Whicker: Big-league teams handing out big contracts before CBA expires

“Those GoFundMe pages really work.

The destitute Pittsburgh Pirates kept reaching underneath sofa cushions until they found $29 million to give Ryan O’Hearn, over two years. O’Hearn is 32, has 84 home runs and is a lifetime .252 hitter. Then they traded for Brandon Lowe, who was a reliable infielder at Tampa Bay and will cost them $11.5 million in the last year of his deal. Lowe had 31 home runs last year and has a lifetime OPS of .807. Hey, it’s not Clemente and Stargell, but it’s an investment. It is hoped that owner Bob Nutting still has S&H Green Stamps left. “

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Glew: Paxton makes history at Rogers Centre again with Baseball Canada honour

“It seemed fitting for James Paxton to be inducted onto Baseball Canada’s Wall of Excellence at an awards banquet held at the Rogers Centre on Saturday night.

After all, it was in that building 2,804 days earlier that he made history when he tossed a no-hitter for the Seattle Mariners against the Toronto Blue Jays to become the only Canadian to throw a major league no-hitter in a Canadian ballpark.

It also seemed fitting that it was at the Rogers Centre that the Ladner, B.C., native confirmed that he’s coming out of retirement to pitch for Canada at the World Baseball Classic in March.”

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Wilson: McFarlane and the McGwire ball bonanza

“It was memorabilia mayhem.

Calgary-born Todd McFarlane was right in the middle of the collectible chaos and emerged with one of the most sought-after pieces of sporting history.

This is a story of a slugger, his incredible feat, and baseball fanaticism run amok. Only those with the fattest wallets were invited to this party, and the ensuing media attention grabbed more headlines than a celebrity scandal.

More simply, this is just a tale about a baseball. And yet, it is so much more than that.”

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