bitration possibilities and what a couple of old friends are up to"Happy 2019 everybody. The NFL playoffs are underway http://www.marinersfanproshop.com/authentic-edgar-martinez-jersey , signaling the slow progression toward the winter months when we will find our baseball excitement in mundane things like cryptic quotes from the front office in random news reports and the signing of guys you are vaguely familiar with to minor league deals [Ed.: I think we’re there already].But worry not! Before you know it, you will be more excited than any human should about equipment being loaded onto a truck bound for Florida. Until then, you can watch hockey, pretend you like basketball, and keep up with all the relevant Detroit Tigers news here.Three needsMLB Trade Rumors took some time to evaluate the AL Central and point out three needs for each team in the division. When it came to Detroit, you won’t be surprised to hear that the number one focus was Nicholas Castellanos. They are of the opinion that the Tigers need to find a buyer, and that, despite interest from several teams, they haven’t yet been able to move him because the price is “exorbitant.” That’s their word, not mine. The rest of the list is rounded out by (a) a continued focus on acquiring flippable players and (b) rebuilding the farm, both of which they believe the team is currently accomplishing.Moving closer to home, Rob took a look at three more needs for the Tigers before we hit spring training.End of a streakThe Tigers haven’t gone to arbitration with a player since 2002. Sixteen years is a pretty solid streak, but it’s looking quite likely that it won’t be extended to 17, according to Chris McCosky of the Detroit News. There are a few reasons that might be the case.Having new personnel negotiating is a factor, but it’s not the only one. Despite parroting the oft-heard line that there is no mandate to cut payroll, the team continues to act in ways that indicate otherwise Alex Colome Jersey , and Castellanos is due an estimated $11 million in 2019. His defense is going to be a sticking point on his value, and if this team thinks they can squeeze a few dollars their way here, I would guess they are going to try. Ear CandyIf you are not yet in the know, former Tiger outfielder (and owner of one of the thicker necks I’ve laid eyes on in my four decades on this planet) Andy Dirks has himself a podcast. For the latest installment, he sits down with our old friend Gene Lamont. I haven’t listened yet, but I’m sure it’s a riveting, wide-ranging conversation that covers topics like how to properly windmill your arm to send a guy who is obviously going to be out toward home without tearing a rotator cuff, and roughly how many times a day Jim Leyland says “horses***.”Accentuate the positiveJust to remind ourselves that the 2018 season did indeed have some redeemable moments, you can take a look at the video of some of the Tigers’ longest home runs of the year in 2018. They aren’t all off the bat of Jeimer Candelario, but it feels like they are.Miggy’s got it in the bagHere’s a funny little story about Miguel Cabrera showing up for an offseason workout with all of his gear in a Sephora shopping bag.You may not know what a Sephora shopping bag is, or what Sephora is, for that matter. That’s fine. You don’t need to. Just imagine that you went to Macy’s and they gave you one of those heavy duty paper bags to carry your stuff home in. Now imagine putting your baseball gear in that bag to take to the practice facility. Finally, imagine not caring one bit if anybody gives you static because you won a triple crown and they didn’t. Bring your stuff in a garbage bag if you want to, Miggy. Nobody gets to tell you what to do.The rich get richerRemember the days of having $39 million to drop on a guy who is only going to be a setup man? The Yankees do; they’re still living them. The Yanks inked Zach Britton to a three year deal for just shy of $40 million over the weekend. The free agent glacier inches slowly forward.Around the hornThe New York Mets acquired Keon Broxton from the Milwaukee Brewers for a few prospects. How to catch a baseball game in Cuba. Dusty Baker wants to harness the power of the sun (Insert your own joke here about it be doing done “the right way”). Darren Oliver was baseball’s Forrest Gump. Baseball’s winter meetings begin today in Las Vegas. The Orioles are the only team there that has no manager. They probably won’t have much to do."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Commentary & AnalysisOrioles ProspectsOrioles Game RecapsOrioles News and RumorsCamdencastBird DroppingsMonday Bird Droppings: Where the Hall of Fame has two new ex-OriolesNew,608commentsBaseball’s winter meetings begin today in Las Vegas. The Orioles are the only team there that has no manager. They probably won’t have much to do.The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal on Sunday night, one more name to have interviewed for the manager’s job:Around the blogO’sphereWhat to watch as Orioles head to first winter meetings led by GM Mike Elias (Baltimore Sun)If you get any WWE-related jokes about the new Orioles GM http://www.marinersfanproshop.com/authentic-edgar-martinez-jersey , this is for you.Bundy on importance of veteran catcher, Mancini on role and rebuild (School of Roch)He responded to a question about the importance of a veteran backstop with, “Very.”How important is MLB managerial experience in selection of a new O’s skipper? (The Athletic)Dan Connolly also wanted an experienced GM. In that case, I think we’re better off with what we got instead.Taking stock of the O’s current catching situation (Steve Melewski)Consider me uninterested in the list of free agent catchers.Birthdays and anniversariesThere is one current Oriole who has a birthday today. Happy 28th to catcher Austin Wynns.Several former Orioles also have birthdays today. They are: 2018 Rule 5 failure Nestor Cortes Jr., 2011 four-gamer Pedro Florimon, and 1996 outfielder Luis Polonia.Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Your birthday buddies for today include: American School for the Deaf founder Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet (1787), computer programming pioneer Ada Lovelace (1815), poet Emily Dickinson (1830), movie man Kenneth Branagh (1960), and drummer Meg White (1974).On this day in history...In 220, the throne of the Han dynasty in China was usurped by Cao Pi, King of Wei. Thus began the Three Kingdoms era, as the rulers of Shu and Wu had their own designs.In 1520, Martin Luther responded to a papal bull, Exsurge Domine, which called for him to recant his Ninety-five Theses or face excommunication. His response was to publicly burn a copy of the bull in Wittenberg.In 1884 Marcell Ozuna Jersey , The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain was first published.In 1936, England’s King Edward VIII signed the Instrument of Abdication, opting to relinquish the throne after Parliament refused its assent to his planned marriage to twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson. His brother, Prince Albert of York, became King George VI the next day.In 1968, a lone robber disguised as a policeman managed to pull off a heist in Tokyo, Japan for about 300 million yen, or over $800,000 in dollars at that time. The crime, which is the largest theft in Japanese history, was never solved.**And that’s the way it is in Birdland on December 10 - or at least, unless something happens later, which since it’s the winter meetings, you never know. It might. Have a safe Monday.