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The 1981 season’s official transaction log: 428 trades, signings and releases involving major-league clubs, listed newest first.
| Date | Type | Player | From | To | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 31, 1981 | Trade | Butch Edge | Atlanta Braves | Chicago White Sox | Trade |
| Dec 31, 1981 | Trade | Mike Colbern | Chicago White Sox | Atlanta Braves | Trade |
| Dec 29, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Joaquin Andujar | — | St. Louis Cardinals | Free agent signing |
| Dec 28, 1981 | Trade | Paul Mirabella | Toronto Blue Jays | Chicago Cubs | Trade |
| Dec 28, 1981 | Trade | Hosken Powell | Minnesota Twins | Toronto Blue Jays | Trade |
| Dec 23, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Dave Collins | — | New York Yankees | Free agent signing |
| Dec 19, 1981 | Signed | Ty Van Burkleo | — | Milwaukee Brewers | Amateur free agent signing |
| Dec 18, 1981 | Trade | Cesar Cedeno | Houston Astros | Cincinnati Reds | Trade |
| Dec 18, 1981 | Trade | Ray Knight | Cincinnati Reds | Houston Astros | Trade |
| Dec 17, 1981 | Released | Steve Dillard | Chicago Cubs | — | Release |
| Dec 17, 1981 | Released | Mike Lum | Chicago Cubs | — | Release |
| Dec 16, 1981 | Signed | Andres Thomas | — | Atlanta Braves | Amateur free agent signing |
| Dec 15, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Ron Guidry | — | New York Yankees | Free agent signing |
| Dec 14, 1981 | Released | Dennis Kinney | Detroit Tigers | — | Release |
| Dec 14, 1981 | Trade | Matt Bullinger | Cleveland Indians | New York Mets | Trade |
| Dec 11, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Mark Belanger | — | Los Angeles Dodgers | Free agent signing |
| Dec 11, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Cesar Geronimo | — | Kansas City Royals | Free agent signing |
| Dec 11, 1981 | Signed | Dorn Taylor | — | Pittsburgh Pirates | Amateur free agent signing |
| Dec 11, 1981 | Trade | Clint Hurdle | Kansas City Royals | Cincinnati Reds | Trade |
| Dec 11, 1981 | Trade | Scott Brown | Cincinnati Reds | Kansas City Royals | Trade |
| Dec 11, 1981 | Trade | Brian Harper | California Angels | Pittsburgh Pirates | Trade |
| Dec 11, 1981 | Trade | Tim Foli | Pittsburgh Pirates | California Angels | Trade |
| Dec 11, 1981 | Trade | Tom Griffin | San Francisco Giants | Pittsburgh Pirates | Trade |
| Dec 11, 1981 | Trade | Doe Boyland | Pittsburgh Pirates | San Francisco Giants | Trade |
| Dec 11, 1981 | Trade | Rich Gale | Kansas City Royals | San Francisco Giants | Trade |
| Dec 11, 1981 | Trade | Bill Laskey | Kansas City Royals | San Francisco Giants | Trade |
| Dec 11, 1981 | Trade | Jerry Martin | San Francisco Giants | Kansas City Royals | Trade |
| Dec 11, 1981 | Trade | Unnamed | Montreal Expos | New York Mets | $ |
| Dec 11, 1981 | Trade | Steve Ratzer | Montreal Expos | New York Mets | Trade |
| Dec 11, 1981 | Trade | Frank Taveras | New York Mets | Montreal Expos | Trade |
| Dec 11, 1981 | Trade | Jim Kern | Texas Rangers | New York Mets | Trade |
| Dec 11, 1981 | Trade | Doug Flynn | New York Mets | Texas Rangers | Trade |
| Dec 11, 1981 | Trade | Dan Boitano | New York Mets | Texas Rangers | Trade |
| Dec 11, 1981 | Trade | Tom Paciorek | Seattle Mariners | Chicago White Sox | Trade |
| Dec 11, 1981 | Trade | Todd Cruz | Chicago White Sox | Seattle Mariners | Trade |
| Dec 11, 1981 | Trade | Jim Essian | Chicago White Sox | Seattle Mariners | Trade |
| Dec 11, 1981 | Trade | Rod Allen | Chicago White Sox | Seattle Mariners | Trade |
| Dec 10, 1981 | Trade | Ozzie Smith | San Diego Padres | St. Louis Cardinals | Trade |
| Dec 10, 1981 | Trade | Steve Mura | San Diego Padres | St. Louis Cardinals | Trade |
| Dec 10, 1981 | Trade | Sixto Lezcano | St. Louis Cardinals | San Diego Padres | Trade |
| Dec 10, 1981 | Trade | Garry Templeton | St. Louis Cardinals | San Diego Padres | Trade |
| Dec 9, 1981 | Trade | Freddie Toliver | New York Yankees | Cincinnati Reds | Trade |
| Dec 9, 1981 | Trade | Mike Lebo | Toronto Blue Jays | New York Yankees | Trade |
| Dec 9, 1981 | Trade | Scott Munninghoff | Philadelphia Phillies | Cleveland Indians | Trade |
| Dec 9, 1981 | Trade | Gary Woods | Houston Astros | Chicago Cubs | Trade |
| Dec 9, 1981 | Trade | Jim Tracy | Chicago Cubs | Houston Astros | Trade |
| Dec 9, 1981 | Trade | Dan Schatzeder | Detroit Tigers | San Francisco Giants | Trade |
| Dec 9, 1981 | Trade | Mike Chris | Detroit Tigers | San Francisco Giants | Trade |
| Dec 9, 1981 | Trade | Larry Herndon | San Francisco Giants | Detroit Tigers | Trade |
| Dec 9, 1981 | Trade | Jorge Orta | Cleveland Indians | Los Angeles Dodgers | Trade |
| Dec 9, 1981 | Trade | Larry White | Cleveland Indians | Los Angeles Dodgers | Trade |
| Dec 9, 1981 | Trade | Jack Fimple | Cleveland Indians | Los Angeles Dodgers | Trade |
| Dec 9, 1981 | Trade | Rick Sutcliffe | Los Angeles Dodgers | Cleveland Indians | Trade |
