And just like that, the offseason powder keg exploded.
During the weekend after the Winter Meetings, you don't expect a lot of things to happen. Of course, that wasn't the case this year, as movement continued over the past three days, reaching a tipping point late on Sunday night with the James Shields-Wil Myers megadeal. That trade was preceded on Sunday night by the Dodgers signing Hyun-Jin Ryu right before their deadline to get a contract done with him, and the news early in the morning that Shohei Otani would abandon his dreams of coming to America for 2013.
The fuse was really lit on Friday night though, when there was a flurry of activity heading into the weekend. Brandon McCarthy signed for two years in Arizona, Andruw Jones bid farewell to America and headed to Japan, and a minor league team complained about a major league team in another sport rebranding.
Then on Saturday, the wick burned down pretty far. Ryan Ludwick re-upped with the Reds late on Friday night, with all of the details coming out the next morning. Michael Young approved his trade to the Phillies. Zack Greinke became the highest-paid right-handed pitcher in baseball history thanks to the Dodgers. Of course, thanks to the Dodgers.
And there's your weekend. Big names going places, and big markets making moves. It sure is a great time to be a baseball fan.
Enjoy your offseason, everyone.
