This week’s original content:
- MLBTR once again offered insightful pieces from former major leaguer reliever Burke Badenhop and ex-Rockies outfielder Ryan Spilborghs. Burke shared a interesting view of former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow’s signing with the Mets, who handed the now-Arizona Fall League outfielder a $100K bonus on a minor league deal in September. In Burke’s opinion, given that most minor leaguers – including him during his pre-major league days – have to scratch and claw their way to the big leagues while making little money, the Mets awarded the 29-year-old Tebow a blatantly gratuitous sum.
- Meanwhile, Ryan put forth potential solutions to improve September baseball. The seven-year veteran explained why cutting the schedule from 162 to 154 games, expanding the postseason, increasing rosters from 25 to 28 players, and streamlining the 40-man roster in September would be benefit the game.
- Tim Dierkes examined whether White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu should opt into arbitration during a five-day window after the World Series. Abreu is already positioned to make $11.66MM next season and $34MM from 2017-19, but Tim argues that he’d have little to lose by giving the arbitration process a shot.
- This year’s Offseason Outlook series continued with previews focusing on the Phillies, Yankees, Angels, Mariners and Athletics.
- Steve Adams looked into the cases of pitchers Derek Holland, Clay Buchholz, Jaime Garcia, Gio Gonzalez and Jason Hammel, any of whom could end up on the free agent market if their teams decline club options for 2017.
- Jeff Todd checked in on the results of last offseason’s Rule 5 draft, noting that eight members of the class emerged as potentially interesting contributors in 2016.
- In the latest mailbag, Steve fielded questions on the Mariners, Rays, Rockies, and potential free agent postings from Korea and Japan.
