck (who was earlier in the offseason acquired from the Miami Marlins), catcher Travis d'Arnaud, minor league RHP Noah Syndergaard and minor league OF Wuilmer Beccera.

The best free-agent position player on the market became the newest Los Angeles Angel on Dec. 14. The Halos are giving him $125 million for five years.

Free-agent starter Ryan Dempster, who has pitched at least 200 innings in four of the past five seasons,  agreed to a two-year, $26.5 million deal on Dec. 12 to pitch for the Red Sox. 

Outfielder Shin-Soo Choo was part of a nine-player deal among the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians and Arizona Diamondbacks completed on Dec. 11. The Reds obtained outfielder Shin-Soo Choo and infielder Jason Donald from the Indians. The Diamondbacks acquired shortstop Didi Gregorius from the Reds and left-hander Tony Sipp and first baseman Lars Anderson from the Indians. The Indians acquired center fielder Drew Stubbs from the Reds and three pitchers — right-hander Trevor Bauer and relievers Bryan Shaw and Matt Albers — from the Diamondbacks.

The Yankees have turned to an old rival to serve as Alex Rodriguez’s replacement. The team acquired free-agent third baseman Kevin Youkilis on Dec. 11 with a one-year, $12 million contract that brings to the Bronx a player who spent nearly his entire career with the Boston Red Sox. Youkilis was traded from Boston to the Chicago White Sox in June 2012.

Free-agent RHP Brancon McCarthy completed a two-year, $15.5 million deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Dec. 11, 2012. McCarthy, 29, pitched 111 innings for the Oakland Athletics last season, going 8-6 with a 3.24 ERA. He was hit in the head by a line drive on Sept. 5 and underwent surgery for a skull fracture and brain contusion, missing the rest of the season and the postseason.

On Dec. 10, Ryu Hyun-jin, of South Korea became the first player to go directly from the Korea Baseball Organization to the United States big leagues. Ryu, 25, is 6-foot-2 and throws in the low 90s. He broke into professional baseball with the Hanwha Eagles at 19. That season, he won the triple crown of pitching and was named the league’s most valuable player and rookie of the year.

On Dec. 9, the Kansas City Royals acquired right-hander James Shields (left) along with RHP Wade Davis (right) and a player to be named or cash from the Tampa Bay Rays in return for super prospect Wil Myers, young starting pitchers Jake Odorizzi and Mike Montgomery, and third baseman Patrick Leonard.

The Angels invested a lot of time and effort in trying to keep Greinke. They parted with three top prospects to acquire him from Milwaukee for the final two months of last season, and they dealt Ervin Santana to Kansas City in an ongoing effort to clear the necessary payroll to sign Greinke. Alas, the Angels lost their prize free-agent pitcher to the team across town; the Dodgers got him on Dec. 8 with a six-year, $147 million deal.

The Texas Rangers traded their face of the franchise, Michael Young, to the Philadelphia Phillies for right-handed pitchers Josh Lindblom and Lisalverto Bonilla on Dec. 8. The Rangers are picking up approximately $10 million of Young's remaining salary. Young, 36, will likely play third base for the Phillies.

The Washington Nationals acquired free-agent righthander Dan Haren, on a one-year, $13 million deal on Dec. 7. The Los Angeles Angels previously tried to trade Haren to the Chicago Cubs for Carlos Marmol in early November, but the deal fell through. Afterward the Angels declined to pick up his $15.5 million option, giving him a $3.5 million buyout. Haren, 32, will be joining his fifth team. He has gone 119-96 since breaking in with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2003 and has been selected for the All-Star team three times.

Free agent left fielder Jason Bay made a one-year deal with the Seattle Mariners on Dec. 5, after three disappointing seasons with the New York Mets.

The Boston Red Sox and free-agent outfielder Shane Victorino agreed to a three-year, $39 million deal on Dec. 4, according to sources. Victorino, 32, is a two-time All-Star and has won three Gold Gloves. He won a World Series championship as a member of the Phillies in 2008. In 2012 he batted .255 with 11 home runs and 85 RBI.

Free-agent first baseman James Loney and the Tampa Bay Rays agreed to a $2 million, one-year contract on Dec. 3. Loney can make an additional $1 million in performance bonuses. Loney, 28, was traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Boston Red Sox in August.
 

The Boston Red Sox and free agent Mike Napoli agreed to a three-year contract worth $39 million on Dec. 3. But, more than a month later, Napoli and the Red Sox came to terms on a one-year, $5 million deal after a health concern arose as part of Napoli's physical exam. Napoli, 31, brings a powerful bat to the Boston lineup, along with the flexibility to catch or play first base. He also could serve as the designated hitter on days when David Ortiz does not play.