| Dec 9, 1981 | Trade | Jack Perconte | Los Angeles Dodgers | Cleveland Indians | Trade |
| Dec 9, 1981 | Trade | Dan Meyer | Seattle Mariners | Oakland Athletics | Trade |
| Dec 9, 1981 | Trade | Rich Bordi | Oakland Athletics | Seattle Mariners | Trade |
| Dec 9, 1981 | Trade | Rusty McNealy | Seattle Mariners | Oakland Athletics | Trade |
| Dec 9, 1981 | Trade | Tim Hallgren | Seattle Mariners | Oakland Athletics | Trade |
| Dec 9, 1981 | Trade | Roy Thomas | Oakland Athletics | Seattle Mariners | Trade |
| Dec 8, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Bill Campbell | — | Chicago Cubs | Free agent signing |
| Dec 8, 1981 | Signed | Alexis Infante | — | Toronto Blue Jays | Amateur free agent signing |
| Dec 8, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Fergie Jenkins | — | Chicago Cubs | Free agent signing |
| Dec 8, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Jerry Remy | — | Boston Red Sox | Free agent signing |
| Dec 8, 1981 | Trade | Unnamed | Chicago Cubs | Philadelphia Phillies | $ |
| Dec 8, 1981 | Trade | Mike Krukow | Chicago Cubs | Philadelphia Phillies | Trade |
| Dec 8, 1981 | Trade | Keith Moreland | Philadelphia Phillies | Chicago Cubs | Trade |
| Dec 8, 1981 | Trade | Dan Larson | Philadelphia Phillies | Chicago Cubs | Trade |
| Dec 8, 1981 | Trade | Dickie Noles | Philadelphia Phillies | Chicago Cubs | Trade |
| Dec 7, 1981 | Trade | Allen Ripley | San Francisco Giants | Chicago Cubs | Trade |
| Dec 7, 1981 | Trade | Doug Capilla | Chicago Cubs | San Francisco Giants | Trade |
| Dec 6, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Buck Martinez | — | Toronto Blue Jays | Free agent signing |
| Dec 4, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Joe Rudi | — | Oakland Athletics | Free agent signing |
| Dec 2, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Rick Monday | — | Los Angeles Dodgers | Free agent signing |
| Dec 1, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Jose Cano | — | Atlanta Braves | Free agent signing |
| Nov 27, 1981 | Released | Danny Ainge | Toronto Blue Jays | — | Release |
| Nov 27, 1981 | Released | Danny Goodwin | Minnesota Twins | — | Release |
| Nov 27, 1981 | Signed | Mike Hartley | — | St. Louis Cardinals | Amateur free agent signing |
| Nov 27, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Mike Vail | — | Cincinnati Reds | Free agent signing |
| Nov 27, 1981 | Trade | Steve Kemp | Detroit Tigers | Chicago White Sox | Trade |
| Nov 27, 1981 | Trade | Chet Lemon | Chicago White Sox | Detroit Tigers | Trade |
| Nov 25, 1981 | Released | Ken Brett | Kansas City Royals | — | Release |
| Nov 20, 1981 | Trade | Bo Diaz | Cleveland Indians | Philadelphia Phillies | Trade |
| Nov 20, 1981 | Trade | Lonnie Smith | Philadelphia Phillies | St. Louis Cardinals | Trade |
| Nov 20, 1981 | Trade | Lary Sorensen | St. Louis Cardinals | Cleveland Indians | Trade |
| Nov 20, 1981 | Trade | Silvio Martinez | St. Louis Cardinals | Cleveland Indians | Trade |
| Nov 17, 1981 | Trade | Aurelio Rodriguez | New York Yankees | Toronto Blue Jays | Trade |
| Nov 14, 1981 | Trade | Duane Kuiper | Cleveland Indians | San Francisco Giants | Trade |
| Nov 14, 1981 | Trade | Ed Whitson | San Francisco Giants | Cleveland Indians | Trade |
| Nov 6, 1981 | Signed | Ruben Rodriguez | — | Pittsburgh Pirates | Amateur free agent signing |
| Nov 4, 1981 | Trade | Brian Ryder | New York Yankees | Cincinnati Reds | Trade |
| Nov 4, 1981 | Trade | Ken Griffey | Cincinnati Reds | New York Yankees | Trade |
| Nov 2, 1981 | Signed | Van Snider | — | Kansas City Royals | Amateur free agent signing |
| Oct 31, 1981 | Signed | Jose Mesa | — | Toronto Blue Jays | Amateur free agent signing |
| Oct 30, 1981 | Signed | Chris James | — | Philadelphia Phillies | Amateur free agent signing |
| Oct 30, 1981 | Trade | Dewey Robinson | Chicago White Sox | Philadelphia Phillies | Trade |
| Oct 30, 1981 | Trade | Gary Holle | Chicago White Sox | Philadelphia Phillies | Trade |
| Oct 30, 1981 | Trade | Jose Castro | Philadelphia Phillies | Chicago White Sox | Trade |
| Oct 27, 1981 | Released | Dyar Miller | New York Mets | — | Release |
| Oct 26, 1981 | Released | Kurt Bevacqua | Pittsburgh Pirates | — | Release |
| Oct 23, 1981 | Released | Rick Auerbach | Seattle Mariners | — | Release |
| Oct 23, 1981 | Released | Bobby Bonds | Chicago Cubs | — | Release |
| Oct 23, 1981 | Trade | Rickey Keeton | Milwaukee Brewers | Houston Astros | Trade |
| Oct 23, 1981 | Trade | Pete Ladd | Houston Astros | Milwaukee Brewers | Trade |
| Oct 23, 1981 | Trade | Mike Kinnunen | Minnesota Twins | St. Louis Cardinals | Trade |
| Oct 23, 1981 | Trade | Jeff Little | St. Louis Cardinals | Minnesota Twins | Trade |
| Oct 23, 1981 | Trade | Manny Castillo | Kansas City Royals | Seattle Mariners | Trade |
| Oct 21, 1981 | Trade | Willie McGee | New York Yankees | St. Louis Cardinals | Trade |
| Oct 21, 1981 | Trade | Bob Sykes | St. Louis Cardinals | New York Yankees | Trade |
