This day in Los Angeles Dodgers history saw then-MLB commissioner Bud Selig approve the trade of Shawn Green to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Selig signing off on the trade was required due to the Dodgers sending $8 million to the Diamondbacks as part of the transaction.
The trade — which was contingent on Arizona agreeing to a contract extension with Green — was officially completed January 11, 2005. That wound up amounting to a three-year, $32 million contract for the left-handed slugger, who had a no-trade clause.
L.A. received William Juarez, Danny Muegge, Dioner Navarro and Beltran Perez in the deal. It marked the end of Green’s five-year tenure with the Dodgers. Along with Jorge Nunez, he was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Pedro Borbon and Raul Mondesi on Nov. 8, 1999.
The Dodgers trading for Green was monumental as that deal also came with a new contract: six years and $84 million. Green’s average salary of $14 million per season was the second-highest in baseball at the time.
It trailed the $15 million average annual value Kevin Brown secured in his seven-year, $105 million contract with the Dodgers. Brown was the sport’s first $100 million player.
While Green had several highlights during his Dodgers career, which included a historic four-homer performance against the Milwaukee Brewers, his production had declined at the time of being traded to the Diamondbacks.
Green did rebound some, but his time with the Diamondbacks was short-lived as he was traded to the New York Mets for Evan MacLane on Aug. 22, 2006.
Dodgers sign Tomko
Also on Jan. 3 in Dodgers history — though in 2006 — the Dodgers officially signed Brett Tomko to a two-year contract.
The right-hander had spent two consecutive seasons with the San Francisco Giants, and was eager to reunite with Ned Colletti in Los Angeles.
Tomko was a starter before suffering a side injury cost him one month. Tomko returned as a relief pitcher and wound up finishing the 2006 season with an 8-7 record and 4.73 ERA over 44 games (15 starts).
Tomko continued to struggle in 2007, going 2-11 with a 5.80 ERA over 33 games (15 starts) before getting released at the end of August. Shortly after he signed with the San Diego Padres for the remainder of the season.
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