MLB Bullets Is Trying To Thaw Out

I've got nothing to go up here. I'm using that as an excuse not to write the rest of it. Keep reading and see if I manage to blow it off.

• The Marlins locked up one of their cornerstones as they signed second baseman Dee Gordon to a five-year, $50 million extension. There is also a vesting option for a sixth year, potentially buying out three years of free agency.
• Anthony Castrovince lists the Marlins among his five teams that quietly had a great winter.
• Jayson Stark writes a piece about how the National League is being divided into two separate groups: teams that are going to be contenders in 2016 and teams that are actively trying to lose. Stark and others in the game that he talks to consider this to be a big problem. (Just to tie this in with the previous stories, there are 8 teams with a solid chance of making the postseason in the NL. There are six teams shooting for the number one pick in 2017. And then there's the Marlins, stuck somewhere in the middle. The Marlins do have a chance to make the postseason if things break right for them, but they can't be considered a contender. Even Fangraphs projects them out at 81-81.)
• Ross Benes points out that for the first time in many years, the NL is outspending the AL.
• Orioles manager Buck Showalter doesn't appear to be happy that Chris Davis hasn't re-signed with the team, asking how much money does Davis think he needs?
• Apparently that's a sign of a change in focus for the Birds, as Baltimore has reportedly made a five-year offer to Yoenis Cespedes.
• Ken Rosenthal thinks that signing Justin Upton makes sense for the rebuilding Phillies, and then explains why they won't sign him.
• Grant Brisbee lists the remaining holes to fill for each NL team.  He's stumped by the Cubs.
• Dave Cameron responds to Ken Rosenthal's earlier column and disagrees with Rosenthal's take that the Cardinals don't need to add a bat.
• One player linked to the Cardinals is Carlos Gonzalez, but the Rockies have reportedly told Gonzalez that he won't be traded before Opening Day.
• August Fagerstrom examines why the Rockies are having so much trouble trading Gonzalez--starting with a severe decline in his value over the past few seasons.
• Brisbee wrote that the Padres need a shortstop and they signed Alexei Ramirez to a one-year deal.
• Mike Bauman points out that teams are much more interested in impact pitching than impact hitting these days.
• Paul Casella lists ten players returning from injury who could make a major impact in 2016.
• The Dodgers plan to convert outfielder Jordan Schafer into a pitcher.
• David Schoenfield lists his candidates for the greatest infields of all-time.
• And he does the same for outfields.
• The Rays were finally granted permission by the St. Petersburg City Council to look for sites for a new stadium outside of St. Pete. The Giants are reportedly willing to let the Rays move to San Jose. (That's a joke.)
• Jorge L. Ortiz points out that the NFL decision on the Raiders attempt to move to Los Angeles is another big headache for the Athletics in their search for a new stadium.
• The Astros and Padres will play two spring training games in Mexico City this March.
• MLB has opened up a lobbying bureau in Washington, DC.
• MLB is also "restructuring" the MLB Scouting Bureau.
• This means more scouts are going to lose their jobs. Bob Nightengale looks at the plight of the disappearing scout as teams move to a more analytical approach and rely on their scouts less.
• Ben Lindbergh believes that with more teams moving to an analytic approach, managers are making fewer and fewer bad decisions on the field. Pitchouts are way down. Sacrifices and intentional walks are way down, too.
• Bernie Miklasz thinks that commissioner Manfred needs to come down hard on the Cardinals in their hacking scandal.
• Bob Klapisch thinks that Joe Girardi naming Aroldis Chapman as his closer means the Yankees don't think he'll be suspended for a domestic violence incident.
• The Yankees won't be signing cricket player Kiernan Powell because, and I quote, "He sucks."
• Ken Rosenthal gives a scouting report on 32-year-old Cuban right fielder Alexei Bell, who is expected to be a free agent able to sign with any team. It sounds like he'd get $50 million or more if it were still 2008. In 2016, not so much.
• Luis Arroyo, who pitched for the World Series champion 1961 Yankees, has died at age 88.
• Japan has honored Hank Aaron with The Order of the Rising Sun, one of their highest honors.
• And finally, do you remember when Chipper Jones rescued Freddie Freeman from a freak Atlanta snowstorm. If you do, or even if you don't, you will soon be able to commemorate the incident with a bobblehead to be given away at a Braves game this summer.

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