The Mets fired their general manager, three pitchers signed contracts, and, yep, the top four free agents are still without contracts. Check out the latest Major League Baseball news so you can continue planning your bets and place them against their MLB odds for the upcoming season.
MLB COVID-19 Update – January 20th Edition
2021 MLB Season
- When: Thursday, April 1 – Friday, October 1
- Where: Various
2021 World Series Odds
- Los Angeles Dodgers +370
- New York Yankees +550
- San Diego Padres +550
- Tampa Bay Rays +1300
- Atlanta Braves +1000
- Minnesota Twins +1600
- Chicago White Sox +1000
- Oakland Athletics +1700
- Houston Astros +1700
- Cleveland Indians +2000
- Cincinnati Reds +2500
- Chicago Cubs +3500
- New York Mets +1100
- Washington Nationals +4000
- St. Louis Cardinals +2600
- Toronto Blue Jays +3500
- Philadelphia Phillies +3500
- L.A. Angels +4000
- Boston Red Sox +4000
- Milwaukee Brewers +5000
- Miami Marlins +5000
- San Francisco Giants +6600
- Arizona Diamondbacks +7000
- Colorado Rockies +8000
- Seattle Mariners +8000
- Baltimore Orioles +8000
- Detroit Tigers +1000
- Kansas City Royals +10000
- Texas Rangers +10000
- Pittsburgh Pirates +15000
Mets let go of GM Jared Porter for sending sexually explicit images
The New York Mets fired general manger Jared Porter for sending unsolicited texts and images to a woman reporter. Porter sent the images and text messages to the international correspondent in 2016.
The reporter had gone to the United States to cover Major League Baseball. While there, Porter, who was with the Chicago Cubs at the time, began to harass her with all sorts of texts. We won’t go into the sordid details. You can check them out on ESPN if you’d like.
ESPN got wind of the messages and texts sometime in 2017. They contacted her. She said she didn’t want the network to release the information out of fear of reprisal. To ESPN’s credit, they respected her wishes.
In recent days, she told ESPN that she was ready to talk. On Monday, the network asked Porter about the text messages and images. Porter said the images were stock footage. Once the Mets heard about the situation, they fired him.
Although some people have become victims of the so-called cancel culture, Jared Porter isn’t one of them. Again, we won’t go into details, but once you find out the particulars, how many texts and images Porter sent to the victim, it will shock you.
Pitchers Chatwood, Lester, and Musgrove sign deals
The Toronto Blue Jays bolstered their bullpen by signing Tyler Chatwood to a 1-year, $3 million deal. Chatwood started 5 games last season. His ERA of 5.30 doesn’t impress. More than likely, Chatwood will play in bullpen games for the Jays. He could games. It’s likely he throws for 1 to 3 innings at the most, though.
The San Diego Padres, proving they really want to win a World Series this year, acquired Joe Musgrove from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Musgrove had a nice 3.86 ERA in 2020. Musgrove joins a rotation that includes Yu Darvish, Blake Snell, and Mike Cleavinger.
Former Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox ace Jon Lester signed with the Washington Nationals. Lester is the third, maybe, fourth starter in the Nats’ rotation. That’s fine for Jon who posted the worst ERA of his career in 2020. If Lester rediscovers his best stuff, who knows? The 2019 World Series winners could be 2021 contenders. Stephen Strasburg, Pat Corbin, and Max Scherzer are all ace pitchers. Anything Lester adds is gravy.
Top three remaining MLB free agents remain unsigned
None of the top three free agents, George Springer, Trevor Bauer, or J.T. Realmuto have signed contracts. What do the latest rumors tell us?
Rumor has it, Bauer could end up in San Francisco. We’re not so sure. The Giants are a great organization, but, right now, SF is a mess. The city is in bad shape and while players like Bauer like the idea of being near Silicon Valley, companies based in Silicon Valley are considering picking up stakes. What’s the point of living near Silicon Valley if those companies have moved their headquarters to Austin?
George Springer could end up a Toronto Blue Jay. Early in the offseason, most believed George would play in a New York Mets uniform. But the Mets traded for Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco. They may pass on George. The rumor is that the Blue Jays have become the ideal spot. By signing with Toronto, Springer can stay in the American League where he knows the pitchers.
Most agree that the best catcher in MLB is J.T. Realmuto. The Phillies hired Dave Dombrowski to run their front office. Dombrowski and Realmuto’s representatives are supposedly on good terms. The thinking is that Philadelphia is waiting for Realmuto to get an offer, probably from the Nationals, before beating the offer. Who knows? Maybe, Dombrowski and Realmuto’s people have already discussed the plan.
One top free agent who signed a contract is D.J. LeMahieu. The best second baseman in baseball resigned with the Pinstripes for six-years and $90 million. The Yankees said singing LeMahieu was a priority. NYY followed through, which is why their odds remain at +550, making them second choice after the Dodgers to win the 2021 World Series.
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