Thanksgiving 2015: MLB's 30 things to be thankful for

The Major League Baseball season is just under a month into the off season.

And with today being Thanksgiving Day, the USA TODAY Sports' MLB staff put together a list of what each team should be thankful for during the holiday.

We all know what the Kansas City Royals are thankful for -- a World Series championship. The 30 teams:

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AL EAST

Blue Jays: Marcus Stroman. Can one pitcher's competitive will buoy an entire roster? In 2016, it just may.

Orioles: Matt Wieters. The three-time All-Star catcher was among the first three players ever to accept a $15.3million qualifying offer, saying his decision was based on his comfort level with the team. “For a one-year deal,” he told The Associated Press, “there’s no place more comfortable than playing baseball for the Orioles.”

Rays: Matt Silverman. With the departure of Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Andrew Friedman to the Dodgers and manager Joe Maddon to the Cubs, Silverman, who took over the GM role, helped the Rays to a respectable 80-82 record.

Red Sox: Dave Dombrowski. In a late season move, Dombrowski is hired as the team’s president of baseball operations, two weeks after he was fired as president of the Tigers.

Yankees:Alex Rodriguez. Would the Yankees love to be out from the rest of A-Rod's contract, which guarantees him at least $42 million through the end of 2017? Of course. But they must appreciate that he was their best hitter in 2015, which could have gone so much worse.

AL CENTRAL

Indians:Francisco Lindor. Vizquel's glove, Alomar's bat in one middle infielder? Sounds more like Christmas than Thanksgiving.

Tigers: Daniel Norris and Michael Fulmer. Potential building blocks of a revamped rotation, thanks to former GM Dave Dombrowski, who was shown the door shortly after flipping pending free agents for these young arms.

Twins: Playoff run. The Twins unexpectedly remained in the American League wild card hunt until game No. 161. Their 83-79 record was their best since 2010.

Royals:GM Dayton Moore. After falling 90 feet short of a World Series championship in 2014, the club won a title for the first time in 30 years.

White Sox: Chris Sale. Even in years they disappoint, the White Sox know something incredible may transpire every fifth day.

AL WEST

Angels:Mike Trout’s contract. Were it not for the six-year, $144.5 million deal Trout signed just before the 2014 season, Angels fans would be fretting now about the chance he might walk in two years. Instead, the game’s best player is locked up through 2020.

Astros:Carlos Correa. Would it be premature to give him a blank 15-year contract right now?

Carlos Correa won the AL Rookie of the Year award. (Photo: Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports)

Athletics:Revenue sharing. The A’s attendance was predictably down as they endured their worst season since 1997, and next year doesn’t look much more promising as the low-payroll club focuses on rebuilding from within. But those checks keep coming in, and they never bounce.

Mariners:A hyperactive general manager. It’s way too early to tell if new GM Jerry Dipoto is steering Seattle in the right direction, but at least he’s shaking things up after last year’s pratfall. In a 16-day stretch in November, Dipoto completed four trades involving 16 players.

Rangers: Adrian Beltre. Even at the age of 36, the third baseman proves why he’s still one of the best competitors in the game with his tenacity in the postseason.

NL EAST

Braves: Fans. Slashing the payroll seems to be goal No. 1, but don’t tell that to the club’s general manager. “I’m getting so tired of this,” GM John Coppolella told USA TODAY Sports on the eve of the quarterly Major League Baseball owners meetings. “If guys want to take shots or (degrade) us, fine. But let’s let it play out for a few years before we start branding our pitchforks and torches. I feel in my heart this is the best for the Braves. Trust me, we are not tanking.”

Marlins: Giancarlo Stanton. Imagine what the slugger can do with a full season under his belt in the years to come.  He hit 22 homers in an injury-shortened season in 2015.

Mets:Modern medicine. Thanks to an incredible wealth of young starting pitching talent, the Mets appear primed to build on their 2015 World Series berth by contending for years to come. They owe it to Tommy John elbow surgery, which brought life back to the arms of starters Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey and Steven Matz.

