Matt Whitener
Yardbarker
St. Louis, MO, United States
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Past articles by Matt:
Why Yankees' CC Sabathia is first-ballot Hall of Famer
CC Sabathia contemporaries Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander are more celebrated. But when it comes to consistency, few can approach Sabathia over the past three decades, Matt Whitener writes. → Read More
Nine MLB trades we'd like to see this winter
While much of the attention of the MLB offseason has been given to the next destinations for Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, there are plenty of other moves that could be made that would feature some of the game’s most exciting talents — who are still und → Read More
MLB prospects who will be household names by 2019
In the last handful of seasons, baseball has been blessed with an especially talented group of precocious youngsters. Aaron Judge, Corey Seager, Gary Sanchez and Cody Bellinger made massive impacts upo → Read More
MLB power rankings: Playoff picture begins to take shape
The MLB 2018 slate has reached its decision point for many a team with hopes for their season to continue beyond the final days of September. The stakes are as high as ever in the National League, where an incredible eight teams are still within range of m → Read More
Breaking down baseball's crowded MVP scene
With the final month of the MLB season underway, the race for MVP honors in both the National and American Leagues is as heated as some of the divisional races. More so than in many recent years, the decision about who ultimately takes home the hardware co → Read More
The 10 biggest surprises of the MLB season
Over the course of the seven-month journey that the MLB season takes from opening day through the end of the World Series, any number of surprises are bound to occur. Some are based around the breakout → Read More
Coming Attractions: MLB prospects who might be called up in July
June was a tough month for baseball’s top young talents. The rise of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has stalled as the superstar prospect works his way back from a patellar tendon strain that has sidelined him for the past three weeks. Likewise, top prospects Aust → Read More
Decision points: The biggest challenges facing MLB's top contenders
With the July 31 trade deadline coming up soon, it is time to assess the biggest issue for each contender and what options are out there to address them.Manny Machado is everyone’s favorite topic to de → Read More
MLB Power Rankings: O's, Royals looking ready to rebuild
As June speeds along, a very clear class system has begun to develop around the game. A trio of elites emerged in the Astros, Yankees and Red Sox, while on the other side of the coin there are upward o → Read More
MLB power rankings: Mariners make their case as best of the AL West
The recent weeks of MLB action have featured frequent battles among the heavyweights of the game. The Astros faced the Yankees, Indians and Red Sox in succession, while the Yankees tangled with the Ang → Read More
MLB power rankings: Braves, Phillies becoming beasts of the NL East
It is hard to believe that we have already hit the quarter mark of the MLB calendar, but it is not hard to believe that there are three teams on pace for 100 wins, with the surging Yankees, Red Sox and Astros all flying through their respective schedules. → Read More
Famous and obscure MLB records that could fall in 2018
Baseball is a game more defined by its legendary marks than any other. In many cases, a number can be thrown out without an introduction, and its significance is already known, such as: 56 4,256 511 2 → Read More
MLB power rankings: The Yankees are coming
The beginning of the second month of the MLB season has been an eventful one, full of significant mile markers, power moves up the standings, as well as a handful of free falls. The Red Sox came slight → Read More
MLB power rankings: Mets, Blue Jays regain playoff form
As we return to our biweekly look at the Major League Baseball hierarchy, many things remain roughly the same. The Red Sox and Astros are still blazing through the American League, while the Mets conti → Read More
Top 10 MLB prospects who could be called up in April
Although the new baseball season is underway and several teams look different than they did last season, there are still further makeovers yet to take place. Even more MLB rosters will be altered as so → Read More
Top 10 closers for 2018
While debates regarding the value of saves and the role of the closer are nothing new, the difference-making impact of having an elite one is unmistakable. The ability to get the job done and close the → Read More
Top 10 relievers (non-closers) for 2018
No area of the game has undergone a more dramatic overhaul in recent years than the role of the reliever. Long gone are the days of burnt-out starters hidden in the bullpen as a walking path to the clo → Read More
Top 10 DHs for 2018
Defining a player's value is more nuanced than simply checking the box score, but there's one position in baseball that is a bit easier to judge. I'm talking, of course, of the designated hitter.The ex → Read More
Top 10 outfielders for 2018
While shortstop currently houses the most impressive collection of talent in Major League Baseball, the outfield position is powerfully impressive in its own right.From the precocious power of Aaron Ju → Read More
Top 10 shortstops for 2018
Never in the history of the game has there been such a uniquely skilled set of athletes at the shortstop position. A lot of that can be attributed to the likes of Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Nomar Gar → Read More