On Nov. 30, the Atlanta Braves traded right-handed starting pitcher Tommy Hanson (second from left) to the Los Angeles Angels for reliver Jordan Walden. He'll join the Angels other newly acquired pitchers Joe Blanton, Ryan Madson and Sean Burnett.

The Angels had big plans for relief pitcher Jordan Walden, but not anymore. The right-hander, who became expendable with the team’s signing of Ryan Madson, was traded to the Atlanta Braves on Nov. 30 for starter Tommy Hanson.

The Pittsburgh Pirates reached agreement on Nov. 29 with free-agent catcher Russell Martin on a two-year, $17 million deal. The Yankees wanted to re-sign Martin, but evidently did not want to go to the same financial level as the Pirates.

The Minnesota Twins traded OF Denard Span to the Washington Nationals on Nov. 29 in exchange for 22-year-old right-handed pitching prospect Alex Meyer. Span, 28, made his major league debut with Minnesota in 2008 and had been a mainstay in the Twins' outfield.

On Nov. 28, free agent center fielder B.J. Upton agreed to a five-year, $75.25 million deal with the Atlanta Bravse. Upton has hit more home runs over the past two seasons with the Rays – 51 – than all but four center fielders in the sport, and their last names are Granderson, Kemp, Jones and McCutchen.

The Blue Jays hired manager John Gibbons on Nov. 20. He managed Toronto from 2004-08 will be asked to guide a revamped Blue Jays roster next season. ''Who wouldn't want to be here?'' he said. ''The front office has put together a legitimate contending type team.''

Free-agent outfielder Melky Cabrera, 28, agreed to a two-year, $16 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Nov. 16. Cabrera, who played last season with the Giants, was suspended for 50 games in August after testing positive for elevated testosterone.

Free-agent right fielder Torii Hunter reached agreement on Nov. 14 with the Detroit Tigers on a two-year, $26 million contract, becoming the first significant free agent signed this offseason. Hunter had played for the Angels since 2008.

Infielder/outfielder Emilio Bonifacio and catcher John Buck were the final pieces of the puzzle that completed the Marlins stunning trade with the Blue Jays. Buck was subsequently traded to the Mets on Dec. 17 as part of a package for pitcher R.A. Dickey.

The Blue Jays acquired starter Josh Johnson from the Marlins as well.

In one of the largest trades in baseball history the Blue Jays acquired starter Mark Buehrle along with four other players.

In exhange for the package of five stars, the Marlins received from the Blue Jays shortstops Yunel Escobar (pictured) and Adeiny Hechavarria, major-league right-hander Henderson Alvarez, minor-league left-hander Justin Nicolino, center fielder Jacob Marisnick, catcher Jeff Mathis and minor league right-hander Anthony DeSclafani on Nov. 13. Escobar, who was suspended for three games in September for wearing eye black with a homophobic slur written on it during a game, was traded to the Rays on Dec. 4.

The Toronto Blue Jays acquired Reyes as part of a blockbuster trade with the Miami Marlins, consummated on Nov. 13, which amounted to an epic backpedal from the Marlins’ aggressive spending less than one year ago.

Walt Weiss was hired on Nov. 7 as the Colorado Rockies' new manager. Weiss is a former major league shortstop and was the 1988 AL Rookie of the Year with Oakland. He was a special assistant to Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd from 2002-08.

Former catcher Mike Redmond, who played for the Marlins from 1998 to 2004, was hired Nov. 1 as Miami's new manager.

The Los Angeles Angels traded pitcher Ervin Santana to the Kansas City Royals on Oct. 31 for minor league left-hander Brandon Sisk.

Heath Bell was dealt Oct. 20 by the Miami Marlins to the Arizona Diamondbacks, who also acquired infielder Cliff Pennington and minor league infielder Yordy Cabrera from the Oakland Athletics for outfielder Chris Young. Cabrera was then sent to the Marlins. Turns out this was only the beginning for the Marlins.

John Farrell, who managed the division rival Toronto Blue Jays for the past two seasons, agreed on Oct. 20 to a three-year contract with the Red Sox that includes an option for 2016.

Terry Francona, who guided the Boston Red Sox to two World Series titles, was hired as manager of the Cleveland Indians on Oct. 6.

The Houston Astros announced on Sept. 27 that Washington Nationals third base coach Bo Porter will be the team's new skipper.