HALLADAY HANGS ‘EM UP
Citing a desire to avoid surgery for an ailing back and wanting to spend more time with his family, two-time Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay retired Monday after 16 seasons in the major leagues with the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies.
Halladay, 36, signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Blue Jays, where he spent the first 12 years of his career. The right-hander choked up and held back tears while making the announcement at a news conference at the winter meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
“As a baseball player, you realize that’s something you can’t do the rest of your life,” Halladay said. “I really don’t have any regrets.”
Halladay pitched a perfect game and also a postseason no-hitter. But he never made it to the World Series.
Halladay was 203-105 with a 3.38 ERA in 416 career games, including 390 starts. He had 67 complete games and 20 shutouts. His resume includes three 20-win seasons, eight All-Star games, and three other top-three finishes for the Cy Young Award.
Cox’s managerial career began in 1978 with Atlanta, but he was fired after four seasons — only one above .500. A fouryear run in Toronto ended in 1985 with an American League East title, and Ted Turner lured him back to the Braves as GM. Cox returned to the dugout in 1990, and following one losing season he went on one of the most successful regular-season runs by any skipper, leading the Braves to 14 straight division titles and a World Series title in 1995.
He retired in 2010 fourth behind La Russa in career wins with a record of 2,504-2,001. Cigar-chomping and fiercely loyal to his players, Cox was ejected a major league-record 159 times.
Miller, the pioneering head of the players union from 1966 to 1981, was denied admission to the Hall for the sixth time he appeared on a committee ballot. He fell one vote short of induction in 2010.
METS — Three-time All-Star outfielder Curtis Granderson and New York completed a $60 million, four-year deal.
Granderson, who turns 33 in March, hit .229 with seven homers and 15 RBIs this year for the Yankees, when wrist and hand injuries limited him to 61 games. He surpassed 40 homers in each of his previous two seasons in pinstripes.
MARLINS — First baseman Garrett Jones and Miami agreed to terms on a $7.75 million, two-year contract. The sixyear veteran spent the past four seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, playing at least 144 games each season.