Good Morning. MLB Bullets will get smaller in the offseason because there just isn’t enough news, except around the Winter Meetings.
- Ben Reiter presents a list of the top 50 free agents this winter.
- In case you want a different opinion, USA Today presents their top 55 free agents.
- Chris Bahr looks at which players got qualifying offers and which, if any, might accept the offer.
- The Mets are “very interested” in re-signing outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, according to general manager Sandy Alderson.
- The Yankees are interested in bringing back reliever Aroldis Chapman and have already reached out to him.
- The Dodgers are also interested in Chapman. Craig Calcaterra blasts them for their hypocrisy, since the Dodgers applauded themselves just three weeks ago for not going through with the trade for Chapman last winter.
- The Dodgers are also looking to deal unhappy outfielder Howie Kendrick this winter.
- The Braves have inquired about Rays pitcher Chris Archer. They’ve got the prospects to pull off a deal there.
- The Tigers are “open” to trading pretty much everyone. Certainly everyone who makes any money.
- Bob Nightengale wonders if the White Sox and the Tigers have the stomach to gut their rosters and start over.
- White Sox GM Rick Hahn says that pitcher Chris Sale’s disputes with the front office will play “zero” role in whether or not the team trades him.
- The Cardinals have named Matt Carpenter as their everyday first baseman for 2017.
- Adam Felder thinks the move the Cardinals should make is to move in the fences.
- Jeff Sullivan examines how the Angels can return to contention.
- Bill Baer thinks there should be a BBWAA year-end award for relievers.
- It’s an ESPN Insider article, but Scott Spratt has the biggest snubs and best calls on the Gold Glove Awards.
- Matt Williams and Mark Grace have been let go as the Diamondbacks overhaul their coaching staff.
- I’ve often praised Korean baseball for its emphasis on fun, but there is a dark side to it. There is a major scandal in Korean baseball with 21 players having been accused of match-fixing.
- This is something I hate to mention, but it’s probably true. Rodger Sherman points out that it is extremely unlikely that there were anything close to 5 million people at the Cubs victory parade.
- Here’s a piece that I was thinking of writing but Matt Snyder beat me too it. Here’s a list of players who you may not have realized just got Cubs World Series rings. This assumes that the Cubs stick to custom and award a ring to every player who appeared in one game this past season.
- Finally, here’s former major leaguer Hiroki Kuroda’s tear-filled goodbye to the Hiroshima Carp fans as he retires.