Well that was a heck of a day. And I hear we have a new president? I was too busy heaping burning coals upon mine and my family's heads.
We got followed up by the news of Springer's departure with a rumor from reporter Hazel Mae at 10:51am that Michael Brantley was in agreement with Toronto for a 3yr deal of unknown amount. This is approximately where I started to slander James Click and the entire Astros organization. However, at 12:14pm Jeff Passan said that the Blue Jays were in on Brantley but a deal wasn't finalized, one minute after MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reported the same thing.
But at 3:02pm Mark Berman reported the Astros had agreed to a 2yr/$32m deal with Brantley, precisely the contract he signed before the 2019 season. McTaggart notes that the deal isn't finalized just yet.
Carlos Correa is happy. Lance is happy. Machete is happy. Enoli Paredes is happy. Hell, even Buster Olney is happy!
*Jake Kaplan: The corner outfield spots are set.
*Chandler Rome: The person who could stand to benefit the most from the re-signing is Kyle Tucker.
*McTaggart: Relive Springer's five best moments as an Astro, if this is something you want to put yourself through.
*FanGraphs' Dan Szymborski does the hard math on what the Blue Jays can expect over the next six years.
*This MLB.com reporter says that the Angels and Trevor Bauer seem like a likely fit.
*Tom Verducci: Remembering 1970's Exhibition to Honor MLK.
*Looking for a book? Wired has ten books you should read this winter.
*I like reading about boxing more than I like watching boxing/MMA. How ten weeks in Portugal changed Conor MacGregor.
*A Musical Selection: