MLB Bullets Is Leaving The Other Sports Behind

Some other sporting event pushed a lot of the baseball news off the sports pages. I think it was kayaking.

• It's getting close to the start of spring training, and lots of free agents are still left unsigned. Ken Rosenthal says the MLBPA is not happy about this development and have made their displeasure known to MLB. At this point, no one is alleging collusion (and considering how much some free agents got this off-season, it's not likely anyone will), but the union has asked MLB to remind team executives that they are not allowed to negotiate through the press. That is, they can't say whether they are or are not interested in signing a free agent or how much they'd be willing to offer.
• Jon Heyman gives the rundown on the five unsigned free agents (Ervin Santana, Ubaldo Jimenez, Nelson Cruz, Stephen Drew and Kendrys Morales) wearing "The Scarlet Q," that is, those five players who received qualifying offers and are subject to draft pick forfeiture.
• At least some teams are starting to show some interest in Nelson Cruz.
• Another player who is unsigned, despite not having received a qualifying offer, is Bronson Arroyo. But both the Dodgers and Diamondbacks are interested in signing the former Reds hurler, but neither one is willing to give Arroyo the three-year contract he wants.
• Another free agent pitcher without a qualifying offer, A.J. Burnett, is reportedly the subject of a bidding war between the Phillies and the Orioles. The Pirates are also still in on Burnett.
• Jay Jaffe looks at free agents who signed late in the winter over the past four years and finds they turned out to be a mixed bag.
• Even if Kendrys Morales doesn't re-sign with the Mariners, he'll at least have his memories, courtesy of his 2014 Topps baseball card. You can see the photo they used at the top of this story.
• James Shields would consider signing a long-term extension with the Royals. He doesn't say how much he wants, but he does say that he doesn't expect to get as much as Zack Greinke, despite reports to the contrary.
• Matthew Pouliot does not understand the moves the Royals made this winter.
• Bill Baer notes that the Braves have several quality ballplayers entering their arbitration years and approaching free agency and wonders if and how they'll be able to sign them long-term.
• It pays to have friends in high places. New York senator Chuck Schumer expedited the visa process for Masahiro Tanaka, insuring that he will be able to enter the country in time for the first day of the Yankees spring training.
• If you're wondering how the Dodgers are going to pay the salaries of all those ballplayers, they've massively increased season ticket prices for 2014, including some tickets by as much as 140%.
• Yasiel Puig apologized for his recent speeding arrest.
• Although new Dodger infielder Alexander Guerrero is also from Cuba, he and Puig couldn't be more different, either on or off the field.
• Matt Kemp is unsure if he'll be ready for opening day. Pro tip, folks. If a player says on February 1 that he's "unsure" if he'll be ready for opening day, that means he won't be ready on opening day. To be fair, the Dodgers season starts a week early in Australia.
• Manny Machado is changing the way he runs, hoping to avoid future knee injuries.
• Jim Salisbury goes back and reads Ryne Sandberg's almost 20 year old autobiography to try to figure out what kind of manager he'll be for the Phillies.
• Astros prospect Mark Appel underwent an emergency appendectomy last Thursday. He is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for spring training.
• Anthony Castrovince looks at the state of platooning in the game today.
• In a last-ditch attempt to save it, the Houston Astrodome will be placed on the National Register of Historic Places this week. That doesn't mean that it can't be demolished, just that it would be eligible for tax credits if someone wanted to repurpose it.
• Would you believe David Ortiz fell for the ol' exploding golf ball trick, Chief?
• Michael Young says the Rangers were "flat-out" the better team in the 2011 World Series. Tell that to Nelson Cruz, Michael.
• Ed Sherman has a new book out about Babe Ruth's supposed "called shot." The New York Post has a review.
• Cliff Corcoran ranks each major league market for the desirability of a potential neutral site World Series game. Unsurprisingly, Chicago ends up near the bottom of the list, although Minneapolis checks in last.
• Former NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady is making a comeback--as a baseball pitcher. He's expected to sign with an independent league team in Texas. Word is he can hit 91 mph with his fastball.
• Finally, you think you'd like to be a major league beat writer? Eno Sarris talks to several of them and finds out what life is really like on the road covering a major league team.

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. Especially if you're from Colorado.