MLB Bullets is getting desperate

Welcome to NPB Bullets! Because pretty much nothing is happening on this side of the Pacific. I’d have called it NPB Bullets in the title, but someone would no doubt not appreciate the joke and let everyone know that they didn’t like it.

• The Padres have signed submarining right-hander Kazuhisa Makita of the Saitama Seibu Lions. (That’s him above.)
• Former Rangers pitcher Nick Martinez has signed with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.
• Speaking of the Ham Fighters (Yes, I know they’re actually the Fighters owned by Nippon Ham) and the Rangers, the two teams have entered into a business deal where they will share coaching and business ideas.
• Former Orioles righty Tyler Wilson has signed with the Twins. The LG Twins of KBO. OK, that’s Korea and not Japan. Close enough. Craig Calcaterra considers this story a sportswriter’s cry for help.
• Back on this side of the big pond, there was one trade! The Padres sent third baseman Yangervis Solarte to the Blue Jays for two minor leaguers.
• Eric Longenhagen has a scouting report on all the minor leaguers involved in the Dodgers/White Sox/Royals deal last week.
• Jon Heyman has an update on the status of the remaining top ten free agents. It’s all rumors at this point.
• ESPN.com did a writer’s roundtable where they discuss why there’s been no baseball news.
• David Schoenfield weighs which free agent starter is the better choice: Jake Arrieta or Yu Darvish?
• Phil Rogers wonders if Arrieta could sign with St. Louis, adding fuel to the Cubs/Cardinals rivalry. Honestly, if the Cardinals sign Arrieta, I’m fine with that. Why? See previous link.
• Gabriel Baumgartner recommends a offseason move for each National League team.
• The Nationals are reportedly thinking of making an offer for free agent pitcher Lance Lynn.
• Jay Jaffe determines how much return on their investment that any team signing free agent J.D Martinez can expect.
• Anthony Castrovince has five MLB teams that could make a big move in January. Maybe? Please? Anything?
• The one thing that is getting done this winter is signing free agent relievers. Lefty Boone Logan signed a one-year deal with the Brewers.
• Mark Townsend looks at the dilemma the Dodgers have about whether and when to trade outfielder Yasiel Puig.
• Coming off a poor season, the Phillies were rumored to be shopping around third baseman Maikel Franco earlier this winter. Maybe this is why. Franco was suspended from his Winter League team after being seen partying at 6 AM the morning of an afternoon game.
• Sticking in the Caribbean, MLB still plans to play a series between the Twins and Indians in Puerto Rico this April. The island is still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Maria in September.
• More Marlins hijinx. Team president Derek Jeter is reportedly set to earn millions in bonus payments if the Marlins are profitable over the next five seasons. (h/t CBS Sports)
• Tom Ley blasts the Marlins and writes that we need to stop letting owners treat professional sports teams like any other business.
• Cliff Corcoran has ten players who could break out in 2018. No Cubs on the list, but our old friends Gleyber Torres and, believe it or not, Blake Parker are. Honestly, I always believed Parker could pitch in the majors, if not this well, and I’m glad to see him thriving in Anaheim.
• Speaking of Torres, Andrew Marchand writes that the top Yankees prospect could be a starting infielder this season, but that the Boys from the Bronx are likely to acquire another infielder as insurance anyway.
• Anthony Castrovince ranks all six new managers in 2018 by their likelihood of winning the World Series this season. Weirdly, there are three real World Series contenders with new managers this season. Usually only bad teams fire their manager.
• You want to know how slow it is? I’m actually going to link to (ugh) some Hall of Fame stories. Jayson Stark, banished from ESPN, publishes his Cooperstown ballot on Facebook, as well as the reasons behind it.
• Joe Posnanski makes that Hall-of-Fame case for Larry Walker.
• When all else fails, bring out the animals. Noah Syndergaard has taken to training with a snake. A real snake and not some disreputable agent.
• And finally, this is weird, but I’m assured that it’s a real thing. The Hartford Yard Goats have opened up their stadium in the offseason to Goat Yoga.

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