MLBTR Originals

A look back at the original reporting and analysis found on MLBTR this past week:

• Ben Nicholson-Smith asked MLBTR readers which team won the Rays-Royals trade. Over 47% of you thought the Rays came out on top, but nearly one-third of you believe both teams did well with the deal. 
• Ben hosted the weekly live chat.
• Mike Axisa gathered the best the baseball corner of the web had to offer in Baseball Blogs Weigh In. This week's edition features posts on the Josh Hamilton signing, the Rays-Royals blockbuster deal, and the Reds-Indians-Diamondbacks three-way trade. 
• Here's the schedule for MLBTR's roster of weekly features and exactly what to expect from them.
• With the Hot Stove at full boil, there's plenty to say about the moves being made or the lack thereof. Keep in mind, however, MLBTR's commenting policy.

A look back at the original reporting and analysis found on MLBTR, as we went 24 hours during the Winter Meetings this past week:

• Steve Adams anchored our around-the-clock coverage providing a daily recap (Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, and the Rule 5 Draft) of the hard news and rumors emanating from Nashville.
• Zach Links meanwhile summarized the Winter Meetings for each team in the National League and American League.
• On the eve of the Winter Meetings, Tim Dierkes posted his conversation with legendary baseball scribe Peter Gammons.
• Mike Axisa put together the best of the baseball blogosphere in Baseball Blogs Weigh In.

A look back at the original reporting and analysis found on MLBTR this past week:

• MLBTR broke the news that the Braves received Jordan Walden when they traded Tommy Hanson to the Angels.
• MLBTR was the first to learn the Angels claimed outfielder Scott Cousins off waivers from the Mariners.
• Tim Dierkes was the first to report Charlie Morton will earn $2MM from his new contract with the Pirates.
• David Wright and his agent, Seth Levinson, reached out to MLBTR to respond to the slew of reports regarding their contract negotiations with the Mets.
• Jim Munsey, agent for free agent reliever Sean Burnett, told MLBTR the rumor his client is seeking a four-year deal is a "complete fabrication by someone."
• MLBTR has released its 2013 Arbitration Tracker displaying all arbitration eligible players, with fields for team, service time, player and team submissions, the midpoint, and the settlement amount. The 2013 Arbitration Tracker can also be filtered by team, signing status, service time, Super Two status, and whether a hearing occurred.
• MLBTR has a separate tender/non-tender tracker with the results from this past Friday's non-tender deadline. Additionally, Mike Axisa listed the notable non-tenders. 
• Ben Nicholson-Smith explained how the non-tender system works.
• MLBTR presented a series of Divisional chats, as a warm-up to this week's Winter Meetings, covering the NL East (hosted by Mark Polishuk), AL Central (hosted by Steve Adams), NL West (hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith), NL Central (hosted by Tim Dierkes), AL East and AL West (both hosted by Mike Axisa).
• Mike compiled this week's edition of Baseball Blogs Weigh In.
• Here's a refresher on MLBTR's commenting policy.

A look back at the original reporting and analysis found on MLBTR this past week scattered amongst the Thanksgiving leftovers, Black Friday shopping bags, and Cyber Monday ads:

• Ben Nicholson-Smith asked asked three general managers of teams with considerable young pitching how they weigh the possibility of trades against the reality that you can never have enough pitching.
• Ben explained how the non-tender system works.
• Tim Dierkes defined the eligibility for arbitration and listed some of the talent that has been non-tendered in the past and could be non-tendered by this Friday's deadline.
• Tim opined the Orioles' Mark Reynolds is one such non-tender candidate. 
• Ben completed the 2013 Offseason Outlook series by profiling the Red Sox, Marlins, and Rockies. 
• Mike Axisa asked our readers who will be the next top ten free agent, as ranked in MLBTR's Top 50 Free Agent list, to ink a new deal. Over 34% of you believe B.J. Upton, ranked number five, will be the next one to put pen to paper. 
• Steve Adams presented a Free Agent Faceoff between Ryan Ludwick and Cody Ross. Over 61% of MLBTR readers would prefer to sign Ross.
• Tim pitted center fielders Angel Pagan and Shane Victorino in a Free Agent Faceoff with more than 55% of you favoring Pagan.
• Mark Polishuk dished out a third helping of the Free Agent Faceoff featuring Francisco Liriano and Brandon McCarthy. Almost three-quarters of you would sign McCarthy. 
• Ben was the first to report Bryan LaHair's two-year contract with the SoftBank Hawks is worth $4.7MM (including a signing bonus and a buyout), contains $2MM in incentives each year, and allows LaHair to opt out after 2013.
• MLBTR was the first to learn the Cardinals signed first baseman/right fielder Jamie Romak to a minor league contract.
• Ben compiled a calendar of hot stove events, as the MLB offseason is now in full swing.
• Mike reminisced about a previous Marlins fire sale that occurred seven years ago this week.
• Ben hosted this week's live chat.
• Mike assembled the best of the baseball blogosphere for you in Baseball Blogs Weigh In.
• Here's the schedule for MLBTR's roster of weekly features and exactly what to expect from them.

