MLB Bullets Gives Thanks

I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday. Just remember, there’s nothing that can go wrong with your Thanksgiving dinner that can’t be fixed by putting it in a pot of simmering chicken stock. That includes rowdy relatives. (Alton Brown said that on Twitter yesterday.)

• There was a trade the day before Thanksgiving as the Diamondbacks sent Jean Segura, Zac Curtis and Mitch Haniger to Seattle for Taijuan Walker and Ketel Marte.
• David Schoenfield breaks down the deal and calls the trade a “fascinating” one that could work for both teams or blow up in their faces.
• Dave Cameron agrees the deal is fascinating and thinks the Diamondbacks two deals with Segura are a great example of buying low and selling high.
• Jack Magruder looks at the unfulfilled (but still present) potential of Walker.
• Grant Brisbee continues his series of changing his mind on who the most compelling team of the offseason is by saying the Diamondbacks are the most compelling team now. That was before the Segura trade. I don’t know if this makes them more or less compelling.
• Also on Wednesday, former Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca died at 90.
• Steven Goldman remembers Branca and reminds us that his life was much more than just “The shot heard ‘round the world.”
• David Schoenfield has a pretty similar take on Branca’s life.
• Also, former All-Star Red Sox pitcher “Boo” Ferriss died at 94. Ferriss started games 3 and 7 of the 1946 World Series.
• A follow up to the big story earlier this week, but Jayson Stark reports that progress has been made in the collective bargaining talks, although the owners are still threatening a lockout if more progress is not made.
• ESPN has in interesting roundtable discussion of how adding a 26th player to rosters will impact the game. (ESPN Insider Access only)
• The Braves signed utility player Sean Rodriguez to a two-year, $11.5 million deal.
• David Schoenfield (someone is working over the holiday) has a list of four surprising players who could be dealt this winter.
• Dave Hogg writes that of all the players the Tigers could deal this winter, losing Ian Kinsler would hurt the most.
• Michael Klopman looks at where the top three relievers on the free agent market could end up.
• Matt Snyder explains why the Royals could be either elite or terrible in 2017.
• Jeff Sullivan explains how Chris Sale was hurt by poor pitch framing in 2016.
• Mark Simon looks at trends in baseball in 2016.
• Sam Miller looks at the debate over the value of Diamondbacks pitcher Robbie Ray and why different sources rate his WAR so differently.
• Since it was Thanksgiving, Chris Cwik explains what each MLB team has to be thankful for.
• Chris Bahr also lists what every team should be thankful for this Thanksgiving. I wonder what the Cubs should be thankful for?
• Dayn Perry has a list of what every MLB team should give thanks for this holiday. I’m sensing a trend here. Although it’s probably a bunch of writers telling their editors “You’re going to make me work on a holiday? Fine. Here’s a tired old chestnut you can publish.”
• And finally, of you have the chance, you should probably get to Pittsburgh on April 8 for the Pirates game with the Braves. Those in attendance will get a singing Francisco Cervelli bobblehead. That’s Amore!

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