Baseball Blogs Weigh In News & Rumors

This week in baseball blogs:

• Jays From the Couch interviews Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro.
• The Point of Pittsburgh could see Pirates right-hander Tyler Glasnow eventually becoming their version of Dellin Betances.
• Unsung Zeroes, in the wake of Betances’ offseason clash with the Yankees, calls for changes to the arbitration system.
• Clubhouse Corner compares Cubs left fielder Kyle Schwarber and Twins third baseman Miguel Sano.
• Sports Talk Florida chats with Rays owner Stuart Sternberg.
• Inside the ‘Zona is optimistic about Diamondbacks right-hander Archie Bradley‘s transition to the bullpen.
• Underthought analyzes the first week of the season.
• The UCB Podcast discusses the Cardinals’ extensions of Yadier Molina and Stephen Piscotty.
• Wayniac Nation is a fan of the Braves’ minor league signing of Ryan Howard.
• The First Out At Third offers its own projections for the Brewers’ pitching staff.
• The K Zone ranks the top 10 players at each position.
• Call To The Pen lists the majors’ 30 best second basemen.
• Pinstriped Prospects talks with Yankees star infield prospect Gleyber Torres.
• Cascaudio chats with former major league catcher and current Cubs mental skills coordinator John Baker.
• Notes From the Sally scouts Red Sox third base prospect Bobby Dalbec.
• Pirates Breakdown delves into Bucs righty Jameson Taillon‘s terrific 2017 start.
• Sports Talk Philly wonders which player will represent the Phillies in this year’s All-Star Game.
• South of the 6ix heaps praise on Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson.
• Chin Music Baseball is optimistic about Rays ace Chris Archer after watching his season debut.
• The Runner Sports has high hopes for Astros righty Charlie Morton.
• MLB451 likens Athletics slugger Ryon Healy to Mark McGwire.
• The 3rd Man In has a mock amateur draft.
• The Unbalanced suggests that drafting high school players is a bad idea.
• Real McCoy Minor News interviews Padres outfielder Jabari Blash.
• Motor City Bengals names some Tigers who didn’t make the team’s Opening Day roster but could still contribute this season.
• Two Strike Approach: A Baseball podcast (link to iTunes page) talks with Eric Roseberry of Baseball Prospectus and SB Nation’s Reds Reporter.
• Everything Bluebirds and Dan Grant of Same Page Team have pieces focusing on the Blue Jays’ decision to release Melvin Upton Jr.
• Outside Pitch MLB argues that Yankees pitching prospect James Kaprielian‘s injury issues make Luis Severino all the more important to the organization.
• District On Deck searches for the reasons for Nationals righty Joe Ross‘ demotion to the minors.
• Nyrdcast looks at some under-the-radar Cardinals stats.
• Clubhouse Corner reviews Angels righty Garrett Richards‘ return to action.
• MetsMind writes that infielder Wilmer Flores will have chances to prove he’s an everyday-caliber player this year.
• Ladodgerreport shares 10 predictions for the Dodgers’ season.
• Jays Journal updates the statuses of some former Blue Jays.
• Call To The Pen details how the Phillies came to be.
• Mets Daddy isn’t a fan of the club’s Opening Day lineup.
• The Runner Sports previews the now-in-progress Yankees-Orioles series.
• Clutchlings profiles Brazilian right-handed prospect Eric Pardhino, whom the Blue Jays could be on their way to signing.
• rascalsoftheravine recaps the Dodgers’ season-opening series against the Padres.
• MetsRewind revisits shortstop Kazuo Matsui‘s time with the Mets.

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This week in baseball blogs:

• The Good Phight (podcast link) interviews Phillies general manager Matt Klentak.
• BP Toronto discusses plate discipline with Blue Jays center fielder Kevin Pillar.
• The Runner Sports argues that the Astros don’t need to acquire a front-line starter.
• Nyrdcast projects the next four years for newly extended Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina.
• Chin Music Baseball puts together an all-value team built with the top pre-arb players at each position.
• The Point of Pittsburgh has a five-year outlook on the Pirates.
• Inside the ‘Zona isn’t optimistic about the Diamondbacks’ chances this season.
• Clubhouse Corner talks with agent Lonnie Murray, CEO of Sports Management Partners.
• Pirates Breakdown writes a detailed piece on Bucs pitchers and the top of the strike zone.
• Baseball Hot Corner chooses a World Series winner, among other predictions.
• Call To The Pen (links: 1, 2) ranks the top 30 first basemen in the majors and analyzes some breakout candidates for the Phillies.
• The First Out At Third rolls out its own projection system to forecast 2017 for the Brewers’ hitters.
• District On Deck lists five Nationals who will need to step up this year.
• Jays From the Couch believes Toronto’s rotation could make it the favorite to win the American League East.
• The Unbalanced wonders how much former Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright has left in the tank.
• Halo Headquarters submits 2017 awards predictions.
• Sports Talk Philly is skeptical of Phillies fans who insist they wouldn’t root for right fielder Bryce Harper if the team were to sign him after the 2018 season.
• MLB Sweet Spot names some sleepers and busts for this season.
• A’s Farm discusses the team’s farm system with special assistant Grady Fuson.
• The Runner Sports has seven predictions in advance of the Yankees’ season.
• Mets Daddy lists five members of the club who are poised to improve.
• The 3rd Man In profiles and interviews young shortstop Nick Allen, who could be a high pick in this year’s amateur draft.
• South of the 6ix makes some bold predictions regarding the Blue Jays.
• Think Blue Planning Committee previews the Dodgers’ Triple-A rotation.
• Die Hard NYY explains why the Yankees will exceed expectations this year.
• rascalsoftheravine shares Dodgers predictions for 2017.
• Rotisserie Duck pays tribute to spring training.
• Everything Bluebirds is disappointed that one of Ryan Goins or Darwin Barney might not make the Blue Jays.
• Outside Pitch MLB wonders where Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval should hit in their batting order.
• Jays Journal runs down which Blue Jays are in the Hall of Fame.
• Blue Jays Mic is rather optimistic about right-hander Bo Schultz‘s future.

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This week in baseball blogs:

• The Runner Sports asks whether Orioles third baseman Manny Machado or Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper would make for a better free agent target for the Yankees after the 2018 season.
• The Unbalanced explains why Team USA’s victory in the World Series Baseball Classic is a big deal.
• Baseball Hot Corner praises the WBC.
• Outside Pitch MLB delves into why the White Sox haven’t yet found a suitable return for on-the-block left-hander Jose Quintana.
• Big Three Sports believes “the bar is set extremely high” this year for Red Sox southpaw David Price.
• TwinsDaily.com analyzes the effect catcher Jason Castro‘s pitch-framing skills could have on Minnesota’s hurlers.
• Sports Talk Philly eulogizes former major league pitcher, manager and general manager Dallas Green, who passed away Wednesday.
• Chin Music Baseball suggests that improved speed could yield a breakout season for Tigers third baseman Nick Castellanos.
• The 3rd Man In argues that the Brewers should have sold high on right-hander Junior Guerra
• Legends on Deck chats with Padres outfielder Jabari Blash.
• A’s Farm interviews Athletics assistant general manager Dan Feinstein about the team’s prospects.
• Clutchlings talks with Blue Jays assistant GM Andrew Tinnish about their international signings from last summer.
• Camden Depot views a healthy version of the Orioles’ Darren O’Day as one of the majors’ premier relievers.
• Districk On Deck checks in on the projections for the Nationals’ hitters.
• Nyrdcast offers a detailed preview of the 2017 Cardinals.
• Pirates Breakdown lists a few free agent relievers the Pirates could pursue.
• BP Toronto features a piece from a former minor league GM, who explains how minors teams prepare for the season.
• Ladodgerreport wants Julio Urias to begin the season in the Dodgers’ rotation.
• South of the 6ix focuses on the Blue Jays’ rotation.
• Clubhouse Corner profiles Astros outfield prospect Daz Cameron.
• Off The Bench Baseball previews the American League East and launches The Baseball Alliance Podcast.
• Underthought looks at saves data from the previous two years and searches for a better way to evaluate closer performance.
• Jays From the Couch could see Toronto southpaw Francisco Liriano serving as the best fifth starter in baseball this year.
• Outside Pitch MLB ranks the 10 biggest trades of former Braves GM Frank Wren’s tenure.
• The Runner Sports (links: 1, 2) deconstructs the 1986 Astros’ rotation, which helped the team to an LCS berth.
• Pinstriped Prospects polls readers on whether the Yankees should allow facial hair.
• Rotisserie Duck shares some fantasy baseball advice.
• The Point of Pittsburgh advises Pirates fans not to focus too much on spring training stats.
• Halo Headquarters wonders if longtime Angels manager Mike Scioscia is entering his final season with the club.
• Everything Bluebirds wants no part of a reunion between the Blue Jays and free agent utilityman Kelly Johnson.
• Call To The Pen writes about what’s in store for the Phillies’ rotation this year.
• Sports Heaven runs down the five main reasons the Pirates missed the playoffs last season.
• Jays Journal lists five players who have surprised for Toronto this spring.
• Mets Daddy interviews Mets pitching prospect Chris Viall.

