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Listen, we know it’s tough to catch up on everything happening in the baseball world each morning. There are all kinds of stories, rumors, game coverage and Vines of dudes getting hit in the beans every day. Trying to find all of it while on your way to work or sitting at your desk just isn’t easy. It’s okay, though, we’re going to do the heavy lifting for you each morning and find the things you need to see from within the SB Nation baseball network, as well as from elsewhere. Please hold your applause until the end, or at least until after you subscribe to the newsletter.
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It's Jan. 28, but thanks to the qualifying offer, there are still free agents available who could help a team. And not like, help off the bench, or fill out the back-end of a rotation: there are legitimate starting players who could not only fill a hole but also produce at above-average levels still out there looking for work. Teams aren't keen on giving them deals, though, because then they'll have to forfeit a first-round pick. So, Dexter Fowler, Howie Kendrick, Yovani Gallardo and Ian Desmond are all just sitting and waiting for someone to eventually crack, hoping that it doesn't take until the season is already two months over for it to happen.
This was not the goal of free agent compensation. As Christopher Crawford tweeted on Thursday morning, the system should compensate teams for losing players, but not do so in a way that punishes those players. Teams are afraid of giving up draft picks in this era of efficiency, and that means they're afraid to improve now by adding the likes of Fowler or Kendrick or whomever. This is just flat-out silly, given what those players can provide to a team already in contention or on the bubble or even one who doesn't expect to compete for another year or two.
As more and more players receive a qualifying offer, there will only be additional free agents sitting around leading into and during spring training, hoping for someone to admit sacrificing a pick is worth it to improve now. This system needs an overhaul in the next collective bargaining agreement, which conveniently enough, needs to be collectively bargained by the end of this year. Whether there will be a change is another question, but you have to think the Players' Association will be all about making it easier for their guys to be employed.
- #BAEROD IS BACK
- Who has the No. 1 middle-of-the-order in baseball? You can find this out, as well as who has every other number between two and 30, thanks to Grant Brisbee.
- Baseball is considering changing the strike zone by moving up the bottom of the zone. It could have a profound effect on pitchers, which could be a good thing given the ever-rising strikeout totals.
- Opt-outs are player friendly, but they aren't necessarily unfriendly to teams. Justin Upton's is a reminder of this.
- Chipper Jones is moving back to Atlanta full-time, and it sounds like it's for a larger role with the Braves.
- Yes, yes, every game counts the same in the standings, but the Red Sox sure could use a hot start to their 2016.
- London might host some regular season MLB games, but are they the best international choice out there?
- Are you curious who has won this offseason? MLB Daily Dish got tired of waiting for our poor qualified friends to sign and ranked some winter victors.
- Albert Pujols would like to be back by Opening Day. The Angels might have other plans in mind for their aged slugger.