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The MLB Daily Dish is a daily feature we're running here at MLBDD and rounds up roster-impacting news, rumors, and analysis. Have feedback or have something that should be shared? Hit us at @mlbdailydish on Twitter.
Good morning baseball fans.
Yesterday was a day filled with terrible news in the baseball universe. First and foremost is the sad news that former Brave and Angel Tommy Hanson passed away at the age of 29 after suffering "catastrophic organ failure". From 2009-2011, Hanson won 32 games with a 3.28 ERA and struck out almost a batter per inning. He was one of the brightest young stars in baseball. His career took a severe downturn after that, sadly, filled with injuries and personal tragedies. The entire MLB Daily Dish's team thoughts are with Hanson's family, friends, and former teammates.
Any other news is going to pale in comparison to that, but we need to soldier on. Yesterday afternoon, we learned that Indians outfielder Michael Brantley underwent shoulder surgery that will keep him sidelined for five to six months. He will probably miss Opening Day.
We also found out Angels first baseman/designated hitter Albert Pujols had surgery on his foot, which will keep him out for around four months. He should be back for late Spring.
Sandwiched in between that was news of Cardinals pitching prospect Alex Reyes being suspended 50-games after testing positive for marijuana.
To close out the day, a Hawaii television station reported that Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes was arrested for an alleged case of domestic violence against his wife on Halloween.
So after all of that, let's hope that today is a better day.
Carlos Feliciano of Halos Heaven explains why the Angels should go "all-in" this winter.
For this one offseason, with enough readily available talent to transform the current roster into a legitimate contender, it makes complete sense to push all their chips to the center and make a push to win it all sometime over the next few seasons. Once the roster is in tact, a more conservative approach can be taken to subtly set up future rosters to remain competitive once this current window closes.
The Twins won the bid for KBO first-baseman Byung-ho Park, but what does it mean for the team going forward? Jesse Lund of Twinkie Town explores that question.
Joe Mauer is Minnesota's starting first baseman, and regardless of how this scenario plays out he won't be moving back behind the plate. Perhaps by moving Miguel Sano into the outfield, or trading Trevor Plouffe, the club could free up plate appearances at designated hitter. The follow up question is how the team will then deal with playing time for Kennys Vargas, Oswaldo Arcia, and other players who are might be bruised throughout the season and healthy enough to hit but not play the field.
The Tigers are interested in a Joakim Soria reunion.
Could the Yankees move Andrew Miller? Our own Matt Goldman reported on the emerging rumors surrounding the Yankee reliever.
Heyman also notes that Stephen Strasburg could be the type of pitcher that the Yankees want to target. A deal with the Nationals might make perfect sense, as Mike Rizzo could include Drew Storen in the deal, and replace him with Miller, which would likely alleviate some of the tension in the bullpen.
Important Links
Today in Baseball History: In 1964, the Braves sign a 25-year lease to play in their new Atlanta stadium.