MLBTR Originals

Here is the MLBTR writing staff’s original content from the past week…

• Friday was the deadline for teams and arbitration-eligible players to exchange figures on contracts for 2018, and thus there was a distinct arbitration-centric focus to this week’s MLBTR Originals.  Contributor Matt Swartz outlined some of the more high-profile and intriguing arb cases in his Arbitration Breakdown series, looking at Josh Donaldson (link), Kris Bryant (link), George Springer (link), Charlie Blackmon (link), Jacob deGrom (link), Jose Abreu and Marcell Ozuna (link).
• Aside from the Padres’ deal with Brad Hand, this year’s arbitration class has thus far been short on any major extensions.  Jeff Todd looks at the biggest multi-year contracts signed by players while they were still eligible for arbitration.
• Could Christian Yelich have so much trade value that the Marlins may find it impossible to trade the outfielder for a fair return?  This Catch-22 is explored by Kyle Downing in his latest look at Yelich’s trade market.
• The Pirates’ remaining trade chips are profiled by Connor Byrne in the latest “Taking Inventory” entry.  Since Connor’s piece was published a week ago, the Bucs finally moved one of their biggest names, trading Gerrit Cole to the Astros.
• Tim Dillard is back with his first Inner Monologue of the offseason, as the veteran Brewers right-hander discusses his day-to-day winter routine, Eggos, baseball card facts, society’s lack of flying cars, and many more topics.