Happy MLK Day to everyone out there. I never seem to get my MLK Day cards out in time.
- Late last night it was reported that Max Scherzer has agreed to a seven-year deal with the Nationals. The exact terms haven't been announced as I write this, but the figure $180 million seems be be getting thrown around a lot.
- Matt Snyder writes that this easily gives the Nationals the best rotation in baseball.
- Bill Baer claims that the Nationals have a chance to have the greatest rotation in the era of divisional play.
- Phil Rogers thinks the Nats are the overwhelming favorites to win it all this year. I'd add it doesn't hurt that they play in a crappy division.
- Jeff Sullivan writes explains why the Nationals should run away with things, but adds that baseball is unpredictable and Washington may have further moves to make. Several of these articles point out that the Nationals may end up trading Jordan Zimmermann or even Stephen Strasburg.
- Barry Svrluga examines how the Nats could swing singing Scherzer. He wrote that before the deal was reported as completed.
- One thing the Nats apparently are not going to do is trade Ian Desmond.
- The Nationals did sign Kila Ka'aihue to a minor league deal. It's good to be able to see Ka'aihue's name again, who has spent the last two seasons with the Hiroshima Carp.
- So where does that leave the final remaining big ticket free agent, James Shields? Jon Paul Morosi reports that his agent has been in talks with the Tigers, where he would replace Scherzer. Morosi also thinks the move would make a lot of sense for Detroit.
- The Blue Jays have also stepped up pursuit of Shields.
- However, there is a report tonight that the Brewers are close to sending Yovani Gallardo to the Rangers. We don't know what the Brewers are looking to get back as I write this.
- What does that have to do with James Shields? It seems there is speculation that the Brewers may be trading Gallardo to open up payroll space to sign Shields. Or possibly that the Brew Crew could be looking to make a deal with the Nationals for Wisconsin native Jordan Zimmermann. All the moving parts are coming together.
- One guy who isn't being traded, at least not today, is Cole Hamels. Ken Rosenthal lays out the four teams that have shown the most interest in Hamels but adds that the Phillies are just asking for too much at the moment for any of them to make a deal.
- Jeff Sullivan says that the "high-risk, high-reward" strategy for the Phillies would be to hold on to Hamels until the July 31 trade deadline.
- GM Ruben Amaro Jr. has said that he expects Ryan Howard to start spring training with the Phillies. It sounds like everyone who has any interest in Howard is just waiting for the Phillies to cut him rather than giving up anything of value for him.
- The Mets have put Dillon Gee on the trade market and he's drawing a lot of interest.
- The Rockies are looking to move Charlie Blackmon for a starting pitcher. It seems they're having a lot of trouble convincing free agent pitchers to sign with them. I can't imagine why.
- Cardinals GM John Mozeliak says he's "not pursuing" a big name pitcher, either in free agency or through a trade.
- The Cardinals will wear a patch to honor Oscar Taveras this season.
- Jason Heyward is open to signing an extension with the Cardinals and he's open to discussing one during the season.
- The Marlins are talking with Ichiro Suzuki. That might actually be a good fit for Ichiro.
- The Rays may have David DeJesus on the trading block. Does Kim come with him?
- The Yankees have plenty of question marks as spring training approaches.
- Alden Gonzalez explains why the secret to winning in baseball today is to good rather than great. That might be bad news for the Nationals.
- Speaking of which, Astros GM Jeff Luhnow expects the Astros to post their first winning season since 2008 in 2015. I'd laugh, but the Cubs haven't had a winning record since 2009.
- Richard Justice thinks that despite all their moves this winter, the Athletics and the Rays could still make the playoffs this year.
- Hitters should have no reason not to know what pitch Jake McGee is going to throw them. It's a fastball. They still can't hit it.
- Paul Casella lists ten pitchers who might have trouble throwing with a pitch clock.
- Tyler Kepner laments that a pitch clock might even be necessary.
- Jeff Zimmerman thinks baseball needs to expand, adding at least two teams and as many as six, to make the game more exciting.
- It's official. Randy Johnson will wear a Diamondbacks cap on his Cooperstown plaque.
- And finally, the always-worth-reading Doug Glanville explains how this year's class of Hall of Famers brought out the best in him.
And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster.