MLB Season 23

[Dixie Flatline]

The Rangers have indeed won the World Series, and it is the first World Series in their history. The list of teams that have yet to win a World Series has shrunk to five, namely the Rockies, the Brewers, the Padres, the Mariners and the Tampa Bay Rays.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Will Smith (not the catcher) is the first player in MLB history to win three consecutive World Series with three different teams. In 2021, Smith won the World Series with the Braves, in 2022 he won it with the Astros and then he won it with the Rangers this season.

In fact, a Will Smith has been on the winning roster for the last four seasons, with the Dodgers winning the World Series (featuring the catcher, Will Smith) in 2020.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

With the World Series now complete, teams are able to make trades starting tonight (our time) and will be able to sign free agents on Tuesday (our time). The latter date is also the deadline for teams to make option decisions, to issue qualifying offers, and to add players from the 60-day injured list to the 40-man roster. The non-tender deadline is 17 November.

 

[FreoRicci]

The Rangers have indeed won the World Series, and it is the first World Series in their history. The list of teams that have yet to win a World Series has shrunk to five, namely the Rockies, the Brewers, the Padres, the Mariners and the Tampa Bay Rays.

San Diego the oldest team yet to win?

Padres, Milwaukee, Colorado and Tampa Bay all have made the WS at least.

Seattle are the only team yet to make it.

 

[FreoRicci]

Will Smith (not the catcher) is the first player in MLB history to win three consecutive World Series with three different teams. In 2021, Smith won the World Series with the Braves, in 2022 he won it with the Astros and then he won it with the Rangers this season.

In fact, a Will Smith has been on the winning roster for the last four seasons, with the Dodgers winning the World Series (featuring the catcher, Will Smith) in 2020.

Will Smith seem to be winners.
The actor have also won Academy Award in that time as well .

 

[Dixie Flatline]

San Diego the oldest team yet to win?

Padres, Milwaukee, Colorado and Tampa Bay all have made the WS at least.

Seattle are the only team yet to make it.

I think it's the Brewers and Padres jointly. The Brewers were founded as the Seattle Pilots back in 1969, the same year as the Padres were founded. The Brewers relocated to Milwaukee in 1970.

The Guardians have the longest championship drought, having not won the World Series since 1948 (75 years and counting).

 

[FreoRicci]

I think it's the Brewers and Padres jointly. The Brewers were founded as the Seattle Pilots back in 1969, the same year as the Padres were founded. The Brewers relocated to Milwaukee in 1970.

The Guardians have the longest championship drought, having not won the World Series since 1948 (75 years and counting).

Both Seattle based franchises haven the won is hilarious.

2016 WS has to be one of the best series of all time. Guardians were so so close. At the same time, Cubs breaking their drought was cool.

 

[FreoRicci]

Unreal that they were a basket case for 5+ years with no idea how to develop talent and it all comes together. Very well done

Special shout out to the mets, they let Scherzer and de Grom go to the Rangers, miss the playoffs and those two win a ring. LOL. Mets.

Scherzer winning twice in 4 years.
Does De Grom still get a ring? Is there any minimum eligibility

 

[RPCB]

Both Seattle based franchises haven the won is hilarious.

2016 WS has to be one of the best series of all time. Guardians were so so close. At the same time, Cubs breaking their drought was cool.

Yeah, that was a great one. Like so great that I watched the 10th inning for the millionth time last night.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Scherzer winning twice in 4 years.
Does De Grom still get a ring? Is there any minimum eligibility

Pretty sure deGrom gets one.

 

[FreoRicci]

Yeah, that was a great one. Like so great that I watched the 10th inning for the millionth time last night.

Davis’ HR was epic. Bottom of them 8th. What a moment that was

 

[FreoRicci]

Very very interesting finalists for MVP.

Seager, Semien, Ohtani for AL. Thought Ohtani hadn’t played enough games. Looking likely to be Seager.

