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Good morning everybody! We’re officially at the halfway point of the first week of spring training...and still no deals have been signed for Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Dallas Keuchel, or Craig Kimbrel. I wouldn’t be surprised if we soon see news about a free agent camp forming like they had last year.
Anyway, here are today’s stories.
In Mariners news...
- The Mariners are reportedly expecting Edwin Encarnación to report to spring training, so you can all hang onto your Encarnación jerseys for now.
- He’s there!
Dustin Ackley is back in Peoria. He was getting his very long beard trimmed a little by the barber on site.
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) February 12, 2019
- King Félix doesn’t seem to think this will be his last year pitching in the big leagues. Then again, what’s he supposed to say to that question?
Hernandez on pitching beyond this season after his contract is up: "I'm not done. I'm not done yet. It motivates me every year to come here and I just want to be at my best. I know it's my final year. But I don't think I'm done."
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) February 12, 2019
Around the league...
- Oh jeez...
Daisuke Matsuzaka has had shoulder discomfort after a fan pulled his right arm so hard a few days ago. Won't be throwing for the foreseeable future. https://t.co/2HX5RstQXc
— Kazuto Yamazaki (@Kazuto_Yamazaki) February 11, 2019
Marlins have indeed hired Derek Jeter’s best friend in baseball Jorge Posada as a special adviser to baseball operations. Great player, terrific guy. @CraigMish on it
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 12, 2019
- Speaking of the Marlins...
Source: Veteran reliever Sergio Romo has agreed to a one-year MLB deal with the Marlins for $2.5 million plus incentives. The deal is pending a physical.
— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) February 12, 2019
- All MLB players will wear a special MLB 150 patch on their jerseys this summer.
- The Royals still haven’t paid Yordano Ventura’s estate the money he was owed on his contract following his death.
- Jeff Sullivan at Fangraphs notes that we are no longer seeing average fastball velocities rise at a consistent rate.
- Bryce Harper will reportedly not consider short-term deals from clubs.
- Jay Jaffe at Fangraphs tries to find homes for some of the remaining mid-tier free agents.
Anders’ picks...
- This is criminal.
They really don't call traveling in the NBA. Bradley Beal basically walked to Flint, then skipped to Ann Arbor & the refs were like, "Keep it moving." Blake Griffin's face, though... pic.twitter.com/zycyPyXloz
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) February 12, 2019