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This week in baseball blogs:

• BP Toronto explains that third baseman Josh Donaldson isn’t the only member of the Blue Jays who’s buying into the fly ball revolution.
• District On Deck compares Nationals right fielder Adam Eaton‘s contract to Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier‘s new extension.
• Twins Daily wants Minnesota to take an aggressive approach in free agency next winter.
• Chin Music Baseball assesses Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer.
• Inside the ‘Zona breaks down Diamondbacks right-hander Taijuan Walker‘s mechanical adjustments.
• The Point of Pittsburgh opines that the Pirates should have right-hander Tyler Glasnow begin the season at the Triple-A level.
• Clutchlings writes that Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro is assembling “a top-flight organization.”
• Call To The Pen ranks the top 30 catchers in the majors.
• Rotisserie Duck wonders what the Baseball Hall of Fame will look like in 2025.
• Camden Depot uses the new Catch Probability stat to see the Orioles’ outfielders measure up.
• Pirates Breakdown has high hopes for Bucs utilityman Adam Frazier.
• Jays Journal offers some bold predictions for Toronto’s 2017.
• The 3rd Man In forecasts the top 10 picks of this year’s draft.
• Think Blue Planning Committee compares the Dodgers’ starting pitching depth to six other contenders’.
• The Runner Sports looks at the mini-feud between Astros third baseman Alex Bregman and the Rangers.
• Notes From the Sally previews the Rome Braves, who are Atlanta’s South Atlantic League affiliates.
• Everything Bluebirds suggests that defense-first center fielder Kevin Pillar is capable of providing more offense.
• Legends on Deck interviews Dodgers right-handed prospect Andrew Istler.
• Call To The Pen focuses on the Phillies’ camp battles, while The Runner Sports does the same with the Yankees’.
• Jays From the Couch is pleased that Toronto is exercising patience with its prospects.
• Underthought uses the Play Index on Baseball-Reference.com to find some under-the-radar streaks.
• Mets Daddy and Real McCoy Minor News share World Baseball Classic-themed pieces centering on Team USA.
• South of the 6ix names potential leadoff options for the Blue Jays if second baseman Devon Travis doesn’t return by Opening Day.
• Sports Talk Philly believes the Phillies should retire the numbers of Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins.

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This week in baseball blogs:

