MLB Bullets Is The Home Of The Braves

Just to let you know, today's holiday is Washington's Birthday, not "Presidents Day." Of course, it's not actually George Washington's birthday, so that's another thing the government got wrong. On the other hand, they got it wrong for a good reason, meaning that there is a three-day weekend rather than getting a random Tuesday off or something. Plus, Washington's birthday did change during his lifetime.

• The Atlanta Braves continued to lock up there future by signing closer Craig Kimbrel to a four year, $42 million deal.
• On Friday, the Braves signed starter Julio Teheran to a six-year deal worth $32.4 million.
• Up next on the agenda for the Braves is locking up shortstop Andrelton Simmons. If you've been reading the bullets for a while, you know that Andrelton Simmons is more awesome than a bacon doughnut.
• Ken Rosenthal wonders if any closer is worth the amount of money the Braves gave Kimbrel, but in the end, he thinks the Braves didn't have much choice but to lock him up long-term.
• David Schoenfield thinks Kimbrel's contract is a good risk and that the Braves should remain a good team for the foreseeable future.
• Sad news coming out of Angels camp as Mark Mulder's comeback attempt ended on the second day when he ruptured his Achilles.
• Mulder said it was hard for it to end this way but that it was even harder on his six year-old son.
• His former teammate, Tim Hudson, says he's just "sick" about Mulder's injury.
• However, Mulder is not ruling out trying again next spring.
• In other news, talks between the Angels and the city of Anaheim for a new lease on Angels Stadium have reached a standstill.
• So the Angels have started talks with the City of Tustin on a site for a new stadium. So far, the talks are in their "infancy stages." Tustin is about ten miles south of Anaheim.
• On the other side of the Southland, the Dodgers' Matt Kemp is expected to miss the start of the season. But he's making it clear that when he comes back, he expects to be a starter and that he won't accept a "fourth outfielder" role.
• David Schoenfield says that despite his reputation, Matt Kemp is not a superstar, having had only one great season in his career.
• Rob Neyer says that until the team understands the concept of "sunk costs," all the Dodgers' money isn't going to help them as much as it should.
• Pablo Sandoval showed up in Giants camp having lost an estimated 30 or 40 pounds this winter. I once lost 30 pounds of ugly fat, but then I got a mirror where I could see my rear end and I found it again.
• Phil Rogers thinks that with a whole season in the majors for Sonny Gray, the Athletics could be even better this season than last.
• There was a big crowd watching Masahiro Tanaka's first workout with the Yankees. It ended with him struggling to run his laps. Embarrassing! Luckily he was able to complete his running on day 2.
• Jon Heyman writes that two countries are watching Tanaka.
• Mark Teixeira says the Yankees are the Yankees again. Is that some kind of zen thing?
• Rany Jazayerli looks at the alternate history of Alex Rodriguez and examines everything that had to happen for Rodriguez to go from a young hero to a despised villain. Long, but really worth reading.
• The Yankees have assigned Robinson Cano's number 24 to Scott Sizemore. So is this going to affect the chances that it gets retired?
• Jon Paul Morosi says that because of Derek Jeter, Cano could never be the center of attention in New York. But he's going to be "the guy" with the Mariners going forward.
• Dusty Baker still wants to manage.
• There are reports that the Reds and Homer Bailey are "close" to agreeing to a long-term contract extension. That might help set the market for Jeff Samardzija.
• The Brewers are expected to talk extension with Jean Segura once camp gets underway.
• If the Tigers want to extend Max Scherzer, they better get a deal done before the season starts because he won't negotiate after Opening Day.
• The Phillies don't rebuild, they just get older reload.
• A.J. Burnett says his decision to sign with the Phillies was a "no-brainer" because it meant he could be close to his family.
• Either the Orioles and Nationals would have been closer, but neither was interested. But Burnett says the move to the Phillies was about his wife and kids. Jason Grilli, his former teammate with the Pirates, says he can't blame him.
• The Orioles have now decided that losing a draft pick won't deter them from signing a free agent pitcher. Just the physical exam, amirite?
• The Orioles are in on Ubaldo Jimenez, along with the Blue Jays and possibly the Mariners.
• Dylan Bundy's rehab is going well and he expects to be back by June or July.
• Matthew Kory lists eight players poised for a comeback in 2014.
• Michael Bamberger never forgot some advice the late Jim Fregosi gave him.
• Steven Goldman remembers Fregosi's career and notes that at one time, he looked like he would be one of the greatest shortstops to ever play the game. Then he turned 30 and got traded to the Mets for Nolan Ryan.
• Managers should challenge every close play.
• There were real (college) baseball games played over the weekend that actually counted!
• Jack McDowell says that everyone knows their are PED users already in the Hall of Fame. He's also going to be managing Ogden in the Pioneer League this summer.
• If you're in San Diego, you should check out the new baseball exhibit at the Central Library. The collection is full of scoresheets, programs, media guides, newspapers, etc.
• Finally, if you're well-read in Cubs history, you've probably seen this photograph before. But for those who haven't, here's Gabby Harnett having a little chat with Al Capone.

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster.