MLB Bullets is under fire

Good morning.

• Jeff Passan looks at the free agency of Jake Arrieta and the rest of this winter’s free agents and declares that there is a labor war going on right now and the players are losing.
• Arrieta, for his part, says that he was surprised that he was still unsigned on March 13 but that he’s happy to be a Phillie and is ready for a fight.
• Arrieta also says that he’ll be ready to pitch on Opening Day. Aaron Nola has already been announced as the Phillies Opening day starter, but Arrieta plans to make his start sometime the first time through the rotation.
• However, Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman will not be ready for Opening Day because of shoulder soreness.
• And Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki won’t be ready for Opening Day because of bone spurs in his heel.
• Lance Lynn said that he signed with the Twins because they are ready to win now. He also admitted to some disappointment over his contract, but added “maybe I can stay longer” than just one year.
• Buster Olney writes that the Twins had about the very best offseason that they could have possibly expected.
• The Yankees signed second baseman Neil Walker to a one-year, $4 million deal.
• Reportedly, that was the only guaranteed major league contract that Walker was offered this winter.
• R.J. Anderson argues that Yankees general manager Brian Cashman doesn’t get enough credit for being one of the smartest men in the game and that the Walker deal is an example of that.
• Jeff Sullivan looks at the issues surrounding the return of Carlos Gonzalez to the Rockies and why it mades some sense for the Rockies to bring him back for one more year.
• Bad news for the Mets as outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is out with a sore wrist and third baseman David Wright has had yet another setback in his comeback attempt. I’m afraid it just isn’t going to happen for Wright. He was a great player.
• The Mets are getting inquiries from teams wanting to trade for outfielder Juan Lagares.
• Red Sox legend Tommy Harper was asked about the movement to rename Yawkey Way outside of Fenway Park and he said that no amount of philanthropy outweighs the pain he still feels about the racism he suffered at the hands of the Red Sox.
• Mike Petriello lists the teams expected to be the most improved in 2018.
• Jay Jaffe writes about why the projection systems are so bearish on the Brewers.
• Paul Lebowitz lists the most underrated player on each NL East team.
• And Ryan Davis list the most underrated player on each NL Central team. Any guesses on the Cubs choice?
• Michael Baumann writes about how the starting pitcher and the five-man rotation are becoming a thing of the past.
• The Orioles agreed to let pitcher Andrew Cashner keep his beard when he signed with the team as a free agent this winter. Normally, the Orioles only allow players to have a neatly-trimmed goatee. Cashner will be expected to keep his beard “neat and well-groomed.”
• The Orioles will also allow children nine and under to attend selected games for free this year along with a paid adult in the upper decks. That’s a nice move.
• Matt Snyder argues that the top prospect in baseball, Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna, is forcing his way into the Braves lineup. However, Snyder says that like Kris Bryant in 2015, the Braves will keep him in the minors until they can gain another year of control.
• Commissioner Rob Manfred is asking the governor of West Virginia to veto a sports gambling bill unless they agree to add an “integrity fee.” An “integrity fee” is Rob Manfred’s way of saying he just wants to get his beak wet.
• if you’re interested in the impact of tax law on sports, Sheryl Ring looks at how the new tax laws will impact the business of major league baseball.
• Do you want to know how good Mike Trout is? Zach Kram writes that if you took all the worst parts of Mike Trout’s career and re-assembled them into “Franken-Trout’s Monster,” you’d still have an All-Star.
• Sam Miller asks what team would be the best in baseball if every player currently on their roster was in the prime of their career?
• Roger Cormier examines how major league ballplayer catch the ball.
• Jeff Passan profiles Brewers pitcher Brent Suter and his twin passions for baseball and environmentalism.
• In New York City on April 21 and 22, there is going to be an MLB Food Fest with all the best food items from all 30 major league stadiums.
• I forgot to preview this on Monday, but later that day Diamondbacks pitcher Taijuan Walker gave away free tacos made from his own personal recipe. (Video) I meant to link that Craig Calcaterra was happily shocked that this deal was made without any corporate sponsors. It was just Walker wanting people to taste his tacos.
• And finally, as a favor to a fan, Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper told a man that his wife was expecting their first child.

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