CarterHud

                The Colorado Rockies have signed RHP closer Wade Davis to a three year, $52 million deal. A 2021 option is included.

                 With closer Greg Holland a free agent, the Rockies were in the mix for the two big closers available: Holland and Davis, but mainly Davis, the bigger one. Either way, one of the former Royal closers were bound to head to the Mile High City. For a relief pitcher, it\’s expensive, but not too expensive, after seeing what Mark Melancon, Kenley Jansen and Aroldis Chapman got last year.

                  Davis, 32, had a 2.30 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, 79 strikeouts and 32 saves in 58.2 innings for the Chicago Cubs in 2017. In his MLB career for the Cubs, Kansas City Royals and Tampa Bay Rays, Davis has a 3.45 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 768 strikeouts and 79 saves in 835.1 innings.

             One day removed from Christmas (Merry Christmas), we have two more relievers who signed. The Minnesota Twins signed LHP Zach Duke, and RHP Jared Hughes went to the Cincinnati Reds on a two year deal.

              Duke is a veteran lefty who can eat up innings and be strong against left handed batters in 2018. He is a solid signing for not much money at all.

              Duke, 35, had a 3.93 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 12 strikeouts in 18.1 innings for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2017. In his MLB career for the Cards, Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Washington Nationals and Arizona Diamondbacks, Duke has a 4.30 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 785 strikeouts in 1284.2 innings.

               For the Reds, They really need to eat up innings, especially if their pitchers suffer a similar injury bug to the one they had in 2017. Plus, their bullpen is looking pretty weak, and will be even weaker if they do trade closer Raisel Iglesias, who has reportedly garnered trade interest from bullpen-thirsty teams. Hughes is a nice middle relief option for manager Bryan Price.

               Hughes, 32, had a 3.02 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 48 strikeouts in 59.2 innings in 2017 for the Brewers. In his MLB career for the Brewers and Pirates, Hughes has a 2.85 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 237 strikeouts in 369 innings.

              Forward Alexander Burmistrov has retired from the NHL, his agent Dan Milstein announced. Burmistrov last played for the Vancouver Canucks.

              Burmistrov was clearly fed up with Canucks management and the coaching staff. As Sportsnet anchor Rick Dhaliwal pointed out, Burmistrov just got four minutes of ice time in his final NHL game. Dhaliwal tweeted the following quote from Milstein. \”He wanted to go back home [to Russia]. No other reason. The Canucks were more than accommodating to his request.\” Despite that quote from Milstein, I still do think Burmistrov was fed up with the Canucks.

             For the Canucks, I have a feeling this could be a blessing in disguise for them. They have other forwards that need more ice-time, and Burmistrov was clogging up their path. This also marks the second Russian to go back to the KHL from the Canucks since the end of the 2016-17 season. Defenseman Nikita Tryamkin was the other one to leave.

              Burmistrov, 26, scored two goals and four assists for six points in 24 games for the Canucks this season. In his NHL career for the Canucks, Arizona Coyotes and Winnipeg Jets/Atlanta Thrashers, Burmistrov has scored 37 goals and 64 assists for 101 points in 348 games.

             Hot stove is heating up. The Tampa Bay Rays have sent 3B and face-of-the-franchise Evan Longoria to the San Francisco Giants for 3B/SS Christian Arroyo, CF Denard Span, LHP Matt Krook and RHP Stephen Woods.

             Looking to make another play-off run, the Giants have had the need at 3B since trading Eduardo Nunez. Arroyo was supposed to be that guy, but he\’s really just a SS, and struggled in 34 MLB games in 2017. Acquiring a star in Longoria fixes the problem. also, they trading Span, which opens up an OF spot for them to sign Lorenzo Cain, or trade for Andrew McCutchen or Christian Yelich.

              Longoria, 32, hit .261 with 20 homers, 86 RBIs and six stolen bases in 677 Plate Appearances for the Rays in 2017. In his MLB career, all in Tampa, Longoria has a batting average of .270, 261 homers, 892 RBIs and 51 stolen bases in 6151 Plate Appearances.

             It\’s time for the Rays to re-build again. The Yankees acquired Giancarlo Stanton, making them a powerhouse, the Red Sox already are good and might sign J.D. Martinez, and the Blue Jays are probably better than the Rays. The Rays are also shopping RHPs Chris Archer, Alex Colome and Jake Odorizzi. Trading Longoria makes sense, especially when getting Arroyo, baseball\’s 57th best prospect, in return. Span can play the outfield for the Rays until his deal is up.

              Arroyo, 22, made his MLB debut in 2017, hitting .192 with three homers and 14 RBIs in 135 Plate Appearances.

              Span, 33, hit .272 with 12 homers, 43 RBIs and 12 steals in 542 Plate Appearances for the Giants in 2017. In his MLB career for the Giants, Minnesota Twins and Washington Nationals, Span has a batting average of .283, with 60 homers, 432 RBIs and 176 stolen bases in 5455 Plate Appearances.

             Krook, 23, has a 5.25 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 146 strikeouts in 132 innings in his minor league career.

             Woods, 22, has a 3.04 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 150 strikeouts in 145 innings in his MiLB career.

             I think this is an even trade. The Rays get to the start of their re-build, while the Giants get much better.

             The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired defenseman Jamie Oleksiak from the Dallas Stars in exchange for a 4th round pick in 2019.
  
             The 6 foot 7 inch Oleksiak is always good to have on your blueline. The don\’t give up much for him, which they shouldn\’t have anyway. The Penguins have always had injury problems, so it\’s good to get a reinforcement.

             Oleksiak, 24, has one goal and two assists for three points in 21 games this year. In his NHL career, all for Dallas, Oleksiak has scored seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points in 140 games.

            For the Stars, they have lots of defensemen. They already have John Klingberg, Esa Lindell, Dan Hamhuis, Stephen Johns, Greg Pateryn, Julius Honka and Marc Methot ahead of Oleksiak on the depth chart. It doesn\’t come as a surprise he was traded.