MLB Bullets rides off into the sunset

For those of you home today for the holiday, remember that yesterday was the 100th anniversary of the armistice that ended “The War to End All Wars,” except that it didn’t. The American public does seem to have a collective hole in its consciousness surrounding the First World War, so take a little time to read one of the many articles out there — or even better, a book.

• A Minnesota legend announced his retirement as Joe Mauer hangs it up after 15 seasons. He cited the fear of additional concussions as one reason to go out now. Joe, you don’t need to make any apologies. You left it all on the ballfield.
• Aaron Gleeman was born in St. Paul the same year as Joe Mauer and Mauer’s presence was a part of his entire life, even if he didn’t really know him personally. Gleeman shares his thoughts on Mauer’s career and writes that he lived up to all the hype.
• Matt Snyder assesses Mauer’s qualifications for Cooperstown. He thinks Mauer belongs.
• Dayn Perry has 11 thoughts about what happened at the GM meetings.
• Jeff Passan has some thoughts on the offseason free agent market and the role of the “competitive balance tax,” which is serving as a de facto salary cap.
• Whitney McIntosh has five teams that need to splurge in the free agent market this winter.
• Grant Brisbee looks at the potential suitors for free agent Manny Machado.
• A graphic look at the market for free agent pitcher Patrick Corbin. He’s signing with the Yankees. Unless he doesn’t want to, in which case he’s probably going to the Angels. Unless he isn’t. How’s that for a hot take?
• The Yankees are reportedly interested in trading for Mariners pitcher James Paxton.
• Katherine Acquavella outlines all the starting pitchers that the Yankees could pursue this winter, both free agents and trade targets.
• Two of the top free agent targets for the Braves this winter are outfielder Michael Brantley and catcher Wilson Ramos.
• Richard Justice has nine stars who could be traded this winter. No, Kris Bryant is not on the list.
• The Astros apparently had a deal in place at the trade deadline for Bryce Harper until Nationals management nixed it.
• An off-season preview for all the NL Central teams.
• And another preview for all the AL Central teams.
• Mets special assistant J.P. Ricciardi is leaving the team. That’s to be expected after the new general manager hire.
• Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado and Athletics third baseman Matt Chapman won the Platinum Glove Awards for their respective leagues.
• Astros second baseman Jose Altuve announced that he’d be “120 percent” by Spring Training after offseason knee surgery, which just proves that he’s as bad at math as he is good at baseball.
• Baseball’s most beautiful couple, Justin Verlander and Kate Upton, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter Genevieve Upton Verlander.
• To celebrate the 150th anniversary of baseball in Cincinnati, the Reds are going to have 15 throwback uniforms in 2019. C. Trent Rosecrans looks at what the Reds are doing and breaks down all 15. (The Athletic sub. req.)
• The MLB All-Stars are in Japan, playing a series with Samurai Japan. Wes Jenkins wonders if MLB should bring back NPB star Wladimir Balentien with them.
• The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome may be no more, but we still have the Tokyo Dome. Alyson Footer has three things to love about watching a baseball game at “The Big Egg,” as the locals call it.
• And finally, Nationals outfielder Juan Soto was robbed of a home run in the Tokyo Dome when he hit a ball that bounced off the roof. The ground rules are that balls that hit the roof are in play, so all he got for his troubles was a fly out.

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