MLB trade rumors and news: Red Sox punch World Series ticket after knocking out Astros

The MLB Daily Dish is a daily feature we’re running here at MLBDD that rounds up roster-impacting news, rumors, and analysis. Have feedback or have something that should be shared? Hit us up at @mlbdailydish on Twitter or @MLBDailyDish on Instagram.

• The Red Sox are heading to the World Series after defeating the defending champion Astros, 4-1, in Game 5 to win the ALCS in five games.

• Despite having only three hits in the entire series, Boston’s Jackie Bradley Jr. was named MVP of the ALCS, and for good reason.

• The Red Sox will open the World Series at home on Oct. 23.

• We are tracking all of the managerial and executive openings around MLB.

• The Red Sox got a clutch defensive play from Andrew Benintendi in a fantastic back and forth game to take a 3-1 series lead in the American League Championship Series.

• Clayton Kershaw was his usual dominant self for the Dodgers as LA took a 3-2 series lead over the Brewers with a 5-2 victory on Wednesday.
• There are several managerial and front office openings already and teams are busy interviewing candidates and seeing who is available. Make sure you stay up to date on all of the latest rumors on that front in our managerial and executive openings tracker.
• As the Marlins go all-in on highly-regarded Cuban prospect Victor Victor Mesa and his younger brother Victor Jr., they’ve acquired $500,000 in extra international signing bonus pool money from the Astros, sending low-level minor-leaguers Adonis Giron and Brayan de Paula to Houston in return.
• The Braves were surprisingly good this year and they looked primed to compete over the next few years. As a reward for that success, manager Brian Snitker received a multi-year contract extension that was quite deserved.
• Diamondbacks reliever Brad Ziegler has announced his retirement after 11 seasons in the majors.
• Our Wayne Cavadi has broken down the five biggest takeaways from the Yankees’ season.
• Winning 90 games with a roster full of rookies and reclamation projects is clearly a good way for a manager to earn a contract extension, as Kevin Cash proved when the Rays extended his deal through 2024 (with an option for 2025).
• While baseball is still raging on, the winter is coming sooner than we think...and with it, hot stove season. Here’s a look at the biggest free agents this offseason and what we might see go down when baseball hits the Winter Meetings in Vegas.
• Our own Anthony Spaulding made the cases for the NL Silver Slugger candidates at each position.
• Brewers starting pitchers are the unsung heroes for Milwaukee this postseason.
• Our Andersen Pickard took a look at the teams that under-performed relative to expectations this season and what went wrong to cause those disappointing seasons.
• There are quite a few legitimate contenders in the National League this year, so Anthony Spaulding went through the obvious candidates for NL Manager of the Year.