National League even more intriguing
Acuna Jr is 100% the MVP. Finalists also included Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts.
No Matt Olson. Very keen to find out the rationale behind that

Gerrit Cole (Yankees), Kevin Gausman (Blue Jays) and Sonny Gray (Twins) are the finalists for AL Cy Young Awards

Zac Gallen (D-backs), Blake Snell (Padres) and Logan Webb (Giants) are the NL finalists

 

[FreoRicci]

Gold Gloves AL
1st base: Lowe (Texas)
2nd base: Gimenez (Cleveland)
Short Stop: Volpe (NY Yankees)
3rd Base: Chapman (Toronto)

RF: Garcia (Texas)
CF: Kiermaier (Toronto)
LF: Kwan (Cleveland)

C: Heim (Texas)

 

[FreoRicci]

Gold Gloves NL
1st base: Walker (Arizona)
2nd base: Hoerner (Chicago Cubs)
Short Stop: Swanson (Chicago Cubs)
3rd Base: Hayes (Pittsburgh)

RF: Tatis Jr (San Diego)
CF: Doyle (Colorado)
LF: Haap (Chicago Cubs)

C: Moreno (Arizona)

 

[Dixie Flatline]

With the Phillies opting to make Bryce Harper their every-day first baseman for 2024 and beyond and Kyle Schwarber being their full-time DH, it leaves Hoskins without a chair when the music stops at Citizens Bank Park. Accordingly, Rhys Hoskins is looking for a new club. One franchise known to have interest in Hoskins is the Cubs, who believe that Hoskins would be a "good fit for their roster".

In 2023, the Cubs occasionally used Cody Bellinger at first base, but after his bounceback year, he's in high demand around the league and even if he does return to Chicago, he's more likely to play centre field than first base. There have been some thought that the Cubs might try to turn young slugger Christopher Morel into a first baseman, but he's never played the position before and was responsible for most of the Cubs' production at DH in 2023. That opens the door for the Cubs to sign Hoskins, to play first base on a regular basis, while leaving Morel in at DH and giving time to prospect Matt Mervis to demonstrate that he's worthy of promotion to the big leagues.

What we’re hearing: Cubs could target Rhys Hoskins, potential trade candidates and more

Who will start at first base next season for the Cubs? Hoskins could be a fit, and Christopher Morel might play the position in winter ball.

theathletic.com

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Yankees approached former Cubs manager David Ross about taking on their vacant bench coach role (after Carlos Mendoza agreed to become the Mets' manager), but Ross has reportedly turned down the opportunity as he looks to remain a manager with a different club after being fired by the Cubs to make way for Craig Counsell. However, the number of clubs looking for new managers is down to just two, after the Astros named Joe Espada as their new manager, with vacancies only remaining in San Diego and Milwaukee. Ross has not been linked with the Brewers as a potential candidate, and is also not viewed as the favourite for the job in San Diego.

Accordingly, the Yankees may pivot to Brad Ausmas, the former Detroit and Angels manager, who was reportedly a candidate for the job in Houston before the Astros gave Espada the nod. Another potential candidate could be Yankees third base coach and former Mets manager Luis Rojas, though that would still leave a big gap in the senior coaching ranks at the Yankees if Rojas was to be promoted to the role of bench coach.

Yankees ask David Ross about bench coach job, but he prefers manager job to return: Sources

The Yankees approached David Ross about replacing Carlos Mendoza.

theathletic.com

Espada was a second round pick by the Oakland Athletics in the 1996 draft and played nine seasons in the minor leagues. He was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 1998 Rule 5 draft but never received an opportunity to play in the majors. He retired from playing baseball in 2005 and began coaching in the Marlins' organisation in 2006, serving as a minor league hitting coach and infield coordinator before being promoted to third base coach for the Marlins prior to the 2010 season. Espada remained in that role until 2014, until he left to become special assistant in the Yankees' front office. He returned to coaching in 2015 with the Yankees before being hired by the Astros to replace Alex Cora as their bench coach for the 2018 season after Cora was named the Red Sox manager. Espada has been in that role since, under both A.J. Hinch and Dusty Baker, although it hasn't been for lack of trying, with Espada interviewing with the Cubs, Giants, Mets, White Sox, Marlins and Athletics for the vacant role of manager at various times.

