Without getting too far into my personal history, I was always under the impression that my ethnic heritage was mainly Norwegian. I took one of those DNA tests recently and I discovered that I’m probably only a tiny bit Norwegian and that my predominant ethnic heritage is actually Finnish. So here’s a link to the Finnish Baseball and Softball Federation. I hereby apply to be any team’s Finnish scout. I’m sure it’s the next hotbed of baseball talent.
- Athletics top draft pick and Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray has indicated that he intends to declare for the NFL Draft. The A’s are talking with Murray and his representative Scott Boras about what it would take for him to commit to baseball full-time.
- Jeff Passan reports that MLB has agreed to allow the A’s to make a new financial offer to Murray without running afoul of rules concerning bonuses to draft picks. From what I understand (and from what Passan is reporting), tearing up Murray’s original deal and giving him a major league deal would only be prohibited if it were done to circumvent MLB rules about amateur bonuses. Since that clearly isn’t Oakland’s motive here, MLB has given them the go-ahead. (And no, the A’s don’t get a draft pick next year if Murray leaves baseball for football.)
- Passan and Pat McManamon break down Murray’s decision and weigh his potential futures in each sport. The five-foot-nine thing is probably the biggest argument in favor of baseball and it always has been.
- Ken Rosenthal speaks with Brian Jordan, Joe Mauer and Matt Holliday who faced similar decisions about a career in baseball or football. (The Athletic sub. req.) However, all three of them said that what they went through was actually pretty different that the choices that Murray has to make.
- Alex Kirshner writes that no matter what decision Murray makes, it’s his decision to make and don’t criticize him for using the leverage he currently has to get the best deal.
- On to actual major leaguers. The Yankees have signed free agent infielder D.J. LeMahieu to a two-year, $24 million deal.
- David Schoenfield looks at what kind of a player the Bronx Bombers are getting in LeMahieu and writes that it sure looks like the Yankees have little interest in free agent Manny Machado. Unless they do.
- Craig Edwards thinks that the signing of LeMahieu isn’t terrible in the abstract, but that the Yankees will regret signing LeMahieu over Machado, if that’s what they’re actually doing here.
- Reaction over at Pinstripe Alley was . . .interesting. The natives are no more happy there than we are with the Cubs front office over here.
- The Blue Jays traded catcher Russell Martin to the Dodgers for two minor leaguers. The Dodgers also got $16.4 million to go towards Martin’s $20 million salary for 2019.
- Eric Longenhagen breaks down the two minor leaguers the Blue Jays got. Neither is considered a top prospect.
- The Phillies met with free agent outfielder Bryce Harper over the weekend and left describing the meeting as “really positive.”
- Bob Nightengale describes the Phillies as the “clear favorite” to sign Harper and that the team expects to make a formal offer to Harper later this week. Nightengale also believes the White Sox are the favorites to land free agent infielder Manny Machado.
- Richard Justice has some “mystery teams” that might sign Harper or Machado. Any “mystery team” that doesn’t have Daphne and Velma in the group isn’t worth mentioning.
- Phillies pitcher Jake Arrieta warned younger players about the declining state of free agency. Yeah, we’re getting a work stoppage.
- There are 15 players who failed to reach an agreement with their team before the deadline to submit figures for arbitration.
- The big name here is the Rockies’ Nolan Arenado, who is asking for a record $30 million, whereas the Rockies are countering with a still-record $24 million. But sources indicate to Jeff Passan that they expect that the two sides will avoid arbitration and agree on a deal for $27 million.
- Matt Kelly looks at some teams that could get a huge boost this upcoming season from players they already have returning to form. There’s a guy named Yu Darvish on that list.
- The staff at SI.com make up some possible deals for Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner.
- However, new Giants general manager Farhan Zaidi said that no deal for Bumgarner is imminent and that he’s not looking to deal his ace. He admitted that he has listened when teams call about Bumgarner, but there have been “no outgoing calls” about a Bumgarner deal.
- The Rays are reportedly interested in signing free agent infielder Matt Davidson and turning him into a two-way player. Davidson has expressed an interest in pitching in the past.
- Good news as Indians outfielder (and former Cub) Leonys Martin says he’s fully healthy. Martin almost died last year after a bacterial infection. He wants to thank his medical staff and his teammates for their support.
- The Padres have given up on the idea of Wil Myers playing third base. He’ll return to the outfield in 2019. Also, the Padres have reportedly spoken to the Cubs about trading for David Bote (among a few other teams and other players) to be their new third baseman.
- Ben Lindbergh looks at the early Hall of Fame voting returns and thinks that the voters are getting it mostly right this time.
- Tim Hagerty has the story of a forgotten baseball pioneer, Abner Powell. Powell was once a serious Hall-of-Fame candidate for two of his inventions—the infield tarp and the rain check.
- Fired Tigers broadcaster Rod Allen gives his side of the story about the fight with fellow broadcaster Mario Impemba that ended his time with Detroit. He admits there was an altercation, but says the reports were “overblown” and compared it to a baseball fight with lots of pushing and shoving but not anything more than that.
- Tim Brown reports on the California Strong Celebrity Softball Game that raised money for the victims of the recent wildfires across the state. I did not know that one of the people who had to flee from the Malibu fires was Cubs legend Derrek Lee. It sounds like his home is still standing, however, but it’s still not safe to return. As Lee said, he’ll be fine. This benefit was for those who lost a lot more than he did.
- Doug Bruzzone speaks to some minor leaguers about their thoughts about the extra-innings rule.
- J.J Cooper looks at how technology has changed the way hitting coaches at all levels do their job over just the past couple of years.
- Do you want to see Reds outfielder Yasiel Puig racing golf carts while on vacation in Hawaii? Yep, you probably do.
- And finally, Grant Brisbee wants to play Little League again where he figures he’d be a four-win player in a 16-game season. He also figures that would be worth about $18.2 million.
And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster.