1979 New York Yankees Trades and Transactions

Transactions listed are from October 1 of previous year to April 1 of the following year.

• November 6, 1978

  Released Andy Messersmith.

• November 10, 1978

  Traded Mike Heath, Sparky Lyle, Larry McCall, Dave Rajsich, Domingo Ramos and cash to the Texas Rangers. Received Greg Jemison (minors), Juan Beníquez, Mike Griffin, Paul Mirabella and Dave Righetti.

• November 13, 1978

  Signed Luis Tiant as a free agent.

• November 21, 1978

  Signed Tommy John as a free agent.

• November 30, 1978

  Paul Lindblad player rights sold to the Seattle Mariners.

• December 4, 1978

  Bobby Brown drafted by the New York Mets in the 1978 rule 5 draft.

  Ted Wilborn drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1978 rule 5 draft.

• December 15, 1978

  Gil Rondón player rights sold to Yucatan (Mexican).

• February 3, 1979

  Purchased Bruce Robinson from the Oakland Athletics for $400,000.

• February 15, 1979

  Traded Gary Thomasson to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Received Brad Gulden.

• April 12, 1979

  Released Paul Blair.

• April 19, 1979

  Purchased Bobby Brown from the Toronto Blue Jays.

• May 11, 1979

  Purchased Jim Kaat from the Philadelphia Phillies.

• May 23, 1979

  Traded Dick Tidrow to the Chicago Cubs. Received Ray Burris.

• June 5, 1979

  Drafted Otis Nixon in the 1st round (3rd pick) of the 1979 amateur draft (June Secondary). Player signed June 9, 1979.

  Drafted Freddie Toliver in the 3rd round of the 1979 amateur draft. Player signed June 11, 1979.

  Drafted Greg Gagne in the 5th round of the 1979 amateur draft. Player signed June 23, 1979.

  Drafted Stefan Wever in the 6th round of the 1979 amateur draft.

  Drafted Pete Filson in the 9th round of the 1979 amateur draft.

  Drafted Keith Smith in the 15th round of the 1979 amateur draft.

  Drafted Don Mattingly in the 19th round of the 1979 amateur draft.

• June 15, 1979

  Traded Cliff Johnson to the Cleveland Indians. Received Don Hood.

  Traded Jay Johnstone to the San Diego Padres. Received Dave Wehrmeister.

• June 26, 1979

  Traded Paul Semall (minors) to the Chicago Cubs. Received Bobby Murcer.

• July 10, 1979

  Signed Curt Kaufman as an amateur free agent.

• July 30, 1979

  Traded players to be named later and Mickey Rivers to the Texas Rangers. Received players to be named later, Amos Lewis (minors) and Oscar Gamble. The Texas Rangers sent Ray Fontenot (October 8, 1979) and Gene Nelson (October 8, 1979) to the New York Yankees to complete the trade. The New York Yankees sent Bob Polinsky (minors) (October 8, 1979), Neal Mersch (minors) (October 8, 1979) and Mark Softy (minors) (October 8, 1979) to the Texas Rangers to complete the trade.

• August 3, 1979

  Purchased Lenny Randle from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

• August 20, 1979

  Ray Burris selected by the New York Mets off waivers.

• August 26, 1979

  Signed George Scott as a free agent.

• November 1, 1979

  Don Hood granted Free Agency.

  Jim Kaat granted Free Agency.

  Lenny Randle granted Free Agency.

  George Scott granted Free Agency.

  Roy White granted Free Agency.

  Traded Rick Anderson, Jim Beattie, Juan Beníquez and Jerry Narron to the Seattle Mariners. Received Ruppert Jones and Jim Lewis.

  Traded Chris Chambliss, Dámaso García and Paul Mirabella to the Toronto Blue Jays. Received Rick Cerone, Tom Underwood and Ted Wilborn.

• November 8, 1979

  Signed Rudy May as a free agent.

  Signed Bob Watson as a free agent.

• November 14, 1979

  Traded players to be named later and cash to the Texas Rangers. Received Eric Soderholm. The New York Yankees sent Amos Lewis (minors) (December 13, 1979) and Ricky Burdette (minors) (December 13, 1979) to the Texas Rangers to complete the trade.

• December 10, 1979

  Purchased Andre Robertson from the Toronto Blue Jays.

• January 11, 1980

  Drafted Tom Dodd in the 1st round (7th pick) of the 1980 amateur draft (January Secondary).

• January 24, 1980

  Signed Jim Nettles as a free agent.

• March 10, 1980

  Signed José Canó as an amateur free agent.

• April 1, 1980

  Signed Jim Kaat as a free agent.

  Purchased Marshall Brant from the New York Mets.