MLB Bullets Can’t Stand Still For Long

Thank goodness for Jerry DiPoto, without whom I would have nothing to write about. Except for 12,000 words on Cubs prospects. Gee, thanks Jerry DiPoto.

• The Mariners made a trade with the Braves, picking up Mallex Smith and Shae Simmons for a pair of prospects.
• And within an hour, my Mallex Smith Mariners shirsey became obsolete as he was shipped off to the Rays in a deal for Drew Smyly.
• Eric Longerhagens gives a report on all the minor leaguers in the above two deals.
• Richard Justice thinks that Mariners GM DiPoto has reshaped the team in his image. Presumably for the better.
• David Schoenfield thinks the Mariners are now a playoff contender after all these deals.
• Grant Brisbee argues that while the Mariners have been busy, they are only marginally better than they were last year, and that’s probably not enough.
• Jonathan Bernhardt believes that the M’s moves are risky but necessary.
• Ken Rosenthal marvels at the sheer number of deals that DiPoto has made. But the lede of his column is about Mark Trumbo dropping his asking price and wondering if a reunion with the Orioles is now possible.
• Mike Axisa thinks the bottom falling out of the free agent market for sluggers is playing right into the Rangers hands. Oh please, put Rougned Odor and Jose Bautista on the same team. Then make Robin Ventura the manager and Nolan Ryan the team president.
• Michael Klopman has a plan to fix the Rangers. It unfortunately doesn’t involve Bautista, so it’s not good.
• Anthony Castrovince has 33 “bold” predictions for the rest of the winter. It includes Jose Bautista going to the Rangers, so it’s all good.
• Reliever Santiago Casilla isn’t leaving the Bay Area as he is signing a two-year deal with the Athletics.
• Dayn Perry looks at the questions facing the Pirates starting pitching rotation.
• Bob Klapisch says the Mets (and he) will miss Bartolo Colon.
• Paul Lebowitz wonders what the Mets are going to do about Jose Reyes and third base if David Wright returns.
• Tony DeMarco looks at the Dodgers options at second base that don’t include trading for Brian Dozier.
• The Dodgers want Yasiel Puig to hit like he dances. I don’t think the Texas Rangers are going to like that very much.
• Sam Miller looks at some candidates who might have had a more improbable journey to the majors than Rich Hill.
• Miller also looks at Mike Trout and explains why Trout is the best at “hitting them where they ain’t.” Trout’s high babip is not just luck.
• Derrick Goold reports on a new elbow surgical procedure that Seth Maness underwent and how it could be an alternative to Tommy John surgery with a shorter recovery time. So in 20 years, we could be talking about “Seth Maness surgery.”
• All right. I’ll reluctantly talk about Cooperstown. Jerry Crasnick talks to Hall of Famers and asks them what role character should play in getting elected to Cooperstown?
• Ed Sherman says that it crosses a journalistic line by allowing journalists to pick the Hall of Fame inductees and that they should not participate.
• Grant Brisbee, in a silly piece even for him, gives silly nicknames to players in order to help their chances of getting elected to Cooperstown.
• Bo Jackson says that if he had to do it all over again, he would never have played football. Not even in high school. The Kansas City Royals say “Oh, great. Now he decides that.”
• Are radio receivers coming to catcher’s headgear?
• Wally Backman is managing in the Mexican League this year, and he says it’s because he’s been blackballed by Mets GM Sandy Alderson. Craig Calcaterra thinks he can’t get a job because Backman is a lousy minor league manager who doesn’t understand the primary point of his job is not to win.
• Bryce Harper shared some wedding photos.
• And finally, the “Bringer of Rain” Josh Donaldson is making a return to the History series “Vikings.” I didn’t know he was on it before, but apparently his character has a name and lines and everything. I hope his character flips his sword after decapitating a Saxon.

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