Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy Kwanza, if that’s a thing. Happy new year to all countries, people, animals and little dirt devils in this big world.

I have had another lay off of being a slob ass but this big jolly dude named Santa, I assume, came to my house on the 25th or 26th, can’t remember because I have two addresses, but he dropped off this laptop. Meaning I can finally start to type/write about what I love most, fences.

Anyways, 2019 is the year of the Earth Pig according to the Chinese and if you disagree with them, you might not be found the next day. So, since I missed a lot, this will be a quick review to get myself and you up to speed. Here’s a quick review on what has happened in the baseball world since mid December (give or take) to refresh some minds:

1. Paul Goldschmidt traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for former Florida State great pitcher Luke Weaver, catcher Carson Kelly, and minor league infielder Andy Young.
2. Richie Martin drafted in Rule 5 draft to the Baltimore Orioles
3. Yonder Alonso traded to the Chicago White Sox
4. Yasiel Puig, Alex Wood, Matt Kemp traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Homer Bailey  (released), Jeter Downs, Josiah Gray. Also, Reds add Tanner Roark.
5. Mariners receive Edwin Encarnacion, Indians receive Carlos Santana and former Ray great Jake Bauers, Rays receive Yandy Diaz, Cole Sulser, plus Rays send $5 million to Seattle and Mariners will send $6 million to Cleveland.
6. Colorado Rockies sign Daniel Murphy (so he can smoke legally)
7. Detroit Tigers sign Matt Moore, Tyson Ross, Jordy Mercer
8. Houston Astros sign Michael Brantley
9. Kansas City Royals sign Billy Hamilton, Terrance Gore, Chris Owings to have a 99 speed rating in MLB the Show 19
10. Los Angeles Angels sign Matt Harvey, Trevor Cahill, Justin Bour
11. Los Angeles Dodgers sign Joe Kelly and got rid of all those guys I talked about earlier with the Reds.
12. Miami Marlins sign the Mesa brothers (Victor Victor and Victor Mesa Jr. Side note- you think the parents would be a little more creative after naming their first son with the same middle name as his first name but obviously they were comfortable with the name Victor. Will Victor Victor’s son’s name be Victor? Lots of questions but no answers… yet.
13. Minnesota Twins sign Jonathan Schoop, claim C.J. Cron off waivers.
14. Oakland A’s trade for Jurickson Profar, sign Mike Fiers, sign Joakim Soria
15. Philadelphia Phillies sign Andrew McCutchen, trade FOR Jean Segura, Juan Nicasio, and James Pazos. Traded AWAY Carlos Santana, J.P. Crawford, Luis Garcia.
16. Pittsburgh Pirates sign Lonnie Chisenhall, Jordan Lyles. Pirates kick to the curb, Ivan Nova, Max Moroff, Jordan Luplow.
17. San Diego Padres sign Ian Kinsler, Garrett Richards
18. Your Tampa Bay Rays sign Charlie Morton. Traded for Mike Zunino. Goodbye to Mallex Smith, Jake Bauers.
19. Washington Nationals sign Patrick Corbin, Anibal Sanchez, Kurt Suzuki, Trevor Rosenthal, Matt Adams. Traded for Kyle Barraclough and Yan Gomes. Bryce Harper probably gone-zo

Well, that list ended up taking way longer than I thought and I apologize. Mid way through I almost abandoned it, but it helped refresh my weak little mind as well.

So, the Nationals signed Patrick Corbin to a huge 6yr/$140 million dollar contract for two good seasons- 2013 and 2015- and one great season- 2018. Maybe they overpaid? I think so. That’s how the MLB market works out nowadays. I see Corbin as a mold of a younger Gio Gonzalez. Great off-speed, decent fastball, enough to get it by hitters why they need to use it, but won’t ever be truly dominate. In that case, $140 million for a really good pitcher is where the bar is it in the MLB world now.

Present day, the Yankees signed Troy Tulowitzki to a one year contract yesterday and he will be making the MLB minimum. With Didi Gregorius on the DL for several months to start  out the year, this could end up working out really good, or really bad. If you know baseball, or any knowledge of it, you know Tulo is a walking injury waiting to happen. He sat out ALL of 2018 with heel problems and claims now he is healthy and ready to take advantage of this opportunity. Tulo seems to be betting on himself just as he did when teams asked him to play third base out of college, along side former Ray great Evan Longoria, and he said fuck off watch he ball out and that’s exactly what he did. Tulo betting on himself turned into a five time all-star, two time gold glove award winner, and a two time Silver Slugger. Not too bad for a guy that was told he was “too big” to play shortstop at the Major League level.

Tulo’s boldness of betting on himself to ball out is a great sign for the Yankees. The dude is coming in confident, dick hard as a rock, ready to fuck shit up. Wish I had that type of confidence just walking into the grocery store, when I know I don’t need something. But you know what, sometimes there are BOGO’s out there that need attention, and I’m the guy to walk up and grab two even though I probably won’t eat the second of whatever I just bought. But good luck to Tulo.

Spring Training is approaching fast everyone, tuck the half chub to your waistbands for just another month and a half.