Around the Horn: News and Notes 10/20

Happy Tuesday, Blog/Pod. I hope you guys are all doing well out there, enjoying the spooky season and enjoying the fall weather. If you are new to the blog today, thank you for joining me and others who view the blog. If you are a returning visitor, thank you again for your time.

Before we get too far into, let's talk World Series. Game 1 is on the slate for tonight, 10/20 Dodgers v Rays. Kershaw v Glasnow. Best AL team v Best NL Team. Superstar players, CY Young pitching, tons of home runs due to happen, two fantastic bullpens. Who wins this series? Both teams went to a game 7. The Rays almost blew a 3-0 lead, the Dodgers game back from a 3-1 deficit to get here. Now, where do I stand on this series, and how it will play out. The first two starts for both teams will be crucial as the Rays will be going Glasnow, Snell then the Dodgers will be going Kershaw, TBD, Buehler, over the first 3. If the Ray's can go 1-1, then I think they have a chance to make it last till 7; if the Dodgers go up 2-0, I think they can take it in 6. I genuinely think this series is one of the better ones we will see or have seen in recent years. These teams match up well on paper, and it will be who has the unsung hero step up.

Time to throw it around the horn.

-One small piece of news that won't hurt the World Series is that when Cody Bellinger hit the go-ahead HR in game 7, he popped his shoulder out of place.

-Pretty cool little piece of news for the global game of the MLB. The MLB and Star Sports India have agreed to air every game of the 2020 and 2021 World Series live across India. The multiyear deal also includes 2021 games.

-Kyle Lewis, OF for the Seattle Mariners, was given Rookie of the Year honors. While fellow OF prospect Julio Rodriguez aka J-Rod is the cover man on this year's Prospect Handbook. In other M's news, fan-favorite Hisashi Iwakuma recently hung it up for good at 39. OF Mallex Smith was outrighted to AAA and has elected free agency.

-Former Los Angeles Angels employee Eric Kay was indicted on charges related to Tyler Skaggs overdose death. The reason being is he admitted to providing the drugs that Skaggs OD'ed on.

- The Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies are all looking for pitching coaching replacements. The Phillies rotation has Wheeler, Arrieta, Nola, Eflin, Velasquez, so a great coach could help push this group to the next level. Yankees bullpen coach Mike Harkey is the leading external option.

- The Phillies are also looking for GM. At the same time, they may stick with Ned Rice going into 2021. But the two manes that are being floated have a connection to manager Joe Girardi from NYY Tim Naehring ad Damon Oppenheimer.

-The Red's did name Nick Krall the head of Baseball Ops.

The Angels are also looking for a GM, while the Marlins are looking for a baseball team president.

-The Tigers have interviewed Royals bench coach Pedro Grifol among other Marcus Thames, George Lombard, and Pirates Bench Coach Don Kelley for their opening. Grifol was a finalist for the Giant's job last season. This is an essential step in the competitive AL Central and with this team's high upside of prospects and developing talent. This move will set the tone for this team over the next five years.

-The KC Royals should be looking to get players who can help improve team OBP and supplement the pen this winter. The Royals won over 20 games this season, and we saw the team play slightly above expectations. With Asa Lacey and other high-end prospects knocking a couple more pieces, we may see another AL Central competitor.

-The Miami Marlins are expected to exercise the Club option on OF Starling Marte. This is great for Marlins as Marte can be an impact player.

-The SD Padres are still deciding on the Mitch Moreland option, while at the same time, I see rumors of Eric Hosmer possibly being moved in a salary dump type of move.

- Now, former Washington National OF Michael A. Taylor cleared waivers and will be a free agent this winter. In other National news, they hired Jim Hickey as pitching coach.

-The rumors are flying already around C JT Realmuto this offseason as he is expected to get somewhere between a 4-year 96MIL and 6-year 128Mil deal. There are several other options on the C market this winter in Gary Sanchez, Wilson Ramos, Jorge Alfaro, Mike Zunino(who should be back as a Ray), and James McCann.

-The Braves will look to keep some combination of Ozuna and Travis d'Arnaud this offseason.

-With a lot of money coming off the books for The New York Yankees this winter, there are hints and suggestions that the team will look to go in under the luxury tax. However, the Yankees and Angels are among the top teams to land Bauer this offseason.

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