MLB Bullets Picks A New Old Home

I got the house decorated for Christmas this weekend.

• The Winter Meetings are underway as you read this and Jon Paul Morosi lists five free agents likely to sign this week and five players likely to be traded.
• Phil Rogers has five Winter Meetings predictions that he calls “not crazy.” He does seem convinced that the White Sox are going to trade David Robertson to the Cubs.
• Rick Hummel explains that getting a new center fielder is the number one priority for the Cardinals.
• Speaking of which, Cardinal GM John Mozeliak says he’s read the fans emails and wants them to know he’s listening to Cardinals fans’ complaints. Of course, this would all be a lot better if these were emails actually addressed to the Cardinals and not ones he just read by illegally obtaining their passwords. Still, it’s good to know he’s listening to the fans.
• Doug Padilla writes that the Dodgers have five issues to address at the Winter Meetings.
• The Dodgers are reportedly interested in Twins second baseman Brian Dozier, who is reportedly available.
• Adam Rubin has a Mets preview and writes that the team will try to deal an outfielder this week.
• Joel Sherman writes that the Mets are willing to consider a lot of options, including trading young outfielder Michael Conforto.
• Chelsea James previews the Nationals and reports that they intend to be buyers.
• Grant Brisbee posits that the Pirates decision to try to deal Andrew McCutchen is both logical and depressing.
• The Astros have a one-year, $16 million deal with Carlos Beltran, bringing him back to Houston 12 years after his half-season heroics there in 2004.
• The Yankees signed Matt Holliday to a one-year, $13 million deal.
• Andrew Marchand thinks Holliday was a better fit for the Yankees than Edwin Encarnacion.
• Craig Edwards also says that the Yankees shouldn’t blame their recent troubles on the last collective bargaining agreement.
• Jon Heyman reports that the Marlins are determined to try to sign one of the big three free agent closers.
• Heyman also reports why the Tigers are unlikely to deal Miguel Cabrera .
• The Phillies are close to a deal with free agent Joaquin Benoit.
• The Padres go into the Winter Meetings without a single player on their roster making more than a million dollars a year. (Wil Myers undoubtedly will after his arbitration hearing, but no one does at the moment.)
• In another article on the Padres that is no doubt related, Carson Cistulli thinks the Padres could enter 2017 with one of the worst starting rotations in baseball history.
• The Diamondbacks non-tendered catcher Welington Castillo and signed catcher Jeff Mathis. Mark Simon reports that the Diamondbacks are emphasizing pitch framing in their decision to part ways with Castillo. This sounds very familiar. Did another team get rid of Castillo because of his poor pitch-framing skills recently?
• Nevertheless, both the Rays and the Braves are interested in signing Castillo.
• Ken Rosenthal explains why the new CBA will encourage more teams to lock up their young talent in advance. Also other notes from Robo-thal.
• One thing in the CBA that players are not happy about is that the per diem meal money for players on the road is going down from $105 to just $30. The union reportedly agreed to this because teams will now be required to provide chefs for the players in both clubhouses.
• The union reportedly backed out of a plan to add a 26th man to team rosters, although the deal may be re-visited before the end of the next CBA.
• David Schoenfield is not surprised that Bud Selig and John Schuerholz were elected to the Hall of Fame.
• Albert Pujols underwent foot surgery and will be out the next four months. It’s possible he misses Opening Day.
• Reds manager Bryan Price announced that he would likely go with three different pitchers in save situations next year.
• Marcus Stroman announced he will pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. He was eligible to play for Team Puerto Rico as well.
• The Phillie Phanatic played Santa Claus this weekend.
• And finally, a look back at the ten best minor league promotions in 2016.

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