• The Unbalanced wonders which young shortstop is the American League’s best: the Astros’ Carlos Correa, the Indians’ Francisco Lindor or the Red Sox’s Xander Bogaerts.
• BP Toronto chats with Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin.
• Cubbies Crib interviews former catcher and fan favorite David Ross, who’s now in the reigning champions’ front office.
• The Point of Pittsburgh tracks how Pirates prospects who have cracked top 100 lists have fared during general manager Neal Huntington’s tenure.
• The Runner Sports evaluates the Astros’ chances of signing star Cuban outfield prospect Luis Robert.
• District On Deck handicaps the Nationals’ closer race.
• Off The Bench Baseball breaks down Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward‘s new swing.
• Chin Music Baseball searches for signs of decline for Mariners designated hitter Nelson Cruz.
• Jays Journal advises Toronto lock up superstar third baseman Josh Donaldson for the long haul.
• The First Out At Third makes five bold predictions regarding the 2017 Brewers.
• Underthought goes back 56 years to see how the save stat has impacted bullpen usage.
• Inside the ‘Zona studies the Diamondbacks’ bullpen options.
• Baseball Hot Corner regards Alex Rodriguez as one of baseball’s best broadcasters.
• South Of The 6ix and Everything Bluebirds each argue that the Blue Jays shouldn’t reunite with free agent infielder Brett Lawrie.
• The 3rd Man In profiles and interviews North Carolina State shortstop/third baseman Joe Dunand, a highly touted 2017 draft prospect and the nephew of Alex Rodriguez.
• Call To The Pen (links: 1, 2, 3) likens Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson to Derek Jeter; evaluates the Royals’ options at second base; and focuses on the next wave of young players who could contribute for the Phillies.
• A’s Farm ranks the Athletics’ top 10 prospects.
• Bronx Bomber Blogger profiles highly touted Yankees shortstop prospect Gleyber Torres.
• Jays From The Couch has a discussion with Blue Jays right-hander Chris Smith.
• The K Zone talks with Mariners righty Chase De Jong.
• Legends on Deck chats with Cardinals left-hander Ryan Sherriff.
• The Runner Sports shares an early look at which players the Yankees could move at the summer trade deadline.
• Pirates Breakdown (links: 1, 2) forecasts which Bucs hitters will start 2017 well and which will scuffle.
• Outside Pitch MLB believes there could still be hope for Red Sox outfielder Rusney Castillo.
• Mets Daddy runs down a couple of unheralded members of the Mets organization who are participating in the World Baseball Classic.
• Camden Depot hopes Orioles outfielder Joey Rickard can become an on-base machine.
• Real McCoy Minor News writes about which teams and prospects will be worth watching in the High-A California League this year.
• Pinstriped Prospects highlights five under-the-radar Yankees farmhands.
• Sports Talk Philly debates which now-former Phillie had the more memorable MVP season – Ryan Howard in 2006 or Jimmy Rollins in 2007.
• Mets Rewind revisits the Mets’ 2008 acquisition of former reliever J.J. Putz.

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This week in baseball blogs:

• The Runner Sports advocates for the Yankees to swing a trade for White Sox ace Jose Quintana.
• District On Deck searches for the causes of Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez‘s decline.
• Jays Journal doesn’t believe Toronto right-hander Aaron Sanchez has peaked yet.
• The 3rd Man In In expects the Brewers’ rebuild to yield positive results.
• Camden Depot suggests the Orioles use slugger Mark Trumbo as their leadoff hitter.
• The Point of Pittsburgh breaks down the Pirates’ top prospects.
• The K Zone interviews Phillies second baseman Scott Kingery.
• Chin Music Baseball lists five starting pitchers who must build on their strong second halves from 2016.
• Clubhouse Corner explains what the Double-A Trenton Thunder are doing to strike out childhood cancer.
• North Shore Nine is optimistic about Pirates right-hander Tyler Glasnow.
• Jays From the Couch isn’t worried about first baseman Justin Smoak and left fielder Melvin Upton Jr. taking on significant roles this year for Toronto.
• The Runner Sports wonders if Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius will be able to sustain the power he showed last year.
• A’s Farm previews Triple-A Nashville’s roster.
• Real McCoy Minor News chats with Indians left-handed pitching prospect Anderson Polanco.
• Mets Daddy interviews Mets catching prospect Patrick Mazeika.
• Notes From The Sally previews the 2017 Lakewood Blueclaws, who are the Phillies’ Single-A affiliates.
• Bat Flips & Nerds (SoundCloud link) speaks with former Reds catcher Chris Berset on working with the team’s current crop of young pitchers, among other subjects.
• Pirates Breakdown previews the upcoming season for young first baseman Josh Bell.
• Off The Bench Baseball offers a best-case scenario for the Yankees’ first base situation in 2017.
• Outside Pitch MLB argues that Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier shouldn’t lead off.
• BP Toronto posits that John Gibbons could become the most memorable manager in the history of the Blue Jays.
• Call To The Pen names Phillies who are entering make-or-break years.
• Baseball Hot Corner is eager to see how Red Sox starter and reigning American League Cy Young winner Rick Porcello will fare this season.
• Pinstriped Prospects regards young Yankees shortstop Jorge Mateo as trade bait.
• The Runner Sports has a piece on Astros righty prospect Jordan Jankowski.
• Big Three Sports expects Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper to provide more fantasy value than Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts this year.
• Sports Talk Philly runs down potential long-term managerial candidates for the Phillies.
• Everything Bluebirds profiles unheralded Blue Jays outfield prospect Joshua Palacios.

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This week in baseball blogs:

• North Shore Nine examines Pirates left fielder Gregory Polanco‘s career to date and looks at what’s in store for him this year.
• Dan Grant of Same Page Team shoots down comparisons between Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman and former major leaguer Tom Gordon. Stroman endorsed the piece on Twitter.
• Chin Music Baseball asks if Braves outfielder Matt Kemp will be able to sustain his late-2016 success going forward.
• Bleeding Royal Blue tackles the pace-of-play issue.
• Cubbies Crib previews Cubs infielder Javier Baez‘s 2017.
• NatsGM (links: 1, 2, 3) ranks the Nationals’ 30 best prospects.
• Big Three Sports suggests Royals reliever Kelvin Herrera could eventually bring back a massive haul in a trade.
• Call To The Pen analyzes the Braves’ offseason.
• Mets Daddy argues against an extension for second baseman Neil Walker.
• Clubhouse Corner laments the underrating of Brewers outfield prospect Lewis Brinson.
• District On Deck projects the Nationals’ Opening Day roster.
• Underthought looks for a better way than saves to evaluate closers.
• Jays Journal assesses Toronto manager John Gibbons.
• Pirates Breakdown forecasts the Bucs’ batting order.
• The K Zone wonders how much batting order really matters.
• The Unbalanced measures Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper against Angels center fielder Mike Trout.
• The 3rd Man In speaks with well-regarded pitching prospect Jacob Heatherly, a left-hander who could go early in this year’s draft.
• Wayniac Nation chats with a couple under-the-radar draft prospects.
• Real McCoy Minor News interviews Rays righty prospect Brandon Lawson.
• Pinstriped Prospects profiles young Yankees righty Luis Medina.
• Off The Bench Baseball highlights five must-watch players for the spring.
• The Runner Sports (links here) looks into the Astros’ fifth starter choices and lists takeaways from the Yankees’ spring training opener.
• Outside Pitch MLB delves into the Royals’ second base possibilities.
• Bat Flips & Nerds (podcast link) talks with Jenny Fromer, the CEO of Baseball Softball UK, about baseball’s growth in the United Kingdom.
• Rascals of the Ravine details a trip to Dodgers FanFest.
• Everything Bluebirds and Jays From the Couch have pieces focusing on Toronto’s bullpen.
• The Loop Sports writes about the White Sox’s center field candidates.
• Camden Depot likes some of the Orioles’ recent pitching depth pickups.
• Call To The Pen expects lefty Sean Burnett to claim the last spot in the Phillies’ bullpen.
• Ladodgerreport reacts to the Dodgers’ recent signing of reliever Sergio Romo.
• Rotisserie Duck shares some baseball trivia.

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This week in baseball blogs:

• Call To The Pen observes that the Diamondbacks might have to consider making monumental trades soon.
• The Point of Pittsburgh is frustrated with Pirates general manager Neal Huntington’s refusal to pay the necessary price to acquire White Sox left-hander Jose Quintana.
• BP Toronto checks in on how well members of the Blue Jays barreled the ball in 2016.
• Other League suggests a breakout season could be in the offing for Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius.
• Inside the ‘Zona analyzes the four-seam fastballs of Diamondbacks righties Taijuan Walker and Archie Bradley.
• The Redbird Daily revisits Cardinals right fielder Stephen Piscotty‘s 2016, which saw his numbers fall off dramatically in late May.
• Pirates Breakdown previews right-hander Jameson Taillon‘s 2017.
• The First Out At Third examines which Brewers are regression candidates.
• Pinstriped Prospects chats with Yankees righty prospect Domingo Acevedo.
• Jays Journal ranks Toronto’s five most interesting players for this year.
• Sports Talk Philly lists five players the Phillies could trade during the season.
• Camden Depot wonders if Orioles righty Dylan Bundy is ready to handle a full season’s workload as a starter.
• NYRDCAST searches for replacements for injured Cardinals righty Alex Reyes.
• Notes from the Sally previews the 2017 Hickory Crawdads, the Rangers’ South Atlantic League affiliate.
• The Runner Sports analyzes which Yankees need to step up in order for the club to compete for a playoff spot.
• Extra Innings: Baseball Around the World interviews former major league infielder/outfielder Mark Teahen about his decision to come out of retirement to play in Italy.
• Clutchlings focuses on prospect-related spring storylines for the Blue Jays.
• Motor City Bengals projects the Tigers’ opening day lineup.
• The Runner Sports (links: 1, 2, 3) analyzes which Yankees need to step up in order for the club to compete for a playoff spot; gives a rundown of the new spring training facility that the Astros and Nationals share; and looks into whether Yankees righty Adam Warren will start this year.
• Mets Daddy opines that the team should use righty Zack Wheeler out of the bullpen.
• Underthought compares Orioles third baseman Manny Machado and Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper.
• Real McCoy Minor News ventures to Giants FanFest.
• District On Deck names five key spring training storylines for the Nationals.
• Think Blue Planning Committee projects the starting rotation for the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate.
• Two Strike Approach: A Baseball Podcast discusses the Yankees and Red Sox.
• The K Zone looks back at Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy‘s breakout 2016.
• MLB451 likens presidents to former major league players and personalities.
• Jays From the Couch argues that left fielder Ezequiel Carrera should not be a platoon option for Toronto.
• Rotisserie Duck names the best defensive players of the 2016 season.
• Call To The Pen (links: 1, 2, 3) breaks down contract-year players who could end up on the block; reviews the NL Central; and details MLB’s non-negotiable ritual.
• Outside Pitch MLB asks if Alex Rodriguez could be the next manager of the Yankees.

This week in baseball blogs:

• Legends On Deck has a piece from free agent right-hander Jon Velasquez, who reflects on his baseball career to this point.
• Pirates Breakdown interviews Bucs righty prospect Mitch Keller.
• Clutchlings talks with Blue Jays director of player development Gil Kim.
• Chin Music Baseball argues that the Rockies erred in not signing now-Rangers first baseman Mike Napoli.
• Camden Depot regards Orioles righty Kevin Gausman as a breakout candidate.
• Think Blue Planning Committee looks at the Dodgers’ roster in the wake of the Sergio Romo, Franklin Gutierrez and Chase Utley deals.
• Inside the ‘Zona previews the battle among Shelby Miller, Patrick Corbin and Archie Bradley for the final two spots in the Diamondbacks’ rotation.
• Pinstriped Prospects ranks the Yankees’ top 50 prospects.
• NYRDCAST projects Cardinals righties Carlos Martinez, Mike Leake and Lance Lynn.
• BP Toronto and Blue Jay Hunter analyze the signed Blue Jays’ signing of reliever Joe Smith.
• Outside Pitch MLB and District On Deck offer thoughts on the possibility of the Nationals acquiring White Sox closer David Robertson.
• Call To The Pen (links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) compares the Phillies to the National League East rival Marlins and Braves; ranks the NL East in a separate piece; focuses on the biggest positional logjams across the majors; and lists six unheralded Yankees pitchers primed to make impacts in 2017.
• A’s Farm projects the Athletics’ Opening Day roster.
• Jays From the Couch interviews Blue Jays right-hander Mike Bolsinger.
• The First Out At Third picks the Brewers’ starting rotation.
• Rotisserie Duck forecasts the best hitters of 2017.
• Two Strike Approach: A Baseball Podcast previews this year’s Yankees.
• World Series Dreaming touches on Major League Baseball’s potential pace-of-play rule changes.
• The Runner Sports (links: 1, 2, 3) lists the Yankees’ top five outfield- and designated hitter-related storylines entering spring training; previews the Yankees’ rotation; and profiles Astros righty Cy Sneed.
• The 3rd Man In talks with UC Irvine outfielder Keston Hiura, one of the highest-ranked prospects going into this year’s draft.
• Real McCoy Minors chats with Athletics pitching prospect Cody Stull.
• Jays Journal names four Toronto prospects set to make their big league debuts in 2017.
• Mets Daddy writes that left-handed reliever Josh Smoker needs to develop his slider.
• The K Zone is pleased with the Dodgers’ decision to re-sign Utley.
• MLB Reports highlights five teams that could either end up as contenders or pretenders this year.
• The Point of Pittsburgh assembles a staff based on the best pitching seasons of individual Pirates since 1989.
• Rascals Of the Ravine (links here) breaks down Dodgers fanfest.

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This week in baseball blogs…

• The Redbird Daily regards the extension of right-hander Carlos Martinez as a major victory for the Cardinals.
• Camden Depot expects Orioles slugger Mark Trumbo to take steps backward this year.
• A’s Farm chats with Athletics president Dave Kaval.
• BP Toronto explains how Blue Jays center fielder Kevin Pillar could improve offensively.
• Inside the ‘Zona isn’t optimistic about the Diamondbacks’ chances of trading outfielder Yasmany Tomas.
• The Third Man In interviews and profiles Louisville left-hander/first baseman Brendan McKay, one of the premier prospects in this year’s draft class.
• The Swinging Strike likens newly acquired Cubs right-hander Eddie Butler to Jake Arrieta.
• Bleeding Royal Blue analyzes Kansas City’s lineup based on its Steamer projections.
• Angelswin.com evaluates the Halos’ bench options.
• Pirates Breakdown opines that the Bucs won’t lack for storylines in 2017.
• NYRDCAST takes a look at the punishment the Cardinals received for hacking the Astros.
• Outside Pitch MLB has a piece on one of the newest Brewers, power-hitting first baseman Eric Thames.
• Two Strike Approach: A Baseball Podcast previews the 2017 Red Sox.
• Mets Daddy wants no part of outfielder Michael Conforto at first base.
• Call To the Pen ranks the American League West going into 2017.
• Clubhouse Corner wonders how Yankees general manager Brian Cashman will maximize the value of his prospects.
• Chin Music Baseball delves into Rangers second baseman Roughned Odor’s unique 2016 season.
• North Shore Nine asks if the Pirates’ Jordy Mercer is the worst starting shortstop in the majors.
• Jays From the Couch argues that Toronto right fielder Jose Bautista isn’t regressing.
• Mets 360 compares left-handed relievers Jerry Blevins, Boone Logan and Craig Breslow.
• Baseball Hot Corner suggests that the Indians could be World Series favorites.
• The Runner Sports lists the Yankees’ five biggest infield storylines heading into spring training.
• Underthought (second in a two-part series) looks back on Bill James’ top 100 first baseman rankings of all-time, which were last updated in 2001, and tries to figure out which recent players would be worthy of inclusion on a new list.
• Call To The Pen believes the Phillies are halfway to a core four with center fielder Odubel Herrera and third baseman Maikel Franco.
• Think Blue Planning Committee looks at a potential battle for a roster spot among the Dodgers’ Darin Ruf, Scott Van Slyke and Rob Segedin.
• Jays Journal looks into whether Toronto should try to sign free agent outfielder Angel Pagan.
• Random Ranger Fan expects Texas to extend ace Yu Darvish, who’s scheduled to become a free agent next winter.
• Real McCoy Minor News talks with Indians outfield prospect Oscar Gonzalez.
• RSNSTATS details the American League’s long-running offensive superiority over the National League.
• Notes From the Sally previews the 2017 Greeneville Drive, the Red Sox’s South Atlantic League affiliate.
• Pinstriped Prospects advises the Yankees to trade infielder/outfielder Rob Refsnyder.
• Wayniac Nation names the 10 best players to never win a World Series.
• The Point of Pittsburgh assembles a roster based on the best hitting seasons of individual Pirates since 1989.
• The Unbalanced breaks down Pool A of the World Baseball Classic.
• The K Zone advocates for an international draft.
• The Runner Sports profiles Astros catcher Tyler Heineman.
• MLB Reports writes that the Rays should play three series a year in Montreal.
• Clutchlings highlights Blue Jays prospects who could make spring training impacts.

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