Morning Mound Visit: Kevin Gausman has a big decision to make

Jake Mailhot | FanGraphs: There were only six qualifying offers extended this offseason, and one of those went to an unlikely name. After a great year in San Francisco, the longtime Oriole and eminent ace is now faced with a difficult decision. Should he take the $18.9 million or test free agency with a draft pick dragging him down?

Russell Carleton | Baseball Prospectus $: The new frontier of player development could be improving players’ sleep patterns. Baseball players have a work schedule that’s murder on their sleeping schedule and routinely missing sleep can deteriorate motor learning. Rrussell Carleton proposes that teams hire directors of sleep and reap the benefits.

Patrick O’Kennedy | Bless You Boys: One of Rob Manfred’s goals is for MLB to completely take over Minor League Baseball. MLB has taken every opportunity to diminish MiLB’s negotiating power, and unless something drastic happens, MiLB as we know it is over.