Nightengale's Notebook: What happened at MLB GM meetings ... besides everyone getting sick

The GM Meetings came and went, leaving a whole lot of front office officials nauseous, but did provide entertainment heading into the winter.

www.usatoday.com

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Tampa Bay Rays reportedly have no current plans to replace Peter Bendix as GM after Bendix took the role of president of baseball operations at the Marlins earlier in the month. There will be no external search for a new GM conducted by the Rays, with assistant GMs Will Cousins, Chanda Lawdermilk and Carlos Rodriguez all expected to take on larger roles in the baseball operations department after Bendix's departure. Senior adviser Jon Daniels (formerly the president of baseball operations at the Rangers from 2005-2022) will also take on a larger role as mentor for the Rays' group of assistant GMs.

‘Preliminary’ talks have Rays better positioned for action in making moves

Tales | Discussions in Arizona provide an understanding of the trade and free-agent possibilities. Plus, updates on the GM vacancy, roster moves and manager of the year award.

www.tampabay.com

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Reports out of Japan suggest that the Yokohama DeNA Baystars have officially agreed to the request from LHP Shota Imanaga to post him for the prospect of signing with a MLB team. Once Imanaga is officially posted, he will have 45 days to come to terms with a MLB team on a contract. If no deal is agreed to in that window, then he returns to the Baystars for the 2024 season and he would not be able to come to the MLB until 2025 at the earliest. Imanaga, 30, is a two-time NPB All-Star, has a career 3.18 ERA and 25% strikeout rate in 1002 2/3 innings of NPB baseball with the Baystars. Since he is subject to the posting system, whichever team signs him would also need to pay a posting fee to the Baystars, which is worth at least 20% of the guaranteed value of Imanaga's contract.

Baseball: Japanese lefty Imanaga to be posted for MLB move

DeNA BayStars left-hander Shota Imanaga will try to sign with an MLB team this offseason through the posting system.

english.kyodonews.net

 

[Dixie Flatline]

According to ESPN's Buster Olney, the Phillies have no intention of trading OF Nick Castellanos during the off-season. The Phillies would likely need to eat significant salary and/or attach a prospect to a potential trade, it appears that the Phillies would prefer to retain Castellanos, at least for one more season.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Catcher Martin Maldonado has been drawing interest from across the MLB, with four to five teams reportedly holding discussions with his agent in the offseason already. Maldonado has been demoted by the Astros to be the backup catcher to Yainer Diaz, should he return to Houston, but the Astros remain interested in retaining his services for at least one more season.

 

[FreoRicci]

Fernando Tatis Jr takes out the Platinum Glove. Wow. Very interesting

Was terriblee at shortstop. Horrible groundball fielder.

Elite right fielder. Makes a lot of sense to put him there. Speed, athleticism, huge throw. Don’t think he let a run scored in balls hit to his side- unearned runs.

 

[RPCB]

 

[FreoRicci]

Ronald Acuna Jr the NL MVP. No doubt about it

Ohtani is the AL MVP. Unanimous. Angels really have wasted Trout and Ohtani. Hilarious

 

[RPCB]

Ronald Acuna Jr the NL MVP. No doubt about it

Ohtani is the AL MVP. Unanimous. Angels really have wasted Trout and Ohtani. Hilarious

Mike Trout wasted his own career. No two ways about it.

It wasn’t about the money as he would have been paid more as a FA. Just a strange decision to stay with a team where he had already spent years doing nothing but losing.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Watch the Shohei doco on Disney Plus, if you can. It's a one sided doco about his career to date but I love Shohei even though I hate the Angels, so anything about Shohei I will watch.