A look back at the original reporting and analysis found on MLBTR this past week:

• Ben Nicholson-Smith examined the process involved in signing an elite free agent and discovered it expands beyond the reach of the baseball operations department.
• Ben broke down the multiyear deals signed by free agents so far this offseason.
• Ben was the first to report Scott Baker's contract with the Cubs included incentives worth $1.5MM.
• To keep track of all details related to free agent signings throughout the offseason, be sure to bookmark MLBTR's 2013 MLB Free Agent Tracker. 
• Tim Dierkes was the first to learn Daniel McCutchen and Dan Meyer signed minor league deals with the Orioles and Zach Simons did likewise with the Rangers.
• Tim also broke the story of the Marlins claiming left-hander Scott Maine off waivers from the Blue Jays. 
• MLBTR was the first to learn the Blue Jays signed right-hander Neil Wagner to a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training.
• Ben completed the 2013 Arbitration Eligibles series with a detailed look at the Blue Jays, White Sox, Tigers, Yankees, Rangers, and Red Sox.
• Ben previewed the Offseason Outlook for the Tigers, Nationals, Giants, White Sox, Yankees, Rangers, and Blue Jays.
• Mark Polishuk asked MLBTR readers whether the Mets will extend David Wright and R.A. Dickey. 
  Nearly 42% of you believe the Mets will extend Wright and trade the newly crowned NL Cy Young Award winner.
• Mike Axisa presented a Free Agent Faceoff between Michael Bourn and B.J. Upton. Over 54% of MLBTR readers would prefer to sign Bourn. 
• Ben hosted the weekly live chat.
• Mike gathered the best the baseball corner of the web had to offer in Baseball Blogs Weigh In.
• There are many ways to enjoy MLB Trade Rumors. Here's a refresher on how to use MLBTR. 
• Want the latest rumors for your favorite team? Check out MLBTR's team-by-team links for Facebook, Twitter, and RSS pages and feeds.

A look back at the original reporting and analysis found on MLBTR this past week:

• Ben Nicholson-Smith filed several posts from the 2012 GM Meetings held in Indian Wells, California, including interviews with Walt Jocketty of the Reds, Jack Zduriencik of the Mariners, Frank Wren of the Braves, Andrew Friedman of the Rays, Ben Cherington of the Red Sox, Josh Byrnes of the Padres, John Mozeliak of the Cardinals, Jeff Luhnow of the Astros, and Dan Duquette of the Orioles.
• Ben opined, based on his conversations with several GMs, that it’s prudent to maintain modest expectations for future free agent classes.
• Tim Dierkes continued the 2013 Arbitration Eligibles series by examining the Giants, Nationals, and Marlins.
• Ben summarized the Offseason Outlook for the Athletics and Braves.
• MLBTR was the first to report the Twins signed reliever Tim Wood to a minor league contract, which includes an invitation to Spring Training.
• Mike Axisa put together the best of the baseball blogosphere in Baseball Blogs Weigh In.
• Ben hosted the MLBTR live chat this week.
• Here's a refresher on MLBTR's commenting policy.

