Wisdom and Links: It won’t be long, but some things need to still be sorted out

It won’t be long before Spring Training begins. Just a few weeks, in fact, but some things still need to be sorted out, so keep an eye open for the answers to questions such as…

Like, where’s James Shields going?

Or, when will Yoan Moncada finally be able to be signed by somebody?

Will any players be signing extensions between now and when pitchers and catchers report?

Trades. Will there be any? Or at least some real rumors instead of the 600^th Troy Tulowitzki rumor that doesn’t go anywhere? I mean, seriously, at this point if Tulowitzki were to ever actually be traded, I’m not sure I’d actually believe it.

What players will be making comebacks, whether from injury, from overseas or from retirement?

And, of course, what crazy Alex Rodriguez news still awaits us before he and the circus arrive in Tampa for spring training?

Actually, I don’t care at all about that last one. Some people will, though.

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LINKS!

It’s been far too long since I included a Jorge Arangure story on international baseball here. So here’s one about Cuba in general, the first of a series that will look at his recent trip to Cuba, including Cuban baseball (such as how Cubans get cable to watch sports).

The open mystery of who briefly kidnapped Ripken matriarch Violet Ripken, by Dave McKenna.

Ken Rosenthal on how there were no winners in the Duquette saga.

John Thorn, MLB’s chief historian, shares a contemporary account on Marty Bergen, catcher and ax-murderer.

SELF-PROMOTION OF THE WEEK: A look at early references to Caribbean baseball and Caribbean baseball players in The Sporting News.

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Needless to say, as the season approaches, more actual writing about baseball will show up. So keep coming to Hall of Very Good and Baseball Continuum!