MLB Bullets Takes The Oregon Trail

Saturday was “National Bobblehead Day” according to a bunch of people on Twitter, so it must be true. In any event, I thought I share with you my new favorite bobblehead, which ironically arrived at my house on Saturday.

OK, I need to dust that shelf.

• The Mariners got tired of nothing happening since the Winter Meetings ended and made some deals. In one, the M’s acquired pitcher Yovani Gallardo from the Orioles for outfielder Seth Smith.
• And since that left them short an outfielder, the Mariners dealt pitcher Nathan Karns to the Royals for outfielder Jarrod Dyson.
• John Perrotto looks at the players the Mariners are getting and where this puts the team after a busy winter.
• Dayn Perry argues that the Mariners are in win-now mode because their window of competitiveness will be closing soon as Robinson Cano and Felix Hernandez age.
• The Orioles at least made one move with the trade with the Mariners, but they’ve been reluctant to do anything big this winter. They also reportedly don’t want to bring Mark Trumbo back because they’d rather have the draft pick.
• The Orioles are apparently kicking the tires on free agent Brandon Moss.
• Anthony Castrovince looks at the trade market for the Twins’ Brian Dozier and tries to make some deals.
• And Jim Duquette does something similar for Jose Quintana.
• Free agent Cody Decker (and his Twitter account) have signed with the Brewers.
• Jon Paul Morosi writes that if Ryan Braun gets traded, it will be to the Dodgers. He doesn’t think Braun is going to get traded though.
• Edwin Encarnacion’s new contract with the Indians has attendance bonuses. I’m pretty sure Cleveland management had no problems giving those out. “Sure, Edwin. You want an attendance bonus? I hope you have a big family!”
• Alex Smolokoff wonders why more teams aren’t showing interest in free agents Luis Valbuena and Trevor Plouffe. Well for one, Valbuena once threw a ball that hit me in chest. So there’s that.
• David Schoenfield wonders why there seems to be no market at all for Jose Bautista and wonders if his personality is playing a role.
• Here’s a free agent signing I wasn’t expecting. Manny Ramirez has signed with the Kochi Fighting Dogs, an independent league team in Japan. (Must resist Michael Vick joke.)
• The Padres are still looking for veteran starting pitching. Or, presumably, anyone with any experience throwing a baseball off a mound.
• Michael Klopman tries to “fix” the Pirates.
• Nicolas Stellini looks at solutions to the Giants left field problems.
• Over at Viva El Birdos, Ben Markham tries to fix the Cardinals defense. But it was perfect the way it was!
• Bob Klapisch thinks that barring a complete collapse, Yankees’ manager Joe Girardi’s job is safe.
• Tommy Stokke argues that Nationals manager Dusty Baker has earned a contract extension. Cubs fan jokes aside, he certainly is a much better manager for the Nats than Matt Williams was.
• Welcome to Curmudgeon’s Corner! Reds announce Marty Brennaman ripped the contract Joey Votto, the best player the Reds have had since Barry Larkin retired. Because RBIs or something.
• And Spink-award winning “journalist” Murray Chass turned in a blank Hall of Fame ballot, because he doesn’t want anyone to have to sit through long speeches on hot summer days or something. (He really did say that.)
• Speaking of the Hall, Richard Justice thinks Mike Trout has already done enough to merit election to Cooperstown. Except the whole “play ten years in the majors” thing.
• Tracy Ringolsby talks to the scout that signed Ivan Rodriguez as Pudge nears election to the Hall of Fame.
• Anthony Castrovince looks at some players with big contracts who could bounce back in 2017. Yes, Jason Heyward is included.
• A rules change in the WBC rosters could allow some bigger name pitchers to participate.
• Turner Field has officially been acquired by Georgia State University. So it’s good that it’s going to some use.
• The Phillies are going to expand the netting at Citizen’s Bank Park.
• And finally, the little boy who wrote Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow pleading with him to not trade George Springer got to have a haircut with his idol. Springer, not Luhnow.

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