Ballbug: MLB offseason survey: Execs predict free agency, trades (Jesse Rogers/ESPN)

12:45 AM ET, November 20, 2024

Top News:

Pirates' right-hander Paul Skenes wins NL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year — Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes won the National League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award. — Only four players received votes, the fewest in National League Rookie of the Year voting since the BBWAA went to a three-player ballot in 1980.

Discussion: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, MLB.com, Yahoo Sports, San Diego Union-Tribune, Baltimore Sun, Larry Brown Sports, McCovey Chronicles, Daily News, FanGraphs Baseball, Battery Power, Lone Star Ball, Denver Post, MLB Trade Rumors, New York Times, Pittsburgh Baseball Now, BVM Sports and baseballmusings.com

Jeff Fletcher / BBWAA:

Yankees' right-hander Luis Gil wins tight race for AL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year — New York Yankees' right-hander Luis Gil won a tight election to take the American League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award, winning by just five points. — Since the BBWAA went …

Discussion: New Jersey Online, BaltimoreBaseball.com, Larry Brown Sports, Bleeding Yankee Blue, Pinstripe Alley, Associated Press, New York Daily News, Yahoo Sports, Baltimore Sun, Camden Chat, MLB.com, MLB Trade Rumors and baseballmusings.com

Jorge Castillo / ESPN:

Pirates' Skenes, Yankees' Gil win Rookie of Year awards — On the penultimate day of the regular season, the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates met on a cloudy afternoon at Yankee Stadium for a game of little consequence. The Yankees had already clinched the American League East title.

Discussion: Bucs Dugout, Sports Illustrated, BVM Sports, Associated Press, New York Times and New Jersey Online

BBWAA:

Guardians' Stephen Vogt wins AL Manager of the Year in his first season on the job — Cleveland Guardians' manager Stephen Vogt was named American League Manager of the Year. — This election marks the third time in the American League and the 10th time overall that the award went to someