This Week in Baseball – Dodgers-Reds Trade, MLB Salaries, Mets GM, Sabathia Heart, Cuban Deal
W.K.P. in Cincinnati…
The Dodgers traded pitcher Alex Wood and outfielders Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp to the Cincinnati Reds for pitcher Homer Bailey and prospects. All together the seven-player moved upwards of $70 million in salary commitments with Los Angeles opening up significant payroll space. Finally the Dodgers, a team that has spent over a billion dollars on players in the last four years, will have some money to spend.
Penny Saved…
With the season now fully in the books, the books from each team have been reviewed and it turns out average MLB salaries were down for the first time since 2004. Because it turns out that not every player can be getting paid by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He Said What?…
New York Mets’ new GM Brodie Van Wagenen said in an interview, “We’re the favorites in the division right now.” The team has made a couple of additions this off-season, but last year they came in forth place with 77 wins. With this kind of thinking, he’s going to fit right in with Mets fans.
I Heart NY…
Doctors discovered a blocked artery and CC Sabathia underwent an angioplasty. He is expected to make a full recovery and be ready by spring training. The 38-year-old Sabathia decided to check with doctors after noticing chest pain and increased sweating after workouts. It was unusual because Sabathia only feels that way after eating.
Havana Good Time…
Major League Baseball reached a historic agreement with Cuba’s baseball federation, based on the ones with leagues in Japan and Korea. It will regulate the entry of Cuban players coming to the U.S. to play baseball. One strange requirement is that before they throw the ball every Cuban pitcher must shout, “Say hello to my little friend!”
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