Bryce Harper had a breakout season in 2015 with the Nationals. (Photo: Brad Mills, USA TODAY Sports)

Nationals: The Phillies. Philadelphia was the defending World Series champion in 2009 and won 15 of 18 games with Washington that year. That’s a good thing for D.C. because it helped ensure the Nationals finished with the worst record in the majors (59-103) by three games and gained the 2010 No. 1 overall draft pick, which they used on 2015 National League MVP Bryce Harper.

Phillies:Out with the old, in with the new. The Phillies shed themselves of starting pitcher Cole Hamels, closer Jonathan Papelbon and second baseman Chase Utleyand much of their contracts. Is first baseman Ryan Howard next?

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NL CENTRAL

Brewers: Season is over. The club finished with a 68-94 record, their worst record since 2004.

Cardinals: Mike Matheny. Despite all the injuries to key players, the manager was able to lead the club to win 100 games.

Cubs: Cubbie Corps. Third baseman Kris Bryant, outfielders Kyle Schwarber andJorge Soler, first baseman Anthony Rizzo, shortstop Javier Baez and second basemanAddison Russell are who we thought they were.

Pirates:Staying power. The club proved they are a postseason contenders – reaching the playoffs in each of the past three years -- but has yet to get past the National League Division Series.

Reds: Joey Votto. A finalist for the NL MVP, Votto had one of the best second-half seasons in led the majors --  batting average (.362), on-base percentage (.535) and walks (86) and ranked sixth in slugging percentage (.617).

NL WEST

Diamondbacks: Paul Goldschmidt. A NL MVP runner-up in 2013, Goldschmidt became the first player with at least 100 walks, 100 runs scored and 100 RBI with a .320 average or better since Miguel Cabrera in 2011.

Dodgers: One more season of Vin Scully. Every year the living legend puts off retirement is a reason for celebration. Scully has indicated next season would likely be his final one in the booth. If so, sit back, relax and enjoy listening to the master at work.

Giants:An all-homegrown infield. The Giants thrive on stability, and they have that with catcher Buster Posey, first baseman Brandon Belt, second baseman Joe Panik, third baseman Matt Duffy and shortstop Brandon Crawford. None is older than 28, and the closest one to free agency (Belt) won’t be eligible for two more years.

Padres:Craig Kimbrel. His trade to the Boston Red Sox should produce a couple of high-profile building blocks for the organization. Top outfield prospect Manuel Margotand shortstop Javier Guerra are projected to be potential All-Stars.

Rockies: Carlos Gonzalez. After hitting a career-high 40 home runs, the Silver Slugging outfielder increased his trade bait. Gonzalez is set to make $37 million over the next two years and the club may want be looking to dump his salary, like Troy Tulowitzki’s.

Five questions family members will ask you about the Rays over Thanksgiving

The holiday season is upon us, filled with good food, good drinks, and awkward conversations with family members that you haven’t seen for years.  We’re here to help you get out of some of those conversations and onto your third helping of delicious food.

If you are reading and/or commenting on this website, then you are probably a Rays fan. You love the "analysis" that the writers provide, and the "in-depth discussions" with the other fans in the comment section. When Cousin Larry hears that you are a Rays fan from your Cousin Barry, he exclaims "ME TOO!" and suddenly is sitting a little too close for comfort next to you on the living room couch, and wanting to talk Rays baseball!

At first you are excited, but then you realize that you are going to struggle more getting out of this conversation than you did getting up from the table after eating your weight in turkey. You are also feeling very sleepy because football is boring, and you would rather  pass out than hear Cousin Larry complain about how the Rays should trade Rene Rivera for Mike Trout Blake Swihart.

Here are five questions that your family is likely to ask you over Thanksgiving dinner.

When are the Rays moving to Montreal?

Unless the City of St. Pete lets the Rays break their lease and look anywhere in the country/Canada, the Rays are stuck at Tropicana Field until 2028. Right now the city and the Rays are in "negotiations" to let the team look in Hillsborough County, but until an agreement is reached, they are stuck.

Why do the Rays always trade my favorite player?!

That’s just part of the Rays’ way. They don’t generate a lot of revenue, and need to have a smaller budget than other teams. That’s why they can’t afford to sign big contracts to big free agents either. Yeah, sure, we signed Asdrubal Cabrera last year, but he signed with us because he wanted to build up his value and sign a BIGGER deal next year.

The Rays also trade players at their highest value and at a point where they can expect a good return in prospects or other MLB ready players. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

Why don’t the Rays trade for a bigger bat?

Seriously, Cousin Larry? Whatever. I’m sure the Rays would love to trade for Mike Trout/Giancarlo Stanton/Derek Jeter, but it likely comes down to two things: those players are too expensive for the Rays, which I LITERALLY just explained to you. And said team would, rightfully so, demand half of our team, most of our farm system and the first born of all of our fans, which would not be good for the attendance situation at the Trop.

What do you think of Kevin Cash after his first year?

Good! He had a really short leash on our starting pitching, but that was based on some sound ideas about pitchers struggling when they're seen by batters too many times. Given the amount of injuries the starting staff had this year, he needed to do something like that to keep the team afloat. I thought he did really well. The bullpen needs work, obviously, and his usage of it wasn't always ideal (he's a rookie manager) but I am looking forward to seeing how he improves the team next year.

What are the Rays chances for 2016?

Depending on how the off-season shakes out, pretty good. We've already got some decent left-handed hitting in our trade for Logan Morrison and Brad Miller. If the Rays add another decent bat and a bullpen piece, it looks promising. We have some young prospects that should make a positive impact on our squad. Our pitching rotation got injured pretty bad last year, so as long as they can stay healthy, and the bats improve, we have a good chance at either a wild card or the AL East crown.

HOPEFULLY at this point Cousin Larry has ran out of questions, or isn't paying attention to your answers. Use this time to awkwardly excuse yourself, complain to no one in particular that there is never enough pie to go around at the end of the day, and pass out from the food coma you have put yourself in.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Authors note: Special thanks to Bless You Boys for the idea and ridiculousness.

Miami Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton tops list of star players who could be traded

Stanton has been out with a hand injury and is expected to be mentioned in trade rumors all winter.

Miami extended Giancarlo Stanton and his contract includes a no-trade clause but that will not prevent discussions with regard to Stanton's future with the organization.

The Marlins are expected to be active this winter but Stanton is not likely to be shopped. Regardless, ESPN's Dave Schoenfield deemed Stanton the number one big name player that could be traded.

Schoenfield explains his belief by noting the Marlins are "unpredictable enough" that he would not be surprised to see Stanton moved in the coming weeks. Miami is known to be seeking starting pitching and has expressed interest in building around both Stanton and Jose Fernandez. While a trade might not be realistic, it could remain a possibility.

Although there would likely be multiple teams interested in Stanton, the fact he has full no-trade protection could make getting a potential deal done challenging if the Marlins are open to the idea of trading him. Schoenfield points out Stanton would likely welcome a trade to the Dodgers since he grew up in Los Angeles.

If the Marlins were able to work out a deal with Los Angeles, the prospects involved would likely be notable. Corey Seager, Grant Holmes, Julio Urias and Joc Pederson might all interest Miami.

Stanton's health could make any interested club hesitant, however. While the Marlins have been rightfully cautious with Stanton, he still has not played in a major league game since June. Obviously, he would have to pass a physical but some teams might back out as a result of the amount of time he has spent sidelined over the last few years.

For the Marlins, a Stanton trade would signal yet another outfield transformation. Stanton anchors the outfield, and while Christian Yelich's solid second half is encouraging, Marcell Ozuna has struggled to remain consistent. If Stanton was moved, the Marlins would be forced to find another productive outfielder.

