10th In the first major swap of the winter meetings, the A’s trade C Mike Heath and P Tim Conroy to the Cardinals for Joaquin Andujar, 21-game winner with a volatile temperament. Andujar pitched a career-high 269 2/3 innings this year and won only one game after August 23. He was 17-4 on July 26th. He will win 17 more games over the next three seasons.
11th The Giants send 2B Manny Trillo to the Cubs for SS Dave Owen, and C Alex Trevino to the Dodgers for OF Candy Maldonado; the Phillies trade pitchers John Denny and Jeff Gray to the Reds for OF Gary Redus and P Tom Hume, and the Dodgers trade veteran catcher Steve Yeager to the Mariners for P Ed Vande Berg. Vande Berg will have a lackluster year in Southern California after which the Dodgers will release him and he will sign with Cleveland.
12th The Yankees trade P Joe Cowley and C Ron Hassey to the White Sox for P Britt Burns (18–11) and minor leaguers Mike Soper and Glen Braxton. Hassey will come back to New York before the season’s start. A degenerative hip condition ends Burns’ career before he has a chance to pitch for the Yanks.
The Indians sign free agent Tom Candiotti to a AAA contract. Candiotti (9-13 at Vancouver), who has been throwing a knuckler less than a year, will lead the AL in complete games (17) in 1986.
18th The Giants trade strikeout-prone slugger Rob Deer to the Brewers for minor leaguers Eric Pilkington and Dean Freeland.
19th The Expos trade P Bill Gullickson and C Sal Butera to the Reds for pitchers Jay Tibbs, Andy McGaffigan, and John Stuper, and C Dann Bilardello.