This weekend has been a kind of long hangover from the Winter Meetings without a whole lot going on. There was one big move that you've no doubt already heard about and then a lot of making official things that were agreed to last week.
- The one big news that you're likely familiar with already is that Melky Cabrera signed with the Chicago White Sox on a three-year, $45 million deal.
- Dayn Perry thinks Cabrera is a big upgrade for the White Sox.
- Changing the color of our Sox, Andrew Koo notes that the Red Sox have completely rebuilt their rotation with an emphasis on groundball pitchers.
- CJ Nitkowski writes that even though the Red Sox lack an "ace," they can still be a contender this season.
- Red Sox Team President Larry Lucchino admitted that the team made mistakes in their attempt to sign Jon Lester. (h/t Big League Stew)
- The Tigers did not have any serious negotiations with Rick Porcello before dealing him to Boston. Porcello can be a free agent at the end of the year.
- Jeff Sullivan thinks that the Reds were quiet winners at the Winter Meetings.
- Paul Casella points out that "winning" the Winter Meetings doesn't often translate into winning in the regular season.
- David Schoenfield thinks that while the Athletics have made some odd moves this winter, Billy Beane has earned the benefit of the doubt for now.
- Braves president John Hart dissed his own team. Admittedly, the roster he was dissing was the one he inherited from former GM Frank Wren. (h/t Big League Stew)
- The KBO Nexen Heroes are reportedly going to post shortstop Jung-Ho Kang today.
- Between his posting fee and his contract, Kang is expected to cost as much as $39 million.
- Pirates president Frank Cooley was chatty over the weekend. First, he said what many of us have suspected, that Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria expects Giancarlo Stanton to opt-out of his contract and that they'll never have to pay him $325 million.
- Also, Cooley said that he doubts that Edinson Volquez will re-sign with the Pirates.
- The Nationals have made no progress on a new contract with Ian Desmond. Desmond can become a free agent at the end of this upcoming season.
- Having failed to get interviews with either Dan Duquette or Ken Williams, the Blue Jays are now interested in talking to Nats GM Mike Rizzo about their team president job.
- Rizzo is also upset that Bryce Harper skipped the team's fan fest this weekend. Harper has filed a grievance against the Nationals over whether or not Harper is eligible for arbitration.
- The Phillies tried to get the Orioles to take Ryan Howard off their hands as part of a deal for Marlon Byrd.
- Rob Neyer points out that even if Howard was living up to his contract, the Phillies would still be bad.
- The Twins are very happy with their signing of Ervin Santana. We'll see if they're still happy in August.
- Bud Black says he's "comfortable" managing the Padres this year with only one year left on his contract. Maybe he is and maybe he's just saying that. Of course, if he got fired, he'd be unemployed for about two weeks. So he probably is comfortable.
- Joe Posnanski gives his list of the greatest 25 players not in the Hall of Fame.
- Rob Neyer comments on the list and Posnanski's point none of these players were among those not elected on the "Golden Era" veterans ballot. Neyer says perhaps we shouldn't be very worried that the committed chose to elect no one.
- AJ Cassavell ranks the six divisions by how much "fun" they'll be in 2015. I have no idea what he means by that.
- For most people at the Winter Meetings, it's not about trades and signings but looking for work. Jonathan Horn has a look at the people attending the Winter Meetings Job Fair in San Diego this past week.
- Sad news. Sy Berger, the creator of the modern baseball card, has died at the age of 91.
- Mark Gilbert, who was drafted by the Cubs in 1978 and played seven games with the White Sox in 1985, is the new U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand.
- He doesn't mind if you just call him "Didi," but technically, it's "Sir Didi Gregorius." Just another reason to love Netherlands baseball. They're all knights in shining armor. Literally. Except for the shining armor part. Was Jeter ever knighted? I don't think so.
- Recently-traded Brett Lawrie had lunch with a disappointed little girl who cried when she found out that her favorite Blue Jay had been traded.
- And finally, because the Brewers aren't really making any news elsewhere, it's good to know that their mascot Hank the Dog is now making deliveries as "Santa Hank." Warning: Link is not safe for those who have an allergic reaction to adorable.
And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster.