MLB Bullets Keeps It Cooking

In honor of the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, we should remember the words of The Great Emancipator, now more than ever, when he said “Don’t believe everything you read on the internet, especially if it’s not sourced and attributed to someone famous like me.” Truer words were never spoken.

• After years of blocking trades to teams, Brandon Phillips has finally agreed to a deal that would send him to the Braves for former Cubs minor leaguer Andrew McKirahan and minor league pitcher Carlos Portuondo.
• Jay Jaffe explains that the point of this deal from the Reds perspective is just to open up playing time for Dilson Herrera and Jose Peraza.
• For the Braves, it most likely has to deal with this development. Sean Rodriguez, who was initially reported to be “unhurt” after a car accident a couple of weeks ago, will now undergo shoulder surgery and could miss all of 2017.
• This sad news is a little old by now, but on Friday, Tigers (and Detroit Red Wings) owner Mike Ilitch died. Pat Iversen sums up Ilitch’s accomplishments and reactions from members of the Tigers and Red Wings families.
• Anthony Castrovince writes that Ilitch had a big impact on the Tigers and the city of Detroit. He had a lot more success with the Red Wings than the Tigers, but as a former minor league shortstop, he really wanted to bring a World Series title to Motown.
• Something tells me that people won’t write similar things after Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria passes on. In fact, they are more likely to write something like this scathing evisceration of Loria by Jeff Passan.
• Sam Miller points out that as a baseball owner, you can do close to everything wrong (as Loria did) and still make a billion dollars.
• However, there is some doubt surrounding the offer that Loria has reported agreed to sell the Marlins, and team president David Samson was evasive when asked about it. The rumored owner would reportedly have a hard time getting approved by the other owners.
• On final point on the Marlins before moving on to happier things: the families of the men killed in the boating accident that killed Jose Fernandez are suing his estate.
• Spring Training is almost here and ESPN.com’s writers discuss the important storylines of the spring, such as what car Yoenis Cespedes will drive and what animal will Joe Maddon bring to Sloan Park. I’ll say a bison, because you can’t go wrong with a bison.
• Bob Nightengale and Jorge L. Ortiz discuss some more serious stories in USA Today’s spring preview.
• Richard Justice has 17 reasons to be excited about Spring Training.
• Mike Axisa has the most interesting non-roster invitee to each team’s Spring Training.
• Tyler Kepner looks at the “window” of competition for each MLB team on the eve of Spring Training.
• The Diamondbacks have to at least consider a future without Paul Goldschmidt, writes Nick Piecoro.
• John Perrotto reports that teams are more willing to trade top prospects than they were just a few years ago.
• Jerry Crasnick talks to David Rollins, who got designated for assignment by the Cubs last week for the sixth time this winter. He also talks with Rangers GM Jon Daniels, who says that MLB hates what is happening to Rollins, but they can’t come up with a better solution. After all, in theory, these waiver claims are for the benefit of the player, ensuring that he stays on someone’s 40-man roster.
• We now know a little bit more of why Giants pitcher Javier Lopez retired: He, along with fellow former bullpen mate Jeremy Affeldt, will be joining the Giants broadcast booth as Mike Krukow’s deteriorating health will no longer permit him to broadcast games outside of San Francisco or the NL West. That’s sad that the former Cubs pitcher is no longer going to be coming to Wrigley Field each year.
• The Rays are expected to sign pitcher Nathan Eovaldi, who will miss all of 2017 after Tommy John surgery.
• The Dodgers signed outfielder Franklin Gutierrez and re-signed Chase Utley.
• Jeff Sullivan anoints A.J. Pollock as the most underrated player in baseball.
• Lee Singer looks at some of the potential impacts of the proposed change in the strike zone.
• In honor of Mike Napoli returning to the Rangers, Cliff Corcoran looks at five player-team reunions that resulted in a World Series championship. He didn’t even list Jason Hammel.
• Joe Posnanski has some thoughts about Pitcher Wins and how to make them better. Or at least different.
• Apparently, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny is not a big fan of statistics. Good.
• Maricopa County wants to go to arbitration with the Diamondbacks on the dispute over Chase Field.
• David Lauria talks to four pitchers, including all-time Iowa Cubs saves leader Blake Parker, about the differences between major-league and minor-league baseballs.
• I guess it makes sense that we have a lot of hockey now, but Wayne Gretzky explains that when he was a kid, he really wanted to be a professional baseball player and not a hockey player. Someone talked some sense into him, thank goodness.
• The story behind Lou Gehrig’s home in New Rochelle, New York, which is now for sale and badly in need of a restoration.
• Jerry Crasnick talks to Prince Fielder about life after baseball and the new cooking show, “Fielder’s Choice,” that he’s going to be hosting with his wife.
• Craig Calcaterra says what we’re all thinking: Prince Fielder hosting a cooking show is an awesome idea. You’ll be able to watch it on Netflix or Hulu starting sometime in March. I hope it’s as good a show as it is an idea.
• And finally, speaking of awesome ideas, check out this awesome trailer for “Bartlanta” as Bartolo Colon heads to Atlanta.

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