Today's lessons include Rule 5 draft protection, another MVBrewers profile, and more.
Cram Session
- The deadline to protect eligible players from the Rule 5 draft by adding them to the 40-man roster is this afternoon. Yesterday, Derek looked at potential players that the Brewers could protect.
- Over on MLB.com, Adam McCalvy also looks at some possible players that the Brewers could protect from the Rule 5 draft.
- After the Athletics signed Billy Butler to a three-year, $30 million deal, Noah has a reminder that the Brewers found some good value in the Adam Lind trade.
- The Brewers signed John Ely to a minor-league deal yesterday. No word if it will include an invitation to Spring Training or not.
- Our MVBrewers series continued with Fred's profile of Brandon Kintzler. The next Lesser Brewer profile will be up this afternoon.
NL Central Update
- Will the NL Central be the best division in baseball next season? Mike Bauman of MLB.com takes a look at a division that is expected to be solid from top to bottom.
Around Baseball
- Jon Heyman of CBS Sports notes that owners are expected to vote on a five-year contract for future commissioner Rob Manfred today.
- Early indications following the Giancarlo Stanton signing show that the Marlins instead to compete. Justin Millar of MLB Daily Dish notes that the Marlins have made Adam LaRoche a two-year, $20 million offer.
- Former Brewer Juan Francisco had been placed on waivers by the Blue Jays, and was claimed by the Red Sox yesterday.
- Over on FanGraphs, there's a debate on how good the Billy Butler deal is. Eno Sarris thinks that the deal may not be crazy, but Dave Cameron thinks that the deal is crazy.
- For MLB players, it only takes one good year to get a big contract. Neil Weinberg of Beyond the Box Score looks at how Zach Duke turned one good year with the Brewers into a $15 million deal.
- Frank Jackson of The Hardball Times takes a look at the history of the bobblehead, and makes some suggestions for future bobbleheads that MLB teams could make.
- The MLB All-Stars finished their Japan trip this morning with a 6-4 exhibition loss in Okinawa. Rob Wooten pitched a inning in the loss, allowing just one hit.