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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!
Hopefully everyone is sitting down while they read this on this lovely morning, because Bryce Harper could command $750 million on his next contact, according to the latest reports.
The Mets will be without David Wright for an extended period of time with a herniated disk in his neck.
More news on the injury front, as Giants outfielder Hunter Pence has a torn hamstring, but the Giants are setup to be okay without him.
Alex Wood is going to miss at least a month with an elbow impingement.
Lastly, Rays reliever Brad Boxberger will miss 4-8 weeks with an oblique injury.
Daniel Murphy is picking better pitches to hit.
Whatever adjustment he made to hit outer pitches better has paid off. Throughout his career, pitchers have pitched more away from him, which hasn't changed in 2016. Dave Cameron and Mike Petriello detailed Murphy's batting stance adjustment to stand closer to the plate, which looks like it has allowed him to reach and clobber the outside part of the plate. Pitchers may adjust to Murphy's change, but he's been doing this for more than just this season. For now, enjoy the Murphy show going strong in the nation's capital.
The Red Sox optioned starting pitcher Joe Kelly to Triple-A Pawtucket.
Speaking of the Red Sox, both Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista envision Boston as a landing spot when they are both free agents this winter.
Jake Arrieta and the Cubs are still years apart on a potential contract extension.
Here is everything you need to know about the 2016 MLB Draft, in one place.
And here is a Q&A with draft prospect Alec Hansen.
What is going on with Michael Pineda?
There’s no indication that any of these things are flaws Pineda can’t correct. As much as it seems impossible, the facts remain that Pineda is still getting the whiffs, not walking the ballpark, and not showing signs of injury. It might even be a matter of confidence — get hit around a little and you will probably finish some of your sliders so hard that they bounce on the plate. Whatever it is, the fix will probably be less drastic than the (seeming) problems.
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Today in Baseball History: In 1995, Pedro Martinez is perfect through nine innings for the Expos, but loses his no hitter in the 10th.