| Oct 20, 1981 | Trade | Rick Lysander | Oakland Athletics | Houston Astros | Trade |
| Oct 20, 1981 | Trade | Dave Rajsich | Texas Rangers | Philadelphia Phillies | Trade |
| Oct 20, 1981 | Trade | Ramon Aviles | Philadelphia Phillies | Texas Rangers | Trade |
| Oct 15, 1981 | Released | Bob Davis | California Angels | — | Release |
| Oct 14, 1981 | Released | Jerry Grote | Los Angeles Dodgers | — | Release |
| Oct 14, 1981 | Released | Jim Otten | St. Louis Cardinals | — | Release |
| Oct 13, 1981 | Released | Eric Soderholm | New York Yankees | — | Release |
| Oct 12, 1981 | Released | Mike Marshall | New York Mets | — | Release |
| Oct 5, 1981 | Released | Mark Fidrych | Detroit Tigers | — | Release |
| Oct 5, 1981 | Released | Gaylord Perry | Atlanta Braves | — | Release |
| Oct 5, 1981 | Released | Luis Tiant | Pittsburgh Pirates | — | Release |
| Sep 28, 1981 | Trade | Jim Lentine | Cleveland Indians | Houston Astros | Trade |
| Sep 25, 1981 | Released | Doug Rau | California Angels | — | Release |
| Sep 22, 1981 | Signed | Luis Rivera | — | Montreal Expos | Amateur free agent signing |
| Sep 10, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Nino Espinosa | — | Toronto Blue Jays | Free agent signing |
| Sep 10, 1981 | Signed | Balvino Galvez | — | Los Angeles Dodgers | Amateur free agent signing |
| Sep 10, 1981 | Trade | Neil Fiala | St. Louis Cardinals | Cincinnati Reds | Trade |
| Sep 10, 1981 | Trade | Joe Edelen | St. Louis Cardinals | Cincinnati Reds | Trade |
| Sep 10, 1981 | Trade | Doug Bair | Cincinnati Reds | St. Louis Cardinals | Trade |
| Sep 9, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Ted Cox | — | Toronto Blue Jays | Free agent signing |
| Sep 9, 1981 | Trade | Randy Niemann | Houston Astros | Pittsburgh Pirates | Trade |
| Sep 9, 1981 | Trade | Kevin Houston | Houston Astros | Pittsburgh Pirates | Trade |
| Sep 8, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Jerry Grote | — | Los Angeles Dodgers | Free agent signing |
| Sep 8, 1981 | Released | Tom Hutton | Montreal Expos | — | Release |
| Sep 4, 1981 | Released | Jim Barr | Chicago White Sox | — | Release |
| Sep 4, 1981 | Trade | Tim Corcoran | Detroit Tigers | Minnesota Twins | Trade |
| Sep 2, 1981 | Trade | Randy Johnson | Chicago White Sox | Minnesota Twins | Trade |
| Sep 1, 1981 | Released | Francisco Barrios | Chicago White Sox | — | Release |
| Sep 1, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Joe Ferguson | — | California Angels | Free agent signing |
| Sep 1, 1981 | Released | Jerry Grote | Kansas City Royals | — | Release |
| Aug 31, 1981 | Released | Nino Espinosa | Philadelphia Phillies | — | Release |
| Aug 31, 1981 | Released | Pepe Frias | Los Angeles Dodgers | — | Release |
| Aug 31, 1981 | Trade | Johnny Ray | Houston Astros | Pittsburgh Pirates | Trade |
| Aug 31, 1981 | Trade | Phil Garner | Pittsburgh Pirates | Houston Astros | Trade |
| Aug 30, 1981 | Trade | Unnamed | Chicago White Sox | Minnesota Twins | $ |
| Aug 30, 1981 | Trade | Jerry Koosman | Minnesota Twins | Chicago White Sox | Trade |
| Aug 30, 1981 | Trade | Bambi Mesa | Chicago White Sox | Minnesota Twins | Trade |
| Aug 30, 1981 | Trade | Ron Perry | Chicago White Sox | Minnesota Twins | Trade |
| Aug 27, 1981 | Released | Bill Bonham | Cincinnati Reds | — | Release |
| Aug 27, 1981 | Released | Tim Hosley | Oakland Athletics | — | Release |
| Aug 24, 1981 | Signed | Keith Hughes | — | Philadelphia Phillies | Amateur free agent signing |
| Aug 24, 1981 | Released | John Vukovich | Philadelphia Phillies | — | Release |
| Aug 23, 1981 | Trade | Ron Jackson | Minnesota Twins | Detroit Tigers | Trade |
| Aug 20, 1981 | Trade | Willie Montanez | Montreal Expos | Pittsburgh Pirates | Trade |
| Aug 20, 1981 | Trade | John Milner | Pittsburgh Pirates | Montreal Expos | Trade |
| Aug 19, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Mike Marshall | — | New York Mets | Free agent signing |
| Aug 19, 1981 | Trade | Pat Tabler | New York Yankees | Chicago Cubs | Trade |
| Aug 18, 1981 | Released | Larry Cox | Texas Rangers | — | Release |
| Aug 15, 1981 | Trade | Lynn McGlothen | Chicago Cubs | Chicago White Sox | Trade |
| Aug 13, 1981 | Released | Joe Ferguson | Los Angeles Dodgers | — | Release |
| Aug 13, 1981 | Released | Ross Grimsley | Cleveland Indians | — | Release |
| Aug 11, 1981 | Signed | Greg Jelks | — | Philadelphia Phillies | Amateur free agent signing |
| Aug 11, 1981 | Trade | Mike Turgeon | Chicago Cubs | San Francisco Giants | Trade |
| Aug 8, 1981 | Released | Bill Nahorodny | Atlanta Braves | — | Release |
| Aug 5, 1981 | Trade | Mike Griffin | New York Yankees | Chicago Cubs | Trade |
| Aug 4, 1981 | Released | Randy Moffitt | San Francisco Giants | — | Release |
| Aug 4, 1981 | Released | Bill North | San Francisco Giants | — | Release |
| Aug 3, 1981 | Released | Mike Sadek | San Francisco Giants | — | Release |
