Quote of the Week
“ I'm doing all the negotiations. [Harper] just need a little convincing, man! That's all! ”
– Nelly (yes, Nelly)
This Week in Baseball
Winter Is Coming...
Major League Baseball will be gathering in Las Vegas this year for their annual Winter Meetings. There's all kinds of league business to discuss as well as the Rule 5 Draft. But what fans really care about are the free agent signings and trade rumors that abound. Everyone wants to know what moves their favorite teams will be making that they will almost immediately regret.
Gold Diggers...
The St. Louis Cardinals traded for All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Cardinals had to give up two major league quality players, but the move significantly transforms their lineup and improves their defense. Last year the team had 20 errors at first base in addition to the error of having Mike Matheny be the manager.
Bye Bye Bryce...
After signing pitcher Patrick Corbin to a 6-year, $140 million contract, the Nationals owner Ted Lerner has gone on-record saying that the team no longer has the funds available to pay Bryce Harper even the $300 million he already turned down. This is the same owner that Scott Boras talked into signing Matt Wieters for two years, so it's safe to assume they'll be offering Harper $400 million.
Playing House...
The Boston Red Sox have accepted an invitation to go to the White House to acknowledge their World Series championship. Manager Alex Cora who has been critical of President Trump says he will attend. It's nice to see some accord between people with opposing views. Maybe there's hope for the Yankees and Red Sox after all.
RIP...
Former Los Angeles Angels infielder Luis Valbuena and former Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Jose Castillo died in a car crash Thursday in Venezuela. Initial reports look like they might have been targeted in a robbery. They were both well-regarded teammates and their loss is felt by many.
On the Air
“ This is actually a really hot stove. I burned my hand on this hot stove. That's how hot it is. ”
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Episode 87: Hottest of Hot Stove Action; Goldy to Card; M’s Tradapolooza; Nats Nab Corbin; A’s New Ballpark(?); NHL in Seattle; XFL
First and foremost, can you feel the hot stove action? It’s getting hot in here! Episode 87 of Foul Territory: A Baseball Podcast is so full of hot stove action we spend a majority of the show focused on—you guessed it: …
Going Deep
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Baseball Was “Berry, Berry Good” to Luis Valbuena—Until it Got Him Killed
Most people have heard the old SNL catchphrase of Chico Escuela, a former Cubs All-Star brought to life by Garrett Morris back in the late 1970s. Sammy Sosa used to say it to reporters, as proof that success on the …
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5 Questions for the Winter Meetings
After the Red Sox won the World Series and the league as a whole moved into offseason mode, many believed this would be one of the more interesting in the last few years. Even before the Winter Meetings have gotten …
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Hot Stove Musings: Patrick Corbin Auction (Greed Personified) and the Middling Mets
Four, Five, or Six Years? Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported the Yankees decided they wanted to go four years on Patrick Corbin, but then decided to add a fifth year to the contract. Then they were told …
Off Base
