MLB Trade Rumors and News: Astros advance to World Series, Mets closing in on finding new skipper

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• The Astros and Yankees meeting in the ALCS felt like an inevitability this season, but much like a repeat of the 2017 ALCS, the Astros were able to pull ahead and book their ticket to the World Series. After D.J. LeMahieu tied the game up with a two-run homer in the top of the ninth, none other than Jose Altuve sent a fastball from Aroldis Champan yard. The Astros are now comin’ in hot to the World Series as compared to the Nationals, who’ve had a few days to rest up. While that time help or hurt the team as they chase the first world title in franchise history?
• Another note from the Astros/Yankees series is a sad one. CC Sabathia, who had already had to force his body to get back on the mound due to a knee that is in rough shape, had to leave what will likely be his final career appearance early with a shoulder injury.
• While several teams have been being methodical with their searches for new managers, the Angels and Joe Maddon seemed to be a match from the beginning and had been linked to each other basically since the job became available. Well, yesterday things became official as Maddon was named the Angels’ manager for the next three seasons.
• Next up on the endless Indeed listings of baseball managers: the Mets have now had multiple interviews with both Joe Girardi and Tim Bogar, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. This dampens some spirits who were holding out for Carlos Beltran to secure the skipper spot. While no one has signed anything in stone yet, the former Met has not confirmed a second interview with the team. Bogar, another former Metropolitan, was a successful MiLB coach before heading to the show in 2008 to assist Joe Maddon with the Rays. From there he’s been a bench coach for the Rangers, a special assistant to the GM for the Angels, and is currently on the coaching staff for the World Series-bound Nationals. Wait, roll that tape back again. World Series, you say? Sign every one up. That is, Joe Girardi led the Yankees to a title as well, but it’s unclear the physical and mental capacity of all involved having to hear, “It’s not what you want,” so many times in a row.
• Not excited enough for the World Series to start? Well too bad because you better get there, especially seeing as Alex Bregman versus Anthony Rendon is a historically great third base World Series matchup.
• The Phillies were one of the league’s biggest disappointments in 2019. After committing around half a billion dollars in payroll between free agent signings and trades, the Phillies were expected to be leading contenders for the NL East crown but instead finished in 4th place with a .500 record. That was clearly not good enough as Phillies manager Gabe Kapler was fired last week.
• The Phillies are wasting no time in moving on from The Gabe Kapler Experiment. The team is already set to interview Joe Girardi, Buck Showalter, and Dusty Baker, reports Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia and Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune, respectively.
• Catcher Brian McCann who played for the Braves, Yankees, and Astros in his storied career, announced his retirement from baseball after Atlanta’s loss in the playoffs.
• There are several managerial openings and it is doubtful that we have seen all of the movement that we are going to see. Our own Andersen Pickard took a look at the currently available (or at least likely available) managerial candidates as well as gave some potential fits for each one.
• In a concerning development for the city of Oakland and its sports fans, mayor Libby Schaaf confirmed that commissioner Rob Manfred has threatened to move the Athletics out of the region due to a lawsuit that was recently filed by the Oakland city council against Alameda County — one that would effectively prevent the team from pursuing a new privately-financed ballpark in the area. Manfred mentioned Las Vegas as a possible destination for the A’s, though it’s debatable how feasible that move would be.
• Time to get your controversial voice heard: The best and worst awards for the golden era of kids sports movies.
• Reggie Jackson and the true definition of ‘clutch’.
• 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.
• Up next on the list of managers officially getting their walking papers: the Pirates have fired manager Clint Hurdle. This was particularly surprising considering the week before 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 Pittsburgh had this year.
• The Padres 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.
• Some tough news coming out of the Arizona Fall League, this week: The Mariners have pulled one of their top prospects Julio Rodriguez, according to Greg Johns of MLB.com. The young outfielder suffered a minor lower back strain and Seattle wants to take no risk on their second overall prospect. In 84 games while playing in two levels of the lower minors, the 18-year old dominated with a .326/.390/.540 slash line and 12 home runs. Not only is he the youngest player in the AFL, he’s also the number 25 prospect in all of baseball, so yeah I’d cover him in bubble wrap too.
• 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.