Happy Thanksgiving! Here are some links on a relatively quiet day for MLB transactions…
- Jerry Crasnick profiles MLBPA executive director Michael Weiner in a must-read piece at ESPN.com. Weiner, who is fighting brain cancer, has the respect of MLB players, agents and officials thanks in part to his ability to relate to others and strong communication skills.
- John Lott of the National Post explains how the Blue Jays–Marlins blockbuster started with an attempt to acquire Josh Johnson and expanded to include others, including Jose Reyes and Mark Buehrle. However, both GM Alex Anthopoulos and president Paul Beeston denied that they set out to "make a splash" this winter, Lott writes.
- Upcoming changes to American tax laws could affect the way teams and agents do business, Ronald Blum of the Associated Press reports (via the Miami Herald). The expected changes are primarily a concern for large market teams, in the view of Athletics GM Billy Beane. "It's probably not a situation I'll have to face in Oakland too much," he said.
