MLB Bullets Is Staying Home Today

I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday. There was a little baseball news since Tuesday night.

• The big news since the last MLB Bullets is that the Twins agreed to a four year, $49 million deal with Ricky Nolasco. It's the largest free agent contract in Twins history.
• Nolasco announced the signing by changing his Twitter avatar to the "TC" of the Twins.
• The Twins aren't done with the free agent market yet as their next target is rumored to be Phil Hughes.
• They won't have any competition from the Mets as they're out on Hughes.
• The other big news of the past two days is that Ryan Braun appeared at a charity food drive and took questions afterwards. The big news was that he and his fiancée had dinner with Dino Laurenzi Jr., the sample collector from his earlier positive test. Braun didn't offer any specifics, but he did say he was "deeply remorseful." You can read the transcript of his comments here.
• Following up on the earlier story about the Nationals requesting a $300 million roof on Nationals Park at taxpayer expense, the mayor of D.C. reportedly laughed at their request. His office also said it would be "cost prohibitive and butt ugly."
• In any case, the Washington Post has all the rain data for Nationals Park since it opened in 2008. Fifty-two rainouts over six seasons with 36 more delays or early endings.
• The Giants are moving towards a deal to re-sign Ryan Vogelsong.
• The Diamondbacks are working on a new deal with Daniel Hudson.
• Unsurprisingly, considering their self-appointed role as MLB's guardians of morality, the Diamondbacks will not sign any free agents connected to PED use.
• Mike Petriello says that these suspended PED users are getting these huge contracts because that's what their market will bear. Teams are signing these players because they think they can help them win ballgames.
• The Diamondbacks hired former Cubs pitcher Mike Harkey as their new pitching coach.
• The Marlins are considering pursuing free agent and South Florida native Mike Napoli. This sounds like another one of those Marlins "rumors" that get released to tell their fans that "Really, we're trying" when they actually aren't.
• Marc Normandin says the Dodgers have a good rotation, but they still have questions that need to be answered.
• Matt Snyder says that the industry sources he's talked to say there is a "99 percent chance" the Cubs trade Jeff Samardzija.
• David Schoenfield thinks the Cubs should sign Jacoby Ellsbury, comparing it to the Nationals signing of Jayson Werth a few years ago.
• Miguel Cabrera wants to go back to playing first base. Because he's not a moron.
• Tracy Ringolsby echoes earlier reports saying the Yankees aren't going to wait around for Robinson Cano this offseason.
• The Yankees signed Cuban defector Omar Luis last April. Because his initial contract was rejected after a physical, he's eligible for the Rule 5 draft this year.
• Jay Jaffe looks at four more players who had good careers and qualified for the Hall of Fame ballot, two of whom made the ballot and two who didn't: Paul LoDuca, Sean Casey, Richie Sexson and J.T. Snow.
• Todd Jones did make the Hall of Fame ballot. He said he's honored but "The only thing the HOF will let me in for is to use the bathroom." (To be clear, Jones is saying he's not qualified.)
• David Schoenfield thinks that Mike Mussina is a "slam-dunk" Hall of Famer. I wouldn't say "slam-dunk," but I do think he probably belongs.
• Bill Madden of the New York Daily News is really upset that a Hall of Fame voter sold his vote to Deadspin. He called it "one of the most despicable things I can think of." If he can't think of more despicable things than that, he has a very limited imagination.
• Rob Neyer thinks that the BBWAA has made a mess out of the Hall of Fame voting, but the fault ultimately lies with the Hall itself.
• Here's a short interview with Mariano Rivera, who is really retired.
• Finally, a happy holidays from me to all of you. I really do appreciate you reading.