Whether or not Stanton is moved likely will also have a lot to do with the front office situation. Dan Jennings has yet to confirm he will return to the front office to become the GM and the organization has made multiple changes before the end of the week. Stanton signed an extension with Jennings as GM but another general manager might not look at Stanton in the same way.

Since Stanton is considered a core player, a trade might lead the Marlins to be evaluated by Major League Baseball. Baseball executives have reportedly been watching the Marlins' moves since their payroll has not fluctuated much over the last few seasons and have struggled of late. Would moving Stanton signal the end of Jeffrey Loria's career as the Owner of the Marlins?

Stanton, 25, is batting .265/.346/.606 to complement 27 home runs and 67 RBIs over 74 games this season.

A Stanton trade to this point remains unlikely. But that does not mean it will not be considered this offseason.

Marlins chaos puts Giancarlo Stanton on clock for a trade

From the moment Giancarlo Stanton signed his record 13-year, $325 million contract with the Marlins, a clock began ticking: When would Stanton want out and when would the Marlins oblige?

The answer is: Not yet. But more Marlins craziness only brings us closer to the day.

The Marlins under owner Jeffrey Loria never disappoint. They are to stability what “Hard Knocks” is to the Queen’s English. In this year in which they actually were trying to win, the Marlins might lose 100 games. They have fired one manager (Mike Redmond) and – of all things – replaced him with the general manager (Dan Jennings), who may or may not be going back to the front office, and may or may not still have the goodwill of Loria.

That front office is expected to have a blowtorch put to it by Loria, who once again will not use a mirror to see where the problems begin but is instead expected to make sweeping changes – hat tip to the initial reporting by Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald and Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports – to address a mismatched major league roster and one of the sport’s most bereft farm systems.

This comes after part of the pitch to get Stanton to sign was a vow from the organization to finally bring stability. Instead, Stanton will be going on his eighth manager since coming up in 2010 and likely his eighth different hitting coach.

The strong belief is Loria is going to try to win again in 2016, hoping for healthy full seasons from ace Jose Fernandez (who has made just seven starts this year coming off Tommy John surgery) and Stanton (who has been out since June 26 with a fractured hamate bone).

So the first target date for Stanton should be the 2016 trade deadline, if Miami is as bad next year as this. Or after the 2016 campaign. But it is coming.But considering the soap opera engrossing this organization yet again, the lack of minor league talent and the absence of allegiance to anyone making money once matters go badly, how long do you think the Marlins will stick to those plans?

Stanton’s agent, Joel Wolfe, chose not to comment when reached and presented with the scenario. And what does it matter what Marlins officials say? These are the wonderful folks who said all kinds of things to get the sweetheart deal for a new stadium that apparently is going to cost Miami-Dade County $2 billion in the long run.

Loria is the guy who showed up at the Carlyle Hotel one minute into free agency after the 2011 season and opened a long overcoat to reveal a Jose Reyes Marlins jersey as part of recruiting Reyes for six years at $106 million. That was part of the last huge Marlins buildup, that was mostly broken down the following offseason when Reyes, among others, were dealt away – though Loria had told Reyes to buy a nice house in Miami. Yeah, what does it matter what they say, because it is so rarely what they do?

Essentially, Stanton signed a deal he had to sign because of the $325 million payday (the largest ever in North American team sports), knowing he should not sign it because of who was offering it. Wolfe is too respected an agent not to have provided Stanton with all the potential pitfalls that had nothing to do with money. It was why the Stanton camp accepted smaller increments on the front end ($107 million over the first six years) to gain a player opt-out at that juncture and the first no-trade clause ever bestowed by Loria.

It means Stanton controls this party, and the last thing he would want to be seen doing publicly is trying to wriggle free after accepting that amount of dough. However, he was made promises about a culture of consistency being constructed around him. Instead, 2015 has been more of the same for the Marlins – more losing and more chaos. And how long will the most elite power hitter in the game want to waste his prime hoping for real change?

But there also is a question about what the Marlins could get in return, even for a player as special as Stanton. The assumption has to be a team would take on the full bulk of what’s left on the back-loaded $325 million deal that runs through his age-38 season. And Stanton has a Troy Tulowitzki-esque problem brewing – excellence, with a propensity for injury. He is a physical player who is missing huge chunks of a season for the third time in the past five years in his early 20s.

The injury history was one reason Stanton blinked and took the Marlins’ money. But it is Marlins money. Which means it comes with the Marlins. Which means start your clocks. The divorce is inevitable.

Marlins Slugger Giancarlo Stanton Now Also A Spokesman

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Giancarlo Stanton is known for his big time hits for the Miami Marlins.

Now he’s taking a swing at something new. Being a spokesman.

It’s not every day that you see a baseball slugger play DJ, but for Giancarlo Stanton it was all in a night’s work.

The Marlins big ticket player is now a spokesman for big time watchmaker Tag Huer and he’s not bashful about pushing the brand.

Stanton’s mega deal with the Marlins, $300 million and change, put him on the national radar.

A few magazine covers later and now he’s a nationally known commodity ready to take on his share of endorsements.

Unfortunately for the Marlins, Stanton has been out of the lineup more than two months after a fluke injury.

He broke a bone in his left hand taking one his mighty swings.

An unexpected buildup of scar tissue has made it slow to heal.

Certainly by next season, Stanton expects to be as good as new.

The Marlins are glad Stanton’s having a good time in this new role but they hope his luck improves on the field.

He has missed three months over the past two seasons.

Last year, his season ended when he took a pitch to the head in mid-September.

Giancarlo Stanton on Tag’s watch list

Miami Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton has signed a personal endorsement deal with Swiss watch brand Tag Heuer.

Stanton, an MVP candidate in this year's Major League Baseball (MLB) season, has already been used to unveil Tag's new Aquaracer 300M Ceramic Bezel watch.

Contractual information has not been revealed, but Stanton will join the likes of soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, tennis players Maria Sharapova and Kei Nishikori, rally driver Sébastien Ogier, Formula One pilot Jenson Button, basketball star Jeremy Lin, and golfer Jessica Korda as a Tag ambassador.

• Bundesliga signs first official timekeeper in Tag Heuer

The 25-year-old Stanton has played for the Marlins since 2010. He is a three-time MLB All-Star, and won a Silver Slugger Award for the best offensive player in any given position last year.

Miami Marlins’ Giancarlo Stanton talks wrist injury and wrist candy

Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton was sporting the new TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300M Ceramic Bezel watch on his left wrist last week at the brand’s Miami Design District boutique during a celebration honoring him as their newest ambassador.

“I was always a big fan, but I had never worn their watches until about a year ago,” Stanton said. “I was attracted to their overall worldwide respect and the level of ambassadors that they have who come together to help get their ‘Don’t Crack Under Pressure’ message out there. So I jumped at the opportunity to be an ambassador.”

The $2,500 watch was also resting on his left wrist and hand, which was injured back in June and has kept him out of the Marlins lineup all summer. The Marlins’ baseball season ends Sunday in Philadelphia.

“It’s been tough, but I don’t like to dwell on it too much,” Stanton said of the injury. “It’s never fun to sit and watch, especially when you think you could be impacting the game. It’s just an unfortunate circumstance. The wrist is coming around — I don’t know about through the end of the season, but it’s getting better.”

The party at the Swiss luxury watch brand’s store also included an appearance by the NERVO twins, the top-ranking female DJs in the world, who taught Stanton how to spin some music from the DJ booth.

While the NERVO twins were wearing flashy sequined sets, Stanton was in fitted, business-like attire. “I like the new and upcoming stuff and not really tied to brands,” Stanton said of his personal fashion style. “I just want the pants and shoes to match — it doesn’t have to be a high-end brand for me to wear it.”

But when it comes to watch brands, Stanton said his teammates are supportive of TAG Heuer, his first off-the-field endorsement deal.

“They are all sending me their orders for Christmas, so I will see what I can do for them.”

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/celebrities/article36827754.html#storylink=cpy