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Richard Justice, who joined MLB.com as an executive correspondent in 2011, has covered Major League Baseball for more than three decades and offers his insight on MLB.com and MLB.com/live.
 | There will be splashy signings and trades at the Winter Meetings, but it is often the smaller moves that ultimately have the biggest impacts on teams' postseason fortunes.
More»Five For Friday on Intentional Talk from 12/6 |
 | Carlos Beltran is a perfect fit for the Yankees, and not just because he makes that lineup significantly better. He's the prototype of what the Yankees want their players to be.
More»Yankees, Beltran reportedly agree to three-year deal |
 | Even after losing Robinson Cano in free agency, the Yankees are still in the game. Anyone who thinks otherwise is nuts.
More»Girardi, McCann think Ellsbury is a great fit |
 | To really cash in on Robinson Cano, the Mariners need to put at least one more experienced, impact bat -- and probably two -- around him. Because the only way Cano's signing makes sense in the long run is if it contributes to winning.
More»Justice gives his take on Cano's deal with Seattle |
 | To all the people who care about the Seattle Mariners, reportedly agreeing to a 10-year, $240 million deal with free-agent second baseman Robinson Cano is a huge deal, a franchise-changing deal. It impacts an entire sport, prompting other free agents to perhaps take a second look at Seattle.
More»Larry Stone calls Hot Stove to talk Mariners |
 | Robinson Cano is unlikely to get a better deal than the seven years and $170 million the Yankees are reportedly offering him, so it is time for him to return to the Bronx and cement his place in the team's history.
More» Cano collects four hits, makes awesome catch |
 | In what was one of the more exciting days in recent Hot Stove history, nearly two dozen players changed teams Tuesday, including Jacoby Ellsbury, Joe Nathan and A.J. Pierzynski.
More»Duquette looks back on a busy day of transactions |
 | The Athletics and Rangers just made the kind of trade that only really smart, really confident general managers make. In this case, it was Oakland's Billy Beane and Texas' Jon Daniels. It's the kind of trade that reflects plenty of organizational swagger on both sides. To put it another way, these boys aren't afraid to fail.
More»Callis on Rangers prospects Choice, Bostick |
 | Slow it down, fellas. Take a deep breath, count to nine and give us a chance to get our minds around these past 24 hours. Players were changing teams so quickly it has been impossible to keep it all straight. Save something for the Winter Meetings next week.
More»Tigers GM Dombrowski discusses trade with Nationals |
 | This is a tremendous acquisition for Washington, writes columnist Richard Justice. A team that was already among baseball's best got better, trading three young players for right-hander Doug Fister from the Tigers.
More»Duquette on Nationals acquiring Fister from Tigers |
 | If you congratulate Royals general manager Dayton Moore on his two-year contract extension, he'll shift the conversation to others.
More»Dayton Moore, Royals agree to contract extension |
 | The Tigers might be one more bold move away from being baseball's best team in 2014, and who would bet again Dave Dombrowski making it? Here's guessing that trading Prince Fielder was the first of two deals the Tigers' general manager has in mind.
More»Dave Dombrowski chats with Clubhouse Confidential |
 | With former Braves pitchers and 300-game winners Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time, and ex-skipper Bobby Cox on the Expansion Era Committee ballot, Atlanta should be well-represented in Cooperstown this summer.
More»Notable first-timers will be on the 2014 HOF ballot |
 | The Cardinals got better at the one position they believed they needed to get better at, and they did it without surrendering one of their big arms. So if you're inclined to fret about how much money Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak paid for Jhonny Peralta, go right ahead.
More»Justice on impact of Cardinals signing Peralta |
 | Fifty years later, John F. Kennedy lives on in our hearts and minds, young and vibrant, with that beautiful wife and those two spectacularly beautiful children. He'll be forever 46 years old, forever young.
More» President Kennedy throws out first pitch |
 | Michael Weiner's enduring legacy may be in the larger lessons he taught so many people during his final 15 months on Earth. To those who loved him and even those who only admired him from afar, his last act might have been his finest hour.
