It’s almost over.

Team News

[SI] Where Will the Diamondbacks Turn Next After Signing Corbin Burnes? – Likely the biggest remaining hole for the Diamondbacks is a true closer. This position of need has only been magnified since Paul Sewald’s struggles began in July of 2024. It became clear that the D-backs would once again have to target a key reliever this winter. Luckily the market has not yet passed them by. On both the free agent and trade fronts top end options remain available, and the Diamondbacks seem agressive in their pursuits.

[MLB Trade Rumors] Diamondbacks Not Close To Any Pitching Trades – Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports that the Burnes signing wasn’t made with any other pitching swaps immediately on the horizon. According to Piecoro, no “other deals [are] lined up or even close” involving Arizona’s pitchers, as the Diamondbacks will continue to take a measured view of the market. A source tells Piecoro that the D’Backs will likely “spend the coming days fielding calls from teams still in the hunt for starters, including those that were in on Burnes.” The D’Backs aren’t in any particular rush to complete a trade any time soon, as having more than a full rotation in place before New Year’s Eve gives the club plenty of time to figure out the best possible offer.

[SportsKeeda] MLB analyst examines Diamondbacks’ NL West contention with Corbin Burnes, Zac Gallen 1-2 punch – MLB analyst Dani Wexelman examined the Dbacks’ latest signing: “Picking up Corbin Burns changes the game for them in so many different ways. He is their number one. He is their ace, but he’s paired with another ace in Zac Gallen. I know Zac Gallen maybe didn’t have the season everyone was expecting from him. It was a 3.65 ERA, right? He still made 28 starts this season, with 156 strikeouts. He’s 29 years old. To me, having that one-two punch along with the rest of the guys in that staff is going to be competitive in that division. There’s no doubt about it.”

[SI] Will the D-backs Rotation be Better than the Dodgers in 2025? – If the Dodgers managed to get 25-30 starts from each of the top four on the depth chart (Snell, Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Glasnow), they would probably have the best rotation in the league. But getting that many starts and innings from this group seems highly unlikely… The Diamondbacks meanwhile have two aces at the top of the rotation, and a collection of starters that have exhibited mostly good health throughout their careers. At the same time, the shoulders of Kelly and Rodriguez will require close monitoring throughout the 2025 season.

And, elsewhere…

[MLB] 15 standout Statcast plays from a memorable 2024 season – Fastest triple: Corbin Carroll, D-backs — 10.76 seconds (May 18). Carroll might be the best baserunner in MLB, and his first triple of the 2024 season was the fastest triple of the 2024 season. The D-backs speedster went home-to-third in well under 11 seconds against the Tigers at Chase Field. Actually, Carroll had the three fastest triples of the year, adding home-to-third times of 10.84 seconds and 10.86 seconds.

[CBS Sports] Josh Bell, Nationals agree to deal: Washington brings back switch-hitting slugger to fill DH role – The Washington Nationals are bringing back a familiar face to fill their DH slot. The Nats and Josh Bell have agreed to a one-year contract worth $6 million, reports the Washington Post. The team has not confirmed the signing. Bell, 32, spent 2021 and part of 2022 with the Nationals before going to the San Diego Padres in the Juan Soto trade. The Nationals acquired Nathaniel Lowe, a Gold Glove defender at first base, from the Texas Rangers earlier this month. That ensures Bell will slot in at DH, where he fits best.

[New York Post] Why Cam Newton believes WNBA will pass MLB popularity in 20 years – Former NFL quarterback-turned-media personality Cam Newton has read the room and forecasts that, two decades from now, the WNBA will be more popular than Major League Baseball. “Who’s really paying attention to baseball — especially paying attention to baseball in the regular season?” Newton asked during a recent episode of his “4th&1 podcast.” “Baseball is like a — I hate to say it — a dying sport. I think baseball will be surpassed by the WNBA in 20 years.”

And Jimmy Carter was already ten years old when this film was released…

Babes in Toyland (1934)

Rating: B

Dir: Gus Meins, Charley Rogers

Star: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Charlotte Henry, Henry Brandon

a.k.a. March of the Wooden Soldiers

Despite taking place in July, this has become something of a Christmas staple on television in America, mostly under its alternate title. It’s a bit surprising, because it’s almost aggressively surreal. I wouldn’t normally suggest watching “tampered” versions of movies, yet the colourized edition of this certainly enhances the bizarre nature of the experience: five minutes in, and it felt like I was tripping balls.

Read more