A look back at the original reporting and analysis found on MLBTR this past week:

• Tim Dierkes unveiled the seventh annual MLBTR Top 50 Free Agents List and he included his predictions as to where each player will land.
• Tim also held court with a Top 50 Free Agents live chat.
• You can add your two cents worth on where these top 50 free agents will sign by entering the second annual MLBTR Free Agent Prediction Contest. The deadline to register and save your final picks is Wednesday, November 7 at Midnight CDT.
• MLBTR learned Ervin Santana is once again represented by Proformance.
• MLBTR was the first to report Orioles left-hander Zach Phillips rejected his outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk and became a free agent. 
• Ben Nicholson-Smith previewed the Offseason Outlook for the Rays, Phillies, and Cardinals.
• Tim continued the 2013 Arbitration Eligibles series by profiling the Braves and Athletics.
• Ben provided his top ten storylines for the upcoming offseason.
• Tim listed his non-tender candidates. 
• MLBTR has made its projected arbitration salaries for 2013 available for download in an Excel spreadsheet. The list can also be found in the sidebar under MLBTR Features.
• MLBTR's 2013 Free Agent Tracker is now available. It can also be found in the sidebar under MLBTR Features.
• Ben explained how the new system of qualifying offers works.
• Tim surveyed MLBTR readers as to which players will receive qualifying offers.
• Zach Links listed the nine free agents who did receive qualifying offers from their 2012 team.
• Mike Axisa presented the Free Agent Faceoff between Anibal Sanchez and Kyle Lohse. Nearly 70% of MLBTR readers would prefer to sign Sanchez.
• Ben hosted this week's chat.
• Mike compiled this week's edition of Baseball Blogs Weigh In.

A look back at the original reporting and analysis found on MLBTR this past week:

• MLBTR learned from a source close to the situation that the Angels are highly unlikely to re-sign Torii Hunter.
• MLBTR introduced Free Agent Faceoff, a new series where two comparable free agents are analyzed side by side and our readers vote on the value of the two players. The inaugural installment featured Joe Saunders versus Joe Blanton and nearly 76% of you would prefer having Saunders on your team. The next faceoff involved Ryan Madson and Joakim Soria with more than 60% of you favoring Soria.
• Ben Nicholson-Smith summarized the Offseason Outlook for the Indians, Orioles, Angels, Pirates, and Reds.
• Tim Dierkes continued the 2013 Arbitration Eligibles series with a detailed look at the Pirates, Angels, Rays, Reds, Phillies, and Cardinals.
• Ben compiled a calendar of hot stove events, as the MLB season is nearing its conclusion.
• Ben hosted this week's live chat.
• Mike Axisa assembled the best of the baseball blogosphere for you in Baseball Blogs Weigh In.

A look back at the original reporting and analysis found on MLBTR this past week:

• Tim Dierkes continued the 2013 Arbitration Eligibles series by examining the Brewers, Rockies, Indians, Dodgers, and Orioles.
• Ben Nicholson-Smith previewed the Offseason Outlook for the Brewers, Diamondbacks, Cubs, and Dodgers.
• Ben compiled a list of baseball’s longest-tenured general managers, as measured by how long they have been with their current teams. 
• Ben hosted the weekly live chat.
• Mike Axisa gathered the best the baseball corner of the web had to offer in Baseball Blogs Weigh In.
• There are many ways to enjoy MLB Trade Rumors. Here's a refresher on how to use MLBTR.
• Want the latest rumors for your favorite team? Check out MLBTR's team-by-team links for Facebook, Twitter, and RSS pages and feeds.

A look back at the original reporting and analysis found on MLBTR this past week:

• Tim Dierkes continued the 2013 Arbitration Eligibles series by profiling the Padres, Royals, Mets, Diamondbacks, and Cubs. 
• Zach Links asked MLBTR readers whether Josh Hamilton will return to the Rangers. Over 73% of you believe Hamilton will be playing elsewhere in 2013.
• Ben Nicholson-Smith summarized the Offseason Outlook for the Mets, Royals, and Padres.
• Zach revisited the Blue Jays' decision to release Chris Carpenter ten years ago this week and how the Cardinals have reaped the benefits over the last decade. 
• Mike Axisa offered his Free Agent Stock Watch prospectus of Orioles outfielder Nate McLouth. 
• Ben hosted the MLBTR live chat this week.
• Mike put together the best of the baseball blogosphere in Baseball Blogs Weigh In.
• Here's the schedule for MLBTR's roster of weekly features and exactly what to expect from them.