Baseball Connection

It's not a blockbuster deal, but the Reds and Rockies have made a trade. Jeff Hoffman will head to Cincinnati and Robert Stephenson will head to Colorado. Both pitchers are in need of a scenery change but some believe each still has upside. All this on today's episode.

The Braves have a lot of young talent in their rotation, but sometimes you need an elder statesman to lead the way. With Mike Soroka still on his way back from an Achilles injury, Atlanta has quietly picked up two veteran arms. Charlie Morton is the latest addition after they signed Drew Smyly last week. Morton signed a 1-year, $15 million deal.

Word on the street is that the Rays are open to trading Blake Snell. This seems like a bit of a shock until you remember that the Rays have made this kind of move before (David Price & James Shields). Snell would net a massive haul, especially from a pitching-starved team like the Angels or Mariners.

The Mets are thinking of playing Amed Rosario at multiple positions next year. A natural shortstop, Rosario has the tools to move around the diamond, but his bat is a bit light to match the profile of a corner spot. Are the Mets clearing shortstop to make way for a big trade piece? All this on today's episode.

After a 10-year career, Yonder Alonso has retired. Alonso was a one-time All Star who bounced around several teams. In recent years, he was a veteran presence for teams that needed some 1B/DH depth. Alonso wants to stay involved in baseball in some capacity. What's next for him?

The Washington Nationals are looking for bats. They are kicking the tires on a Kris Bryant trade, a DJ LeMahieu signing, or a JT Realmuto signing. After losing Anthony Rendon last year, Washington wants to acquire an offensive weapon. J.A. Happ has piqued the Angels' interest.  He's been very consistent despite his age. Could George Springer end up in Toronto? It makes a lot of sense.

Wander Franco is baseball's top prospect and has been for two years now. He's still only 19 years old and has yet to play above A-ball, so he'll most likely spend 2021 getting seasoned in the upper minors. But after then, what will his path to playing time be considering who the Rays already have in the middle infield?

Robinson Cano has tested positive for PEDs again. Cano will be suspended without pay for the entire 2021 season. Although he won't receive the $24 million he was due next year, Cano still has an additional 2 years and $48 million dollars on his contract. Although he was an elite player with Hall-of-Fame numbers, Cano will struggle to receive a nomination to Cooperstown when the time comes.

Theo Epstein is stepping down from his role as the Cubs' President of Baseball Operations. Epstein is a decorated executive who will be in the Hall of Fame some day, but he is walking away from the Cubs with a year left on his contract. What does this mean for the Cubs franchise? Cody Bellinger underwent shoulder surgery and should be ready for Spring Training.

Mike Clevinger will undergo Tommy John surgery today, but at least he gets to celebrate a new 2-year deal with the Padres. Drew Smyly was one of the better strikeout pitchers in baseball, so the Braves are banking on his upside with a 1-year, $11 million deal for next year. The 2021 Hall of Fame ballot has been released. All this (and more) on today's episode.

JT Realmuto is the best catcher in baseball. He's also a free agent. Realmuto will be looking to strike it rich, and he's well-positioned to do so. Projections see him landing a 5-year deal in the $115-125 million range. Where are his likely destinations?

Marcus Stroman will be returning to the Mets - he accepted the qualifying offer. He'll be at the front of the staff along with Jacob deGrom, but the Mets still have a bunch of holes to plug. The Padres are discussing a two-year extension with Mike Clevinger. All this (and more) on today's episode.

The Miami Marlins have hired Kim Ng to be their next general manager. Ng has over 30 years of experience in Major League Baseball, which include stints across three different franchises. Ng is the first female to become a general manager in any major American sport.

Jose Abreu and Freddie Freeman are this year's MVPs. Abreu's selection came as bit of a surprise to some, but it was certainly well deserved. The Cuban slugger has been one of the most consistent hitters in baseball for a long time, and his strong 2020 season found him at the top of multiple major categories. Freeman bounced back from a rough bout with COVID-19 and was a clear-cut favorite to win...

Trevor Bauer and Shane Bieber are the 2020 Cy Young Award winners. Bauer has lined himself up for a nice payday this winter after becoming the first Cincinnati Reds player to win the award. In the American League, Shane Bieber was a unanimous selection. Bieber won MLB's pitching triple crown in 2020.

When you lead the Miami Marlins to the playoffs, you deserve Manager of the Year. That's precisely what happened to Don Mattingly. Mattingly won the National League version of the award while leading an underdog to the postseason despite a piecemeal roster and a COVID-19 outbreak. Kevin Cash won in the American League after leading the Rays to a pennant.

The Rookie of the Year awards have been announced. Kyle Lewis was a unanimous selection in the American League, and Devin Williams took home the honor in the National League. Both players were highly touted draft picks who lost some shine as they battled major injuries through their time in the minors. Both players are living up to their lofty ceilings so far as their careers are just taking off.

Kevin Gausman might be the only player strongly considering accepting his qualifying offer this year. With $18.9 million on the table, Gausman might be best taking the deal and then testing the market again next year. Although he had a strong year, teams might want to see him do it over a normal-length season before committing to a multi-year deal with him.

The Cleveland Indians are shopping Francisco Lindor. Lindor has one year left on his deal and Cleveland doesn't seem willing to pay his hefty price tag. The Indians have not been known to get attached to any one player and will do what's necessary to maintain a modest payroll. What team would be a good trade partner? All this on today's episode.

The Red Sox are bringing back Alex Cora. After being dismissed earlier this year for his role in the Astros' sign stealing scandal, Alex Cora served a season-long suspension handed down by the Commissioner. Cora will get back to work with a roster that's already familiar with him. Alex Gordon and Nolan Arenado won Platinum Gloves. The Mets are cleaning house. All this on today's episode.

The Silver Slugger award is given to the best hitter at each position in each league. Who were the offensive juggernauts in 2020? Mike Trout took home his eighth Silver Slugger, as he works his way up the all-time list for outfielders. Even at age 40, Nelson Cruz isn't slowing down. All this (and more) on today's episode.

Marcell Ozuna enters the winter as the top bat on the market. How much will he command? With Ozuna, you're getting a consistent middle-of-the-order bat that should be good through a multi-year deal. Ozuna is a bit suspect defensively, so the future of the DH in the National League will surely come into play here. All this on today's episode.

Who are the finest in the field? The Gold Glove award winners were announced and it includes some familiar faces. Nolan Arenado has now won 8 straight Gold Glove awards to start his career. Can he catch Ichiro's record of 10? Alex Gordon took home his 8th and final as he rides off into retirement. All this on today's episode.

The finalists for each major award have been announced We take a look at who's in consideration for Rookie of the Year, MVP, Cy Young, and Manager of the Year awards in each league.

A qualifying offer is a one-year offer that can be given to impending free agents which is worth the average of MLB's 125 highest paid players. This year's qualifying offer is worth $18.9 million. A player who declines the qualifying offer will become a free agent, but his team will receive draft pick compensation if he leaves. Most players decline the qualifying offer. Six players received a qual...