The Final Score

* In 2007 the Pirates cut Jonathan Albaladejo. He's now a Yankee. I'd say that turned out to be a good career move.

* In 1995 the White Sox former Mets catcher (and future where-are-they-now subject) Barry Lyons. Here's the story Katie Strang did on the Hurricane Katrina survivor.

* In 1990 the Rangers released Craig McMurtry. His claim to fame is giving up the first home run Barry Bonds hit. I spoke to McMurtry about the experience last year for a Web column.

Slow transaction day. That's about it. Blame retrosheet.org.

* In 2006 the Reds cut Tony Womack. When he goes into the Hall of Fame, his plaque should say, "In 2005 Womack played so poorly in the first month of a two-year deal with the Yankees that he changed the way they run their organization, forcing them to give their own prospects a chance."

* In 2002 the White Sox signed Jose Canseco. Shortly thereafter he began allegedly injecting Magglio Ordonez with steroids.

* In 2001 the Dodgers signed Jesse Orosco. You think his arm hurts these days?

* In 2004 the Rangers selected Joaquin Arias from the Yankees to complete the Alex Rodriguez trade. Arias is currently at Triple-A hitting .287. So the jury's out on him. Of course one of the players the Rangers passed up was ... Robinson Cano. Whoops.

* In 1991 the Phillies cut future Ducks manager Dave LaPoint. I know: Who cares?

* In 1990 the Expos traded Rex Hudler to the Cardinals for John Costello. My favorite Rex Hudler story: Randy Johnson before a game in Anaheim in 2005 was yelling at reporters for asking how his bullpen session went. It was really an insane rant by an insane man. Johnson said reporters reminded him of his kids on the way to Disneyland, saying, "Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" Hudler, his former teammate, was standing nearby and tried to cool the situation by saying, "But Randy, Disneyland is the happiest place on earth!" But Randy wasn't having it, and in one of my favorite quotes ever, he sternly said, "Take it out of here, Rex." If I was a broadcaster on ESPN, that would my home run call: "Take it out of here, Rex!"

Thanks, Retrosheet.org, for the info.

On this day in 1985, the Cardinals cut INF Art Howe.

Poor guy only played in four games in '85, went 0-for-3, and that was the end of his (not so) illustrious playing career.

Good thing he showed enough promise to spend 14 seasons as a big-league manager.

14!

* In 2006 the Reds sold Timo Perez to the Cardinals. I love when players get "sold." The way I envision it happening is on a sandy road where there's lots of bartering going on for all types of goods. And here comes a general manager with the player behind him, he finds the general manager of another team and they negotiate a price for the player.

(BTW, ever wonder how the 2000 World Series would have been different had Timo Perez run hard all the way? Just saying...)

* In 1994 the White Sox cut Steve Sax. Don't worry about Sax, though. His episode with The Simpsons in which he played himself aired two years and two months prior to this, so those syndication checks were on its way.

* Also on this date in 1978, future Mets broadcaster Fran Healy played his last major-league game. How about a Yankeeography?

Thanks, Retrosheet.org.

* In 2006 the Braves signed Wayne Franklin. Remember his cup of coffee with the Yankees in 2005? George Steinbrenner ordered him banished - aka, Columbus, here I come - after he gave up a home run to Hank Blalock.

* In 1997 the Expos signed Hensley Meulens.

* Also in '97 the A's signed Todd Van Poppel, perhaps the most hyped pitcher ever.

* In 1991 the Astros signed Calvin Schiraldi. If the Red Sox brought him back to throw out the first pitch, I bet he'd still get booed.

* In 1981 the Astros signed David Clyde. There's great details about his debut at age 18 in this highly entertaining book.

You go, retrosheet.org!

* In 2002 the Devil Rays released Kevin Brown. Not the pitcher. This is the catcher Kevin Brown. So why do I mention this? Because I bet he was at the Jose Canseco pool party in 1998 that's in dispute - the Blue Jays called him up for that series. I've tried calling him, but with no luck.

* In 1999 the Tigers acquired Dave Mlicki and Mel Rojas from the Dodgers for Robinson Checo, Aposto Garcia and Richard Roberts. Mlicki actually hung around to win another 35 games. Rojas pitched in only eight more games.

* In 1997 Detroit cut Vince Coleman. One word: firecrackers.

* In 1993 the White Sox cut Brendan Donnelly. Two words: Mitchell Report.

Long live retrosheet.org!

* In 2006 the Yankees signed Carlos Pena to a minor-league deal. One year too early, I guess. Pena's stats at Triple-A Columbus that year were not bad. He hit .260 with 19 homers in 381 at-bats with a .370 OBP and an .824 OPS. That year, though, the Yankees were determined to find out what they had in Andy Phillips. Whoops.

* In 1995 the Padres signed Rob Deer. This guy struck out 1,409 times in 3,881 at-bats. That's 36 percent of the time!!!

* In 1992 the Twins signed Enrique Wilson. As Yankees in 2004 Kenny Lofton once accused him of fudging his age. Wilson was defensive.

* In 1987 the Mets signed Alberto Castillo. This guy hung around for a long while.

Thank you, retrosheet.org.

Yes, a bit late, but better than never, right?

* In 1999 the Indians signed Jhonny Peralta as a non-drafted free agent. That worked out for them, eh?

* In 1989 the Giants signed Rich Gossage. I'm still surprised to see he pitched until the 1994 players' strike. In '89 he pitched well for the Giants - 2.68 ERA in 43 2/3 innings - and was claimed off waivers by the Yankees in August. I wonder how many other Hall of Famers played for nine teams? Maybe I'll call the HOF tomorrow and ask.

* In 1964 the Mets sold Duke Snider to the Giants.

You know who gave me this info.

* In 2001 the Expos signed Masato Yoshii. It's easy to forget this guy actually started three postseason games for the Mets in 1999.

* In 2000 the Astros sold Dwight Gooden to the Devil Rays. Doc had a 6.63 ERA in eight starts for the Rays, then was released, picked up by the Yankees and started against the Mets at Shea. And how in the world did Gooden post a 3.36 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 64 1/3 innings for the Yankees that year?!?

* In 1995 the Cubs signed Howard Johnson. HoJo batted .195 in 87 games.

* In 1994 the Padres signed Kevin Maas. He was released May 23.

Thank you, retrosheet.org, for the info.

Retrosheet.org tells us the following...

* In 1999 the Brewers signed Aaron Small. But he never pitched for them. He did pitch for the Blue Jays, Marlins, A's, D-backs, Braves and Yankees. And, man, that 2005 is still so stunning. 10-0, 3.20 ERA. 1.25 WHIP in 76 innings. Also, check out this: he allowed only four HRs in 76 innings; in '06 he gave up nine in 27 2/3...

* In 1996 the Yankees signed non-drafted free agent Juan Rivera. This year he's back from his broken leg, but too bad he plays for the team with the deepest outfield. He's only 0-for-3 in two games this year.

* In 1991 the White Sox signed Danny Heep. I don't know about you, but I'm really surprised to see Heep had such a long career. He played in 883 games over 13 seasons for five teams. The White Sox are not one of them.