MLB Bullets Makes Another Deal

It's Wednesday, but it feels like Tuesday.

• The next big domino fell in the free agent market as Justin Upton joined the Detroit Tigers on a six-year, $132.75 million deal, joining his "sister" Kate in Detroit. There's an opt-out after two years.
• Chris McCosky explains why the Tigers chose Upton over Yoenis Cespedes. Upton's breath is "minty-fresh," for one.
• Grant Brisbee thinks the Tigers got the best deal of the offseason in Upton.
• Cliff Corcoran also thinks the Tigers made a great deal.
• Katie Strang says this is another sign that the Tigers are "all-in" in an attempt to win a World Series before 86-year-old owner Mike Ilitch shuffles off this mortal coil.
• Chris Cwik thinks the Upton deal makes the Tigers contenders to make the playoffs this season.
• The Braves did talk to Upton about returning to Atlanta before he signed with Detroit.
• With Upton signed, the last "big-name" free agent left on the board is Yoenis Cespedes. Tony Blengino examines the current market for Cespedes.
• The Angels would be a natural fit for Cespedes, but the Angels say they're not going to go over the luxury tax threshold so they say that Cespedes won't be an Angel.
• Ken Rosenthal thinks the Mets ought to just go and re-sign Cespedes already to a five-year deal.
• Mike Axisa looks at the top free agents still on the market for teams on a budget.
• The Dodgers signed a budget pick by inking reliever Joe Blanton to a one-year, $4 million deal. The deal completes LA's "Interchangeable Free Agent Arms" punch card, so the next one they sign is free.
• Anthony Castrovince predicts destinations for the remaining top eight free agents.
• Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy isn't demanding to be traded, but he is asking very politely if he can please leave Milwaukee.
• The Marlins signing of Wei-Yin Chen is a sign that despite past public disagreements between agent Scott Boras and the Miami front office, they can still work together to make a deal.
• The brother of Yu Darvish has been arrested in Japan in connection to a sports gambling ring, so MLB is investigating whether or not Yu Darvish was involved in any way. Darvish denies any involvement, although he adds he understands why MLB needs to investigate this.
• The Cubs drafted Antwaan Randle-El in the 14th round of the 1997 draft, but he obviously turned down the offer, played football at Indiana and had a pro bowl career in the NFL. Now at age 36, he can't remember simple things and has trouble walking up stairs. Randle-El says he now wishes he'd chosen a career in baseball instead of football and says he wouldn't be surprised if football ended in the next 25 years.
• Jessica Mendoza talks about her trailblazing broadcasting career and what kind of criticism sting and what she ignores.
• Cardinals broadcaster Mike Shannon will no longer broadcast road games.
• Al had a story about the MLB.tv settlement and here are some more details. These details are all listed out in the comments of yesterday's story, but if you're the type not to read the comments, here they are.
• The Yankees are considering giving Starlin Castro some games at third base.
• Stacey Gotsulias talks about how her dad's love for the Yankees gave her a career and bonded the two of them over the years.
• ESPN.com is doing a series asking their writers what rules changes they would make in baseball if they could. Dan Szymborski would welcome our robot umpire overlords, calling balls and strikes.
• Katie Strang would extend the netting behind home plate from dugout to dugout.
• Two baseball analysts who do consulting work for major league teams discuss the gap between what teams know and what the public knows about statistical analysis. They say the gap isn't very large at the moment.
• Russell Carleton explains the importance of the last men on a major league roster.
• Andrew Simon discusses which major league coaching staff has the most career WAR on them. The are pretty poor here with pitching coach Chris Bosio as their best player, although these numbers would improve greatly if Manny Ramirez ever got an official coaching position.
• Tracy Ringolsby thinks the Mariners will contend in 2016.
• I can't claim to have ever been a fan of the Eagles, but unlike Mojo Nixon, I've never wished that any of them would die. I've made a lot of people mad before trashing classic rock, so I'll just say rest in peace, Glenn Frey, as we take time to remember the time that Frey got to call a few innings of a Dodgers game with Vin Scully. Hmmm. Sounds like he chose the wrong profession.
• Dee Gordon celebrated signing his $50 million extension by going out for McNuggets. He splurged for fries, too.
• And finally, Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon ran out of gas on the highway and his teammate DJ LeMahieu came by to help him out (and generally embarrass him on social media).

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