| Jul 18, 1981 | Signed as free agent | George Riley | — | Chicago White Sox | Free agent signing |
| Jul 18, 1981 | Signed | DeWayne Vaughn | — | New York Mets | Amateur free agent signing |
| Jul 12, 1981 | Signed | Mike LaValliere | — | Philadelphia Phillies | Amateur free agent signing |
| Jul 11, 1981 | Signed | Bobby Bonilla | — | Pittsburgh Pirates | Amateur free agent signing |
| Jul 8, 1981 | Released | Paul Hartzell | Milwaukee Brewers | — | Release |
| Jul 6, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Jim Barr | — | Chicago White Sox | Free agent signing |
| Jun 25, 1981 | Signed | Denny Gonzalez | — | Pittsburgh Pirates | Amateur free agent signing |
| Jun 22, 1981 | Signed | Jose Segura | — | Philadelphia Phillies | Amateur free agent signing |
| Jun 20, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Bernie Carbo | — | Detroit Tigers | Free agent signing |
| Jun 18, 1981 | Signed | T. R. Bryden | — | California Angels | Amateur free agent signing |
| Jun 15, 1981 | Signed | Luis Aquino | — | Toronto Blue Jays | Amateur free agent signing |
| Jun 15, 1981 | Signed | Bill Latham | — | New York Mets | Amateur free agent signing |
| Jun 15, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Elliott Maddox | — | Philadelphia Phillies | Free agent signing |
| Jun 15, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Dave Roberts | — | San Francisco Giants | Free agent signing |
| Jun 14, 1981 | Signed | Paul Wilmet | — | New York Mets | Amateur free agent signing |
| Jun 12, 1981 | Trade | Unnamed | New York Yankees | Chicago Cubs | $400000 |
| Jun 12, 1981 | Trade | Doug Bird | New York Yankees | Chicago Cubs | Trade |
| Jun 12, 1981 | Trade | Rick Reuschel | Chicago Cubs | New York Yankees | Trade |
| Jun 10, 1981 | Released | Adrian Devine | Texas Rangers | — | Release |
| Jun 8, 1981 | Trade | Rafael Landestoy | Houston Astros | Cincinnati Reds | Trade |
| Jun 8, 1981 | Trade | Harry Spilman | Cincinnati Reds | Houston Astros | Trade |
| Jun 7, 1981 | Trade | George Frazier | St. Louis Cardinals | New York Yankees | Trade |
| Jun 7, 1981 | Trade | Joaquin Andujar | Houston Astros | St. Louis Cardinals | Trade |
| Jun 7, 1981 | Trade | Tony Scott | St. Louis Cardinals | Houston Astros | Trade |
| Jun 2, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Ed Figueroa | — | Oakland Athletics | Free agent signing |
| May 30, 1981 | Signed | Hipolito Peña | — | Milwaukee Brewers | Amateur free agent signing |
| May 29, 1981 | Trade | Ellis Valentine | Montreal Expos | New York Mets | Trade |
| May 29, 1981 | Trade | Jeff Reardon | New York Mets | Montreal Expos | Trade |
| May 29, 1981 | Trade | Dan Norman | New York Mets | Montreal Expos | Trade |
| May 28, 1981 | Released | Ted Cox | Seattle Mariners | — | Release |
| May 27, 1981 | Released | Dave Roberts | New York Mets | — | Release |
| May 26, 1981 | Signed | Junior Noboa | — | Cleveland Indians | Amateur free agent signing |
| May 26, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Nate Snell | — | Baltimore Orioles | Free agent signing |
| May 25, 1981 | Released | Ed Figueroa | Texas Rangers | — | Release |
| May 23, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Paul Gibson | — | Detroit Tigers | Free agent signing |
| May 23, 1981 | Signed | Jose Roman | — | Cleveland Indians | Amateur free agent signing |
| May 20, 1981 | Trade | Dave Revering | Oakland Athletics | New York Yankees | Trade |
| May 20, 1981 | Trade | Mike Patterson | Oakland Athletics | New York Yankees | Trade |
| May 20, 1981 | Trade | Chuck Dougherty | Oakland Athletics | New York Yankees | Trade |
| May 20, 1981 | Trade | Jim Spencer | New York Yankees | Oakland Athletics | Trade |
| May 20, 1981 | Trade | Tom Underwood | New York Yankees | Oakland Athletics | Trade |
| May 18, 1981 | Released | Duffy Dyer | Detroit Tigers | — | Release |
| May 18, 1981 | Trade | Brad Gulden | Seattle Mariners | New York Yankees | Trade |
| May 17, 1981 | Signed | Orestes Destrade | — | New York Yankees | Amateur free agent signing |
| May 17, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Mike Lum | — | Chicago Cubs | Free agent signing |
| May 17, 1981 | Signed | Phil Ouellette | — | San Francisco Giants | Amateur free agent signing |
| May 11, 1981 | Signed | Mike Smith | — | Cincinnati Reds | Amateur free agent signing |
| May 10, 1981 | Trade | Gil Kubski | Toronto Blue Jays | Milwaukee Brewers | Trade |
| May 10, 1981 | Trade | Buck Martinez | Milwaukee Brewers | Toronto Blue Jays | Trade |
| May 4, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Willie Horton | — | Pittsburgh Pirates | Free agent signing |
| May 1, 1981 | Released | Mike Lum | Atlanta Braves | — | Release |
| Apr 30, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Mike Warren | — | Oakland Athletics | Free agent signing |
| Apr 30, 1981 | Trade | Dave Stegman | San Diego Padres | New York Yankees | Trade |
