CarterHud

                    The Detroit Tigers have signed LHP Travis Wood to a minor league deal.

                    Wood has been known as a guy who can either be in your rotation, or in your bullpen. This Spring, he\’s going to attempt to be in the Tigers rotation. He has also been known as a not bad hitter, but he won\’t be hitting much in 2018 as a Tiger, since he\’s in the American League. I think he could\’ve gotten a major league deal, but in this market, a minor league deal isn\’t bad.

                     Wood, 30, had a 6.80 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and 65 strikeouts in 94 innings for the San Diego Padres and Kansas City Royals in 2017. In his MLB career for the Royals, Padres, Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds, Wood has an ERA of 4.26, a 1.32 WHIP and 801 strikeouts in 994 innings.

                  The Milwaukee Brewers have made another transaction, this time signing RHP Matt Albers to a two year, $5 million deal.

                   With the Washington Nationals in 2017, Albers had his best season in a long time. If he had a similar season to his 2016 year, he\’d get a minor league deal at best. But, he gets a multi year deal at an old age instead. Albers can help the Brewers, especially if he continues his 2017 success.

                     Albers, 35, had a 1.62 ERA, .85 WHIP and 63 strikeouts in 61 innings for the Nats in 2017. In his MLB career for the Nats, Houston Astros, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Arizona Diamondbacks and Cleveland Indians, Albers has a 4.13 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 482 strikeouts in 665 innings.

                       In their second huge move in a matter of hours, the Milwaukee Brewers have brought OF Lorenzo Cain back to Milwaukee

                       Cain is a huge signing for Milwaukee, who recently acquired OF Christian Yelich from the Marlins. Cain will definitely play center field, which means Keon Broxton could be traded. Long time face-of-the-franchise Ryan Braun or up and comer Domingo Santana could also be dealt.

                        Cain, 31, hit .300, with 15 homers, 49 RBIs and 26 stolen bases in 645 Plate Appearances in 2017 for the Kansas City Royals. In his MLB career for the Royals and Brewers, Cain has a batting average of .290, with 57 homers, 321 RBIs and 127 stolen bases in 3052 Plate Appearances.

                   In a blockbuster deal, the Milwaukee Brewers today acquired OF Christian Yelich from the Miami Marlins in exchange for OF Lewis Brinson, 2B Isan Diaz, OF Monte Harrison and RHP Jordan Yamamoto.

                  The Brew Crew just barely missed out on the playoffs in a surprising 2017 season, and look even more fierce going into 2017. Yelich is a big acquisition for them. In him, they get a young outfielder who won a Silver Slugger in 2017.

                   Yelich, 26, hit .282 with 18 homers, 81 RBIs and 16 stolen bases in 695 Plate Appearances for the Marlins in 2017. In his MLB career, all in Miami, Yelich has a batting average of .290 with 59 homers, 293 RBIs and 72 stolen bases in 2812 Plate Appearances.

                    For the Marlins, this is just another part of their fire sale, and the most successful part at that. They get Brinson, the Brewers top prospect and one of the best in baseball, plus their 6th and 10th best prospects in Diaz and Harrison. It\’s something to walk away from as a success.

                    Brinson, 23, made his MLB debut in 2017, and hit .106 with two homers, three RBIs and one stolen base in 55 Plate Appearances.

                    Diaz, 21, has a .261 batting average, 49 homers, 201 RBIs and 38 stolen bases in 1566 Plate Appearances in his minor league career.

                    Harrison, 21, has a batting average of .243, 33 homers, 149 RBIs and 87 stolen bases in 1363 Plate Appearances in his minor league career.

                    Yamamoto, 21, has a 4.60 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 346 strikeouts in 329 career minor league innings.

                     I think this is an even trade. The Marlins get the prospects they need, and the Brewers get their star.

                    The Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired G Jeff Zatkoff from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for future considerations.

                    The Blue Jackets don\’t necessarily need a goalie, but having a backup is never a bad thing. Zatkoff has some NHL experience, and a Stanley Cup ring, so that definitely helps.

                    Zatkoff, 30, hasn\’t played in an NHL game this season. In his NHL career for the Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins, Zatkoff has a 2.72 GAA, and a SV% of .908 in 48 games.

                    For the Kings, they have an abundance of goalies, so trading Zatkoff doesn\’t affect them. The trade makes sense.