MLB Trade Rumors and News: Rendon offered big money extension, Ausmus fired as manager

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• The Nationals, who already saw Bryce Harper walk away last offseason to the rival Phillies, have reportedly offered star third baseman Anthony Rendon a seven year contract extension worth around $210 million. This is going to be an important offseason for the Nationals as Rendon will be a free agent and it sounds like Stephen Strasburg will opt out of his contract as well. Whether they figure out an extension for these guys or they hit the free agent market to try and replace them, the Nationals appear poised to be VERY busy this offseason yet again.
• Much has been made in recent days and weeks about the fate of Angels manager Brad Ausmus. The fit was always a tough one and the team did not perform well this season although a good chunk of that was beyond his control. However, the axe did come down yesterday as Ausmus was relieved of his duties as manager of the Angels.
• The regular season is over and with that comes analysis of all of the match-ups in the playoffs. Our own Andersen Pickard took a stab at it as he ran down each of the division series coming up with some predictions as to what will go down.
• After five years in Chicago, the Cubs are ready to part ways with outspoken manager Joe Maddon. With a record of 471-338, the 65-year old leaves his mark as the fifth-winningest manager in Cubs history.
• Up next on the managers officially getting their walking papers: the Pirates are set to fire manager Clint Hurdle. This is particularly surprising considering a week ago it was being reported that Hurdle would stay with the team next season, which turned out to be a massive miscommunication that seemed to fit right in with the season Pittsburg had this year. Heard they’re hiring out in San Francisco.
• We now know the teams that will be competing in the postseason as the Twins clinched the AL Central and the Brewers locked up a playoff spot. The Rays will be heading into October as the AL Wild Card contenders. Who called that one at the beginning of this season?
• Here’s your shining hope for 2020, Mets fans: Rookie Pete Alonso slammed his 53rd home run of the season, thus breaking Aaron Judge’s rookie record. Someone brush up on the Animorphs books because Alonso just transitioned from a polar bear to a goat (please stop throwing things).
• The Phillies have had a pretty lousy year considering the high expectations they had coming out of the offseason after all of the wheeling and dealing they did. Seemingly locked into a shocking 4th place finish in the NL East, they will now be without J.T. Realmuto for the rest of the season as he undergoes knee surgery. Realmuto has been a bright spot for the team this season that clearly went wrong for a number of reasons.
• In another managerial shake up, Royals manager Ned Yost announced Monday that he would be retiring at the end of the season. For a team that is in the middle of its rebuild, their choice of manager after Yost could have ramifications for a long time, particularly as they look to develop a lot of young players.
• The Padres have fired manager Andy Green after almost four seasons with the club. Despite adding Manny Machado to the roster and developing young phenom Fernando Tatis Jr., Green’s all time 274-366 record was enough for both the fans and upper management to lose faith in him. Stay tuned as we watch for the smoke signals to see who the Padres have elected as their new manager.
• The good news for the Yankees is that they clinched their first AL East title since 2012. The bad news is that earlier in the day, Yankee starter Domingo German was placed on administrative leave after allegations surfaced that he struck his girlfriend.
• The Marlins, coming off back-to-back seasons where they have finished dead last in the NL East, decided to give manager Don Mattingly a two-year contract extension. Some may be puzzled by this move given the Marlins’ lack of success, but it worth noting that the Marlins aren’t going to be winning much of anything over the next two years, which puts less onus on getting the right guy in there at the moment.
• In an extremely disturbing development, Pirates All-Star closer Felipe Vazquez has been arrested and denied bond after being charged with possession of child pornography, providing obscene material to minors, and soliciting a child. He’s been placed on administrative leave by MLB.
• Phillies left fielder Corey Dickerson will miss the rest of the season with a fractured left foot, perhaps bringing an end to the soon-to-be free agent’s brief career in the City of Brotherly Love. While Philadelphia’s outfield depth is solid, this is more unfortunate news for a team that seems to be stumbling towards the finish line.
• Arguably the best player in all of baseball and across the board AL MVP for the past three years (and pretty much every one to come), Mike Trout has been such a high point for baseball as of late. The Baseball Gods, it seems, are cruel and mighty as more horrible news hits an already mangled Angels team: Trout will have season-ending surgery on his right foot. Trout has what’s called a Morton’s neuroma, an issue he’s been dealing with for some time. Pour one out.