MLB Bullets finds a little winter heat

Good morning. We’ve sort of entered a lull in the baseball news as we enter the Christmas holidays. It also seems that the MLBPA doesn’t let general managers and coaches show up unannounced at the door of free agents on Christmas Eve like they used to in the days of Moneyball. (Note: Billy Beane did not show up at Scott Hatteberg’s door to sign him on Christmas of 2001. They actually had telephones back in 2001.)

• The Nationals have agreed to a two-year deal with free agent pitcher Anibal Sanchez. The Nats should be careful and make sure that Sanchez is not just using them to get a better deal out of the TIgers.
• The Cardinals are “close” to a deal with free agent relief pitcher Andrew Miller.
• The Angels added to their rotation. Two days after signing free agent Matt Harvey to a one-year deal, the Angels signed free agent pitcher Trevor Cahill to a one-year deal.
• Mike Axisa writes that although the Angels have made several moves this winter, they still need to make more big moves so as not to waste the prime of Mike Trout.
• Speaking of Harvey, Jeff Sullivan examines why Harvey isn’t the same pitcher he was in 2015.
• Another ex-Cub signed a free agent deal as free agent Daniel Murphy has agreed to a two-year deal with the Rockies.
• Everyone is waiting on the two big free agents and Manny Machado took a big four-hour meeting with the Phillies.
• Ken Rosenthal argues that it’s time for the Phillies to spend that “stupid money” on Machado before it is too late. (The Athletic sub. req.)
• A construction worker from Philadelphia made his own personal plea to Machado to sign with the Phillies.
• Jon Tayler outlines what the Phillies would still have to do this winter if they do end up signing Machado.
• The Red Sox are waiting to see if their current closer Craig Kimbrel is willing to come back before moving on to signing a different relief pitcher.
• Jeff Sullivan has a list of some potential free agent bargains this winter. (ESPN+ sub. req.) Some of them have already signed like Cahill and Murphy.
• Travis Sawchik notes that the “Hot Stove” is long past the “Cold Stove” phase. These days, he argues, the stove is basically off.
• Eno Sarris asks the question “How many good, young, pre-arbitration eligible players does an MLB team need to compete these days?” (The Athletic sub. req.) The answer is probably less than you think.
• Michael Baumann explains why financially, it makes more sense for Heisman Trophy winner and Athletics first-round pick Kyler Murray to play football than baseball. At least as far as the money is concerned. His brain might argue otherwise.
• David Schoenfield argues that it’s not crazy to think the Mets could win the NL East in 2019. Of course, that’s not what Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said. He said the Mets should be the favorites.
• WIth the signing of free agents Billy Hamilton and Terrance Gore, Zach Kram notes that while the 2019 Royals may not be good, at least they are going to be the fastest team around.
• The Twins will retire Joe Mauer’s number 7. He’s the eighth Twin to have his number retired.
• More former Cubs news as Astros reliever Joe Smith ruptured his Achilles tendon and will miss the next six-to-eight months.
• The Mariners announced that they will play in “T-Mobile Park” next season.
• And finally, Pirates pitcher Trevor Williams travelled to Kenya to help with a clean water project. He then traded his Pirates jersey to a really cool-looking Kenyan jersey.

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