MLB Bullets Is Open For Business

I'm going to have something to say about the "Save America's Pastime Act" later today, so don't worry if you don't see any links to it in today's Bullets.

• The trade market is officially open for business as the Padres traded closer Fernando Rodney to the Marlins.
• Cliff Corcoran looks at the players involved in the deal and says that Rodney represents a significant upgrade for the Marlins. Corcoran also weighs in on the next trade on our list, which is . . .
• The Dodgers acquiring Bud Norris from the Braves as they place Clayton Kershaw on the disabled list.
• Doug Padilla writes that the Dodgers know that neither Norris nor anyone else can replace Kershaw, but he looks at how the Dodgers will move forward without their ace.
• Craig Edwards argues that the Yankees should deal off all three of their bullpen aces this summer.
• Anthony Castrovince has some buy, sell or hold recommendations for teams on the edge of the playoff hunt.
• Reds outfielder Jay Bruce has a limited no-trade clause that includes the Indians, but a report from Jon Heyman says that he would likely waive his no-trade clause if he were to be dealt to the Tribe.
• Speaking of the Tribe, the Indians just won their 13th straight game, tying a team record set in 1951 and 1942.
• Carlos Carrasco struck out 14 Blue Jays in the win last night, thanks mostly to his devastating changeup.
• David Schoenfield explores why home runs are way up over the past year.
• Speaking of which, the Orioles just broke a major league record for the most home runs in the month of June.
• Jonathan Bernhardt writes that the Orioles are not winning "the right way," they're just winning, and that's all that matters for now. We'll see if they're still winning in October.
• Zach Kramm looks at the logic-defying rise of slugger Adam Duvall.
• Giants manager Bruce Bochy decided to not use the DH last night and let Madison Bumgarner hit. It paid off as Bumgarner went 1 for 4 with a double. No team has opted out of the DH since 1976 before last night. (And that was for Ken Brett, who was often used as a pinch-hitter anyway.)
• Bruce Jenkins thinks it was the right call, when you look at the Giants' other options.
• Unfortunately, Bumgarner will not be allowed to compete in the Home Run Derby. The Players Association doesn't want a regular hitter to lose his place in the competition to a pitcher. Boo. They are looking at the feasibility of an all-pitchers Derby . . .for next year. Boo again.
• Congratulations to College World Series Champion Coastal Carolina.
• As a survivor of domestic abuse herself, Stacey May Fowles has some meditations on Jose Reyes being allowed to play for the Mets after his domestic violence suspension. It's a very interesting, nuanced take on the subject and she admits she has no easy answers.
• This could be a huge story on Monday, but Ben Badler reports that MLB is looking to come down on the Red Sox hard for circumventing the bonus limitations on their Latin American signings last season. Still no news on the Cardinals hacking scandal though.
• At least the Cardinals are playing crappy baseball at home, according to Mark Saxon.
• Speaking of crappy baseball, the Angels are on pace for the worst season in their history.
• It doesn't help that their pitcher Andrew Heaney will need Tommy John surgery after an attempt at non-surgical rehabilitation failed.
• Phillies pitcher Mark Appel will miss the rest of the season after having a bone spur removed. Yes, you're allowed to laugh at the Astros as a Cubs fan now. Just don't laugh at Appel, who doesn't deserve that.
• Mariners catcher Steve Clevenger heads to the disabled list with a broken hand. Yes, you're allowed to laugh at the Orioles as a Cubs fan now. Just don't laugh at Clevenger, who doesn't deserve that.
• The Athletics placed Sean Doolittle on the disabled list with a shoulder strain. No one to laugh at there, except maybe the Cubs who might have been interested in trading for him.
• On a follow-up to an earlier story, Phillies pitching prospect Matt Imhof has lost his eye in a freak accident. He's unsure if he'll try to continue his baseball career.
• Ken Rosenthal has a grab bag of baseball stories, including the market for Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel and some other trade possibilities.
• The Braves' new stadium continues to amaze, and not in a good way. With traffic and parking already expected to be a nightmare, Cobb County passed an ordinance that would ban any business within half a mile of the stadium from renting out any of their parking spots.
• Grant Brisbee looks back at his American League preseason predictions and feels dumb.
• Eno Sarris talks to ballplayers about how they feel about our new robot umpire overlords, assuming they ever take over. (They're coming.)
• If you're around my age, first of all, I feel sorry for you. But secondly, you probably remember the children's show The Baseball Bunch that aired in the early '80s. Pete Croatto has an oral history of the memories of that show.
• Major League Baseball is going to play a game at Fort Bragg on Sunday night. Here's a time-lapse film of the construction of the ballpark that they're going to play in. That's always fun.
• Yankees infielder (and former Cubs minor leaguer) Ronald Torreyes had about the worst swing at a pitch you'd ever want to see. Not only did he swing at a pitchout, he swung late.
• And finally, while on a rehab assignment in the minors, Miguel Sano is learning to play third base again. So how is he going to learn the position again? By using his head. Literally. A pop up in the infield bounced off his head and into his first baseman's glove for an out.

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