The Offseason: 12/15/2020

The news that dominated the MLB wire yesterday was that of the Cleveland baseball team abandoning the nickname it had used for over 100 years. The diehard fans of the team will obviously gripe online and in person about the change, and it will take people time to NOT call them the name (I know I’m still not able to call them the Washington Football Team sometimes), but in the end, it was a change bound to happen.

There was also some other news yesterday, one in which Rob Manfred and company stand to make even more money on game that don’t technically exist yet. While we could argue that Manfred is bad at his job, his actual job is to make the owners happy. Nothing makes owners happier than getting more money and Manfred has been incredibly good at that.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

• Joe Girardi spoke with the media yesterday and the biggest takeaway is about how they plan on rebuilding a unit of the team that was historically bad ($).
• Here is more from Girardi and how he thinks the team will progress under new president Dave Dombrowski.
• Here’s a way to fix the Phillies. It involves spending money. Yay!

MLB news:

• Cleveland has made official what they leaked yesterday: they are changing their name.
• ESPN and MLB are about to make a deal that will change how the Worldwide Leader broadcasts games, including how they’ll get a round of playoffs that doesn’t exist just yet. Amazing.
• If you were interested in his take, Keith Law ($) offers his take on what has gone down in baseball transaction land yesterday.
• Seems the Yankees and D.J. LeMahieu are pretty far apart in what they are each looking for. Have to think, though, that that gap will get made up some how.
• The Royals continue snatching up one-year deal, this time re-upping Greg Holland.
• The Red Sox also made a move, signing Hunter Renfroe to a one year deal.

Rumor roundup:

• Before signing James McCann, the Mets did talk with J.T. Realmuto, but ultimately couldn’t wait for him to make a decision.