| Apr 29, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Bill Lyons | — | St. Louis Cardinals | Free agent signing |
| Apr 28, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Bob Davis | — | California Angels | Free agent signing |
| Apr 27, 1981 | Signed | Bill Lindsey | — | New York Yankees | Amateur free agent signing |
| Apr 27, 1981 | Trade | Unnamed | New York Yankees | Chicago Cubs | $ |
| Apr 27, 1981 | Trade | Tom Filer | New York Yankees | Chicago Cubs | Trade |
| Apr 27, 1981 | Trade | Barry Foote | Chicago Cubs | New York Yankees | Trade |
| Apr 25, 1981 | Signed | Jose Bautista | — | New York Mets | Amateur free agent signing |
| Apr 22, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Chuck Hensley | — | Oakland Athletics | Free agent signing |
| Apr 22, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Doug Rau | — | California Angels | Free agent signing |
| Apr 20, 1981 | Released | Dave Rader | California Angels | — | Release |
| Apr 20, 1981 | Trade | Dave Bergman | Houston Astros | San Francisco Giants | Trade |
| Apr 20, 1981 | Trade | Jeffrey Leonard | Houston Astros | San Francisco Giants | Trade |
| Apr 20, 1981 | Trade | Mike Ivie | San Francisco Giants | Houston Astros | Trade |
| Apr 19, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Ron Pruitt | — | Cleveland Indians | Free agent signing |
| Apr 17, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Bobby Bonds | — | Texas Rangers | Free agent signing |
| Apr 17, 1981 | Signed as free agent | David Clyde | — | Houston Astros | Free agent signing |
| Apr 17, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Dave LaRoche | — | New York Yankees | Free agent signing |
| Apr 17, 1981 | Released | Don Stanhouse | Los Angeles Dodgers | — | Release |
| Apr 14, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Chris Codiroli | — | Oakland Athletics | Free agent signing |
| Apr 14, 1981 | Trade | Charlie Puleo | Toronto Blue Jays | New York Mets | Trade |
| Apr 10, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Gorman Heimueller | — | Oakland Athletics | Free agent signing |
| Apr 10, 1981 | Trade | Ernie Camacho | Oakland Athletics | Pittsburgh Pirates | Trade |
| Apr 9, 1981 | Released | Dell Alston | Cleveland Indians | — | Release |
| Apr 9, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Dave Heaverlo | — | Oakland Athletics | Free agent signing |
| Apr 9, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Jim Lentine | — | Cleveland Indians | Free agent signing |
| Apr 9, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Bo McLaughlin | — | Oakland Athletics | Free agent signing |
| Apr 8, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Bob Galasso | — | Seattle Mariners | Free agent signing |
| Apr 8, 1981 | Released | Paul Gibson | Cincinnati Reds | — | Release |
| Apr 8, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Jamie Nelson | — | Seattle Mariners | Free agent signing |
| Apr 8, 1981 | Trade | Manny Sarmiento | Seattle Mariners | Boston Red Sox | Trade |
| Apr 8, 1981 | Trade | Dick Drago | Boston Red Sox | Seattle Mariners | Trade |
| Apr 7, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Ted Cox | — | Seattle Mariners | Free agent signing |
| Apr 7, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Jerry Grote | — | Kansas City Royals | Free agent signing |
| Apr 7, 1981 | Released | Ron Pruitt | Chicago White Sox | — | Release |
| Apr 6, 1981 | Released | Skip Lockwood | Boston Red Sox | — | Release |
| Apr 6, 1981 | Released | John Montague | Toronto Blue Jays | — | Release |
| Apr 6, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Johnny Oates | — | New York Yankees | Free agent signing |
| Apr 6, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Lenny Randle | — | Seattle Mariners | Free agent signing |
| Apr 6, 1981 | Released | Leroy Stanton | Toronto Blue Jays | — | Release |
| Apr 6, 1981 | Trade | Unnamed | Oakland Athletics | Pittsburgh Pirates | $ |
| Apr 6, 1981 | Trade | Bob Owchinko | Pittsburgh Pirates | Oakland Athletics | Trade |
| Apr 6, 1981 | Trade | Ed Glynn | New York Mets | Cleveland Indians | Trade |
| Apr 6, 1981 | Trade | Unnamed | Toronto Blue Jays | New York Mets | $ |
| Apr 6, 1981 | Trade | Mark Bomback | New York Mets | Toronto Blue Jays | Trade |
| Apr 6, 1981 | Trade | Byron Ballard | New York Yankees | San Diego Padres | Trade |
| Apr 5, 1981 | Trade | Dave Dravecky | Pittsburgh Pirates | San Diego Padres | Trade |
| Apr 5, 1981 | Trade | Bobby Mitchell | San Diego Padres | Pittsburgh Pirates | Trade |
| Apr 4, 1981 | Released | Dave Cash | San Diego Padres | — | Release |
| Apr 4, 1981 | Released | Bill Lyons | Milwaukee Brewers | — | Release |
| Apr 3, 1981 | Released | Chris Codiroli | Detroit Tigers | — | Release |
| Apr 3, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Julio Gonzalez | — | St. Louis Cardinals | Free agent signing |
| Apr 3, 1981 | Released | Chuck Hensley | Detroit Tigers | — | Release |
| Apr 3, 1981 | Released | Jamie Nelson | New York Mets | — | Release |
| Apr 3, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Bombo Rivera | — | Kansas City Royals | Free agent signing |
| Apr 3, 1981 | Trade | Stan Hough | New York Mets | Houston Astros | Trade |
| Apr 3, 1981 | Trade | Randy Rogers | New York Mets | Houston Astros | Trade |
| Apr 3, 1981 | Trade | Unnamed | Cleveland Indians | Houston Astros | $ |
| Apr 3, 1981 | Trade | Mike Fischlin | Houston Astros | Cleveland Indians | Trade |
| Apr 3, 1981 | Trade | Gary Rajsich | Houston Astros | New York Mets | Trade |
| Apr 3, 1981 | Trade | John Csefalvay | New York Mets | Houston Astros | Trade |
| Apr 2, 1981 | Released | Fred Norman | Montreal Expos | — | Release |
| Apr 2, 1981 | Released | Tom Romano | Kansas City Royals | — | Release |
| Apr 2, 1981 | Released | Jerry Terrell | Kansas City Royals | — | Release |
| Apr 2, 1981 | Released | Mike Warren | Detroit Tigers | — | Release |
| Apr 1, 1981 | Released | Jim Barr | California Angels | — | Release |
| Apr 1, 1981 | Released | Mario Guerrero | Seattle Mariners | — | Release |
| Apr 1, 1981 | Released | Willie Horton | Texas Rangers | — | Release |
| Apr 1, 1981 | Released | Dave LaRoche | California Angels | — | Release |
| Apr 1, 1981 | Released | Paul Mitchell | Milwaukee Brewers | — | Release |
| Apr 1, 1981 | Released | John Tamargo | Montreal Expos | — | Release |
| Apr 1, 1981 | Signed | Tom Waddell | — | Atlanta Braves | Amateur free agent signing |
| Apr 1, 1981 | Trade | John Poff | Milwaukee Brewers | Chicago White Sox | Trade |
| Apr 1, 1981 | Trade | Thad Bosley | Chicago White Sox | Milwaukee Brewers | Trade |
| Apr 1, 1981 | Trade | Mike Proly | Chicago White Sox | Philadelphia Phillies | Trade |
| Apr 1, 1981 | Trade | Jay Loviglio | Philadelphia Phillies | Chicago White Sox | Trade |
| Apr 1, 1981 | Trade | Jason Thompson | California Angels | Pittsburgh Pirates | Trade |
| Apr 1, 1981 | Trade | Ed Ott | Pittsburgh Pirates | California Angels | Trade |
| Apr 1, 1981 | Trade | Mickey Mahler | Pittsburgh Pirates | California Angels | Trade |
| Apr 1, 1981 | Trade | Dickie Thon | California Angels | Houston Astros | Trade |
| Apr 1, 1981 | Trade | Ken Forsch | Houston Astros | California Angels | Trade |
| Apr 1, 1981 | Trade | Unnamed | Houston Astros | Baltimore Orioles | $ |
| Apr 1, 1981 | Trade | Kiko Garcia | Baltimore Orioles | Houston Astros | Trade |
| Apr 1, 1981 | Trade | Chris Bourjos | Houston Astros | Baltimore Orioles | Trade |
| Apr 1, 1981 | Trade | Juan Bonilla | Cleveland Indians | San Diego Padres | Trade |
| Apr 1, 1981 | Trade | Bob Lacey | San Diego Padres | Cleveland Indians | Trade |
| Mar 31, 1981 | Released | Gorman Heimueller | San Francisco Giants | — | Release |
| Mar 31, 1981 | Released | Byron McLaughlin | Minnesota Twins | — | Release |
| Mar 31, 1981 | Released | Dave Skaggs | Seattle Mariners | — | Release |
| Mar 31, 1981 | Trade | Marvell Wynne | Kansas City Royals | New York Mets | Trade |
| Mar 31, 1981 | Trade | John Skinner | Kansas City Royals | New York Mets | Trade |
| Mar 31, 1981 | Trade | Juan Berenguer | New York Mets | Kansas City Royals | Trade |
| Mar 31, 1981 | Trade | Ruppert Jones | New York Yankees | San Diego Padres | Trade |
| Mar 31, 1981 | Trade | Joe Lefebvre | New York Yankees | San Diego Padres | Trade |
| Mar 31, 1981 | Trade | Tim Lollar | New York Yankees | San Diego Padres | Trade |
| Mar 31, 1981 | Trade | Chris Welsh | New York Yankees | San Diego Padres | Trade |
| Mar 31, 1981 | Trade | Jerry Mumphrey | San Diego Padres | New York Yankees | Trade |
| Mar 31, 1981 | Trade | John Pacella | San Diego Padres | New York Yankees | Trade |
| Mar 30, 1981 | Released | Alan Wirth | Oakland Athletics | — | Release |
| Mar 30, 1981 | Trade | Ken Landreaux | Minnesota Twins | Los Angeles Dodgers | Trade |
| Mar 30, 1981 | Trade | Mickey Hatcher | Los Angeles Dodgers | Minnesota Twins | Trade |
| Mar 30, 1981 | Trade | Mathew Reeves | Los Angeles Dodgers | Minnesota Twins | Trade |
| Mar 30, 1981 | Trade | Kelly Snider | Los Angeles Dodgers | Minnesota Twins | Trade |
| Mar 29, 1981 | Released | Jim Lentine | Detroit Tigers | — | Release |
| Mar 28, 1981 | Released | Mike Bacsik | Seattle Mariners | — | Release |
| Mar 28, 1981 | Trade | Ken Kravec | Chicago White Sox | Chicago Cubs | Trade |
| Mar 28, 1981 | Trade | Dennis Lamp | Chicago Cubs | Chicago White Sox | Trade |
| Mar 27, 1981 | Released | Julio Gonzalez | Houston Astros | — | Release |
| Mar 27, 1981 | Released | Eric Rasmussen | San Diego Padres | — | Release |
| Mar 27, 1981 | Released | Bombo Rivera | Minnesota Twins | — | Release |
| Mar 27, 1981 | Released | Nate Snell | San Francisco Giants | — | Release |
| Mar 27, 1981 | Trade | Bob Lacey | Oakland Athletics | San Diego Padres | Trade |
| Mar 27, 1981 | Trade | Roy Moretti | Oakland Athletics | San Diego Padres | Trade |
| Mar 27, 1981 | Trade | Kevin Bell | San Diego Padres | Oakland Athletics | Trade |