More»MLB Network remembers life, career of MLBPA's Weiner |
 | The Prince Fielder-for-Ian Kinsler swap has the potential to be a very good trade for the Texas Rangers. There's still work to be done on the roster, but this appears to be a nice step in the right direction. Are there risks? Absolutely.
More»Richard Justice on Rangers getting Prince Fielder |
 | The Nationals are good enough to make the playoffs if general manager Mike Rizzo doesn't do a single thing. In a perfect world, he'd like to add a starting pitcher and upgrade his bench and bullpen. But he can afford to shop carefully and to get players he's comfortable with. His team is good enough that he doesn't have to settle.
More»Hot Stove discusses Bryce Harper's contract |
Tim Hudson is a reminder that prices are going up. Baseball teams have money to spend, and with a thin free agent market and at least 20 clubs thinking they’ve got a chance to win the World Series in 2014, it’s a great off-season to be a free agent. Jacoby Ellsbury and Brian McCann are […]
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Revisionist history says the Phillies made terrible decisions in giving all these longterm commitments to Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, etc. This is just silly. What were they supposed to do with these guys? Walk away from them? Allow Ryan Howard to leave via free agency? This group of players has transformed the Phillies from a […]
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 | The Braves will be competitive again, even with a couple of stinging losses. They've drafted well and done a tremendous job scouting internationally.
More» Hudson thanks Braves fans as team celebrates |
 | The addition of veteran pitcher Tim Hudson is more than just a nice fit for the Giants, it's the latest move in what has been masterful roster management by general manager Brian Sabean.
More»Hot Stove discusses Giants' signing of Hudson |
Until the moment the World Series was won on Wednesday night, the Red Sox were focused only on the job at hand. One pitch at a time. One inning at a time. Et cetera. “Whatever the task is in front of us, that’s the one we address,” manager John Farrell said earlier in the week. […]
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Maybe the Astros came to town at just the right time to save the Rangers. Speaking of the Astros, this is the two-week anniversary of their last victory. During this little 0-12 run, they’ve been outscored 69-19. The Reds, Indians and Rangers all swept ‘em at a time when all three teams needed victories. The […]
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How crazy is this American League Wild Card race? Don?t blink or you?ll miss something important, and I speak as one who stayed with the Rays and Orioles for their 6-hour, 54-minute marathon that ended at 2:05 a.m. Saturday. In case you missed it, the Rays won it 5-4 in the bottom of the 18th […]
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Dodgers starters are 21-5 with a 1.91 ERA since July 26. In that time, they’ve had 12 games in which the starter didn’t allow an earned run. The Dodgers are 22-6 in August and 32-8 since the All-Star Break and 49-13 since June 22. 22 wins in August is a Los Angeles record for the […]
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Tom Boswell of The Washington Post has an excellent column about baseball’s recent September surprises. He’s reminding his hometown team that it’s important to play the season out because you just never know. Here are some highlights: In just the past two years, six teams have imploded to lose division titles or a playoff spot. […]
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I’m sure Ryan Braun was told that the reaction to whatever apology he issued would be negative. There’s nothing columnists and talk show nitwits like more than climbing on their soapbox and trashing another man’s ethics. As a matter of fact, I enjoy it myself. Some people were going to be satisfied only if Braun […]
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Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig made the following statement today regarding the discipline issued to players in relation to Major League Baseball?s Biogenesis investigation: ?Major League Baseball has worked diligently with the Players Association for more than a decade to make our Joint Drug Program the best in all of professional sports. I am […]
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It was the spring of 1993 in Fort Lauderdale when Orioles manager Johnny Oates introduced Cal Ripken Jr. to a skinny, 17-year-old kid from Miami. Alex Rodriguez would be the overall No. 1 pick in the draft that summer and had asked to meet with his boyhood idol. Ripken redefined the position of shortstop, proving […]
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