MLB Trade Rumors and News: MLB announces rules changes and people have strong feelings about them

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• Major League Baseball announced several big rules changes, some of which will take effect this season and some that will not take effect until 2020. The highlights include a three batter minimum for pitchers, having just one trade deadline, and the winner of the Home Run Derby getting a whole bunch of Benjamins.
• Our own Stephen Tolbert broke down the various new MLB rules and the various repercussions that they could have as they are implemented. Short version: some are good, some won’t do a ton, some are pretty weird.
• Trading in baseball has just got a lot more simple. That’s because Major League Baseball will only have one trade deadline, effective this season.
• Carlos Martinez’s status has been a question mark for the Cardinals all spring — and really dating back to last summer, as a shoulder injury limited him to working out of the bullpen over the season’s final six weeks. As that shoulder issue continues to hold him back, Martinez is likely to begin the season on the injured list, as manager Mike Shildt told media members on Tuesday. Miles Mikolas had already been anointed as St. Louis’ Opening Day starter, but Martinez’s absence officially opens up a competition for the Cards’ fifth starter spot.
• We are big fans of Little League tactics being used in MLB games, and Miguel Cabrera pulled off an oldie but a goodie as he successfully executed the “hidden ball trick” against the Twins. Sure, it’s only Spring Training, and it may be against the spirit behind spring training in general, but we are here for it.
• The Diamondbacks have signed veteran Adam Jones to a 1-year deal. After 11 years in Baltimore, he’ll head west to give Arizona more outfield depth, especially because Jarrod Dyson is still questionable to start on Opening Day.
• The Royals have signed with Martin Maldonado on a 1-year deal. This means the Royals will have a reputable backstop on Opening Day after losing Salvador Perez to Tommy John surgery.
• Some truly heartbreaking news came out last week when Hall of Famer Tom Seaver announced that he was going to stop making public appearances after being diagnosed with dementia. Our thoughts are with him and his family as they work together to focus on Tom’s health and well-being.
• Steven Wright will not be a factor for the Red Sox for at least half the season, as the knuckleballer has been suspended 80 games without pay after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.
• Harper-Trout 2020 is a ticket Philly fans could totally get behind. But is it too much of a pipe dream? Bryce Harper’s deal produced one real winner...Mike Trout, who can now basically ask for as much money as he wants and get it, because he’s Mike Trout. Does Philly have it in their checkbook to cut another amount of stupid money if Trout shows interest?
• The Mets have hired ESPN Sunday Night Baseball analyst Jessica Mendoza as a special advisor to the baseball operations department. While this position may help prepare her for a full-time front office role down the road if she so desires, she’ll also remain in her existing role at ESPN for the foreseeable future.
• After a truly ugly incident over the weekend where Giants president and CEO Larry Baer was videoed wrestling a cell phone out of his wife’s hand, resulting in her falling to the ground and calling out for help, the Giants released a statement that Baer will be taking a leave of absence as the team charts their path forward.
• After a disappointing 2018 season, can Dexter Fowler turn things around with the Cardinals this season?
• It finally happened. We now know where Bryce Harper is going to play baseball in 2019 and beyond as he signed a record 13-year, $330 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. Harper’s deal includes the most guaranteed money in American sports history and, more surprisingly, includes no deferred money or opt-outs.
• Do free agents lose value when they remain on the market deep into the offseason? We took a look at the data, and let’s just say it usually helps them to sign sooner than later.