| Mar 27, 1981 | Trade | Tony Phillips | San Diego Padres | Oakland Athletics | Trade |
| Mar 27, 1981 | Trade | Eric Mustad | San Diego Padres | Oakland Athletics | Trade |
| Mar 26, 1981 | Released | Ted Cox | Seattle Mariners | — | Release |
| Mar 26, 1981 | Released | Rob Dressler | Seattle Mariners | — | Release |
| Mar 26, 1981 | Released | Dave Heaverlo | Seattle Mariners | — | Release |
| Mar 26, 1981 | Signed | Stan Javier | — | St. Louis Cardinals | Amateur free agent signing |
| Mar 26, 1981 | Released | Willie Norwood | Seattle Mariners | — | Release |
| Mar 26, 1981 | Trade | Rod Craig | Seattle Mariners | Cleveland Indians | Trade |
| Mar 26, 1981 | Trade | Wayne Cage | Cleveland Indians | Seattle Mariners | Trade |
| Mar 25, 1981 | Trade | Gary Matthews | Atlanta Braves | Philadelphia Phillies | Trade |
| Mar 25, 1981 | Trade | Bob Walk | Philadelphia Phillies | Atlanta Braves | Trade |
| Mar 24, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Glenn Borgmann | — | Cleveland Indians | Free agent signing |
| Mar 22, 1981 | Signed | Tony Walker | — | Cincinnati Reds | Amateur free agent signing |
| Mar 21, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Dan Briggs | — | Montreal Expos | Free agent signing |
| Mar 20, 1981 | Released | Bob Galasso | Milwaukee Brewers | — | Release |
| Mar 18, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Carlton Fisk | — | Chicago White Sox | Free agent signing |
| Mar 13, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Cliff Speck | — | Baltimore Orioles | Free agent signing |
| Mar 8, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Mick Kelleher | — | Chicago Cubs | Free agent signing |
| Mar 7, 1981 | Trade | Carlos Diaz | Seattle Mariners | Atlanta Braves | Trade |
| Mar 7, 1981 | Trade | Jeff Burroughs | Atlanta Braves | Seattle Mariners | Trade |
| Mar 3, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Steve Braun | — | St. Louis Cardinals | Free agent signing |
| Mar 2, 1981 | Released | Orlando Gonzalez | Oakland Athletics | — | Release |
| Mar 2, 1981 | Signed as free agent | John Montague | — | Toronto Blue Jays | Free agent signing |
| Mar 1, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Ed Figueroa | — | Texas Rangers | Free agent signing |
| Mar 1, 1981 | Trade | Dick Davis | Milwaukee Brewers | Philadelphia Phillies | Trade |
| Mar 1, 1981 | Trade | Randy Lerch | Philadelphia Phillies | Milwaukee Brewers | Trade |
| Feb 28, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Don Hood | — | Kansas City Royals | Free agent signing |
| Feb 28, 1981 | Trade | Unnamed | New York Mets | Chicago Cubs | $ |
| Feb 28, 1981 | Trade | Steve Henderson | New York Mets | Chicago Cubs | Trade |
| Feb 28, 1981 | Trade | Dave Kingman | Chicago Cubs | New York Mets | Trade |
| Feb 27, 1981 | Released | Dan Briggs | Montreal Expos | — | Release |
| Feb 26, 1981 | Released | George Riley | Chicago Cubs | — | Release |
| Feb 23, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Jay Pettibone | — | Minnesota Twins | Free agent signing |
| Feb 23, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Luis Tiant | — | Pittsburgh Pirates | Free agent signing |
| Feb 21, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Paul Hartzell | — | Milwaukee Brewers | Free agent signing |
| Feb 18, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Ray Burris | — | Montreal Expos | Free agent signing |
| Feb 18, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Dave Hudgens | — | Oakland Athletics | Free agent signing |
| Feb 18, 1981 | Released | Manny Sanguillen | Cleveland Indians | — | Release |
| Feb 17, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Bill Castro | — | New York Yankees | Free agent signing |
| Feb 17, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Jerry Morales | — | Chicago Cubs | Free agent signing |
| Feb 17, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Dave Skaggs | — | Seattle Mariners | Free agent signing |
| Feb 17, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Dave Tomlin | — | Toronto Blue Jays | Free agent signing |
| Feb 16, 1981 | Trade | Greg Keatley | Chicago Cubs | Kansas City Royals | Trade |
| Feb 16, 1981 | Trade | Dennis Webb | Kansas City Royals | Chicago Cubs | Trade |
| Feb 16, 1981 | Trade | Rafael Santana | New York Yankees | St. Louis Cardinals | Trade |
| Feb 12, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Marc Hill | — | Chicago White Sox | Free agent signing |
| Feb 12, 1981 | Released | Doug Rau | Los Angeles Dodgers | — | Release |
| Feb 11, 1981 | Trade | Bruce Bochy | Houston Astros | New York Mets | Trade |
| Feb 10, 1981 | Signed | Jose Guzman | — | Texas Rangers | Amateur free agent signing |
| Feb 10, 1981 | Released | John Montague | California Angels | — | Release |
| Feb 10, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Jim Umbarger | — | Baltimore Orioles | Free agent signing |
| Feb 10, 1981 | Trade | Jimmy Sexton | Houston Astros | Oakland Athletics | Trade |
| Feb 9, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Joe Morgan | — | San Francisco Giants | Free agent signing |
| Feb 7, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Bill Landrum | — | Cincinnati Reds | Free agent signing |
| Feb 6, 1981 | Trade | Gil Kubski | California Angels | Toronto Blue Jays | Trade |
| Feb 6, 1981 | Trade | Don Pisker | Toronto Blue Jays | California Angels | Trade |
| Feb 5, 1981 | Released | Elliott Maddox | New York Mets | — | Release |
| Feb 4, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Bill Almon | — | Chicago White Sox | Free agent signing |
| Feb 3, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Bruce Boisclair | — | Toronto Blue Jays | Free agent signing |
| Feb 3, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Marshall Brant | — | New York Yankees | Free agent signing |
| Feb 3, 1981 | Released | Bo McLaughlin | Atlanta Braves | — | Release |
| Feb 3, 1981 | Signed | Oswaldo Peraza | — | Toronto Blue Jays | Amateur free agent signing |
| Feb 3, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Leroy Stanton | — | Toronto Blue Jays | Free agent signing |
| Feb 2, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Dave Rader | — | California Angels | Free agent signing |
| Feb 2, 1981 | Released | Dave Skaggs | California Angels | — | Release |
| Jan 27, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Steve Busby | — | St. Louis Cardinals | Free agent signing |
| Jan 26, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Jesse Jefferson | — | California Angels | Free agent signing |
| Jan 26, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Bill Travers | — | California Angels | Free agent signing |
| Jan 23, 1981 | Signed as free agent | John Milner | — | Pittsburgh Pirates | Free agent signing |
| Jan 23, 1981 | Trade | Frank Tanana | California Angels | Boston Red Sox | Trade |
| Jan 23, 1981 | Trade | Jim Dorsey | California Angels | Boston Red Sox | Trade |
| Jan 23, 1981 | Trade | Joe Rudi | California Angels | Boston Red Sox | Trade |
| Jan 23, 1981 | Trade | Fred Lynn | Boston Red Sox | California Angels | Trade |
| Jan 23, 1981 | Trade | Steve Renko | Boston Red Sox | California Angels | Trade |
| Jan 22, 1981 | Trade | Joe Kerrigan | Baltimore Orioles | Cincinnati Reds | Trade |
| Jan 22, 1981 | Trade | John Buffamoyer | Baltimore Orioles | Cincinnati Reds | Trade |
| Jan 22, 1981 | Trade | Mike Grace | Cincinnati Reds | Baltimore Orioles | Trade |
| Jan 22, 1981 | Trade | John Hale | Cincinnati Reds | Baltimore Orioles | Trade |
| Jan 21, 1981 | Trade | German Barranca | Kansas City Royals | Cincinnati Reds | Trade |
| Jan 21, 1981 | Trade | Cesar Geronimo | Cincinnati Reds | Kansas City Royals | Trade |
| Jan 20, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Dale Murray | — | Toronto Blue Jays | Free agent signing |
| Jan 20, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Rusty Torres | — | Pittsburgh Pirates | Free agent signing |
| Jan 19, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Larvell Blanks | — | Pittsburgh Pirates | Free agent signing |
| Jan 17, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Jim Nettles | — | Oakland Athletics | Free agent signing |
| Jan 15, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Kevin Bell | — | San Diego Padres | Free agent signing |
| Jan 15, 1981 | Released | Cliff Speck | Philadelphia Phillies | — | Release |
| Jan 12, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Larry Biittner | — | Cincinnati Reds | Free agent signing |
| Jan 12, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Gaylord Perry | — | Atlanta Braves | Free agent signing |
| Jan 10, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Dave Hamilton | — | Oakland Athletics | Free agent signing |
| Jan 8, 1981 | Released | Dave Hudgens | Cleveland Indians | — | Release |
| Jan 7, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Rawly Eastwick | — | Chicago Cubs | Free agent signing |
| Jan 6, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Derek Botelho | — | Kansas City Royals | Free agent signing |
| Jan 5, 1981 | Released | Jim Nettles | New York Yankees | — | Release |
| Jan 5, 1981 | Signed | Gus Polidor | — | California Angels | Amateur free agent signing |
| Jan 5, 1981 | Signed as free agent | Dave Roberts | — | New York Mets | Free agent signing |
| before the 1981 season | Released | Jim Umbarger | Texas Rangers | — | Release |
Every row is mapped onto the same trade / signing / release vocabulary the modern feed uses, with the era’s own type description kept on each row. Club names are the names of the day (the Boston Braves years, the Brooklyn Dodgers years), and each links to the franchise it is today. Some dates are only partially known or flagged approximate by the source; they are shown exactly as published, never completed to a fake precise day.