MLB Bullets Is Refusing To Leave

This is the final MLB Bullets of the offseason. Play Ball!

• Earlier reports to the contrary notwithstanding, Orioles outfielder Hyun Soo Kim is refusing a minor league assignment. So now Baltimore has the choice between keeping Kim on the 25-man roster or cutting him. Kim is determined to play in the majors and it's unlikely that another team will offer Kim a major league spot at this point. But if this is a ploy to get the Orioles to give him $7 million and then get a chance to play for a different organization that will give him more of a chance, then bravo, Kim. Nicely played.
• Pablo Sandoval and his $95 million contract aren't getting released, but Sandoval will start the season on the bench. Travis Shaw is the Red Sox new starting third baseman.
• Sandoval said he was disappointed in the move but that "it's the right decision to help our team win."
• The Pirates have decided to give Juan Nicasio their fifth starter job over Ryan Vogelsong, who will go to the bullpen. Pirates GM Neal Huntington said it was a difficult decision.
• Returning to the big story last time, Matt Harvey is upset by the coverage of his bladder problems and is refusing to talk to the media for the time being. I got to tell you, as I get older it seems like I have to write about Matt Harvey a lot more than I used to. I can't even sit through a movie anymore without writing about Matt Harvey.
• Jeez, I can't imagine what Harvey was so upset about. Looking at those New York Post headlines, I think they handled it with "Urine Luck" and "Whiz Kid!" as respectfully as possible.
• Noah Syndergaard says he doesn't know what the Royals might want to retaliate against him for. Since the Royals themselves are saying they're not going to retaliate, maybe we can just drop the whole thing.
• Yankees reliever Andrew Miller says he plans on pitching despite having a broken wrist on his right (non-pitching) hand. Miller was struck by a line drive in a Spring Training game.
• R.J. Anderson wonders if the Yankees bullpen, hailed this winter as one of the greatest ever, might now be in some trouble. Closer Aroldis Chapman is suspended and another reliever, Bryan Mitchell, is out three months with a broken toe.
• Domestic violence charges have been dropped against Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes. He still faces a suspension from MLB, however, Chapman was suspended 30 games for domestic violence earlier despite no charges being filed.
• Jon Paul Morosi thinks that MLB needs to make a move towards returning to Montreal soon, like the decision needs to be made within the next two years. It should be noted that Morosi is clearly pro-Expos. But I agree with him.
• In a new twist to the affiliation shuffle, the Pacific Coast League Colorado Springs Sky Sox are reportedly moving to San Antonio next season and the Double-A Texas League team in San Antonio will be moving to Amarillo, Texas. (Note: to be clear, this is not an affiliation change. This is the franchise leaving Colorado Springs, historically one of the lowest-attendance teams in the PCL with an outdated stadium.)
• Rockies pitcher Tyler Matzek is back in camp after receiving treatment for anxiety issues.
• Here's a great article. Rob Arthur and Ben Lindbergh examine why home runs were back up again last season. They don't really have a good answer, but the way they investigate it is worth reading. Could it be that baseballs with Bud Selig's signature just aren't as interested in moving far distances than ones with Rob Manfred's signature?
• Here's another great piece on the rise of the bullpen catcher. They don't just warm up pitchers anymore (although they still do that), but are now important parts of the coaching staff.
• Ted Berg takes a look at the career of Brandon Wood, former super-prospect who never panned out, as he starts his minor league coaching career.
• Time-Warner has "given up" trying to convince other television provides to carry SportsNet LA.
• Speaking about the labor battles of the past and in particular the Sandy Koufax/Don Drysdale holdout of 50 years ago, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw says that "we owe a lot to our former players who fought for our rights."
• Kershaw also says he's not a fan of defensive shifts and that he'd rather his defense doesn't put the shift on behind him.
• David Schoenfield writes that Kershaw is both wrong and right about shifting.
• Terence Moore thinks the Dodgers window of contention is closing soon. He also points out that the Dodgers have a long history of underachieving teams.
• Mike Vorkunov profiles Ryan Howard, the final connection to the Phillies glory teams. (Although Carlos Ruiz is still around too.) "Well the names have all changed since you hung around, but those dreams have remained and they've turned around."
• Erik Malinowski assess the chances that the Giants will return to their even-year magic in 2016.
• Andrew McCutchen, in contrast to Clayton Kershaw, has learned to appreciate analytics.
• Braves president John Schuerholz has stepped down from that position. He'll remain in the organization, however.
• Bob Nightengale says that Robinson Cano and the Mariners are ready to put last season behind them.
• Will Leitch makes 200 predictions for the upcoming season.
• CC Sabathia talks about his alcoholism and his decision to enter rehab last season. (Video)
• The City of Philadelphia has officially apologized to Jackie Robinson. Good. Now they can apologize to Santa Claus.
• Joseph Flynn has a brief history of players being attacked by bees at Spring Training.
• Molly Podlesny has nine of the weirdest giveaways in baseball. Al submitted one of these.
• And finally, I hope you've eaten your breakfast already because Craig Calcaterra brings you some of the grossest food at the ballparks this summer. And that doesn't even include this Froot Loops hot dog that you're probably having for breakfast right now. Matt Snyder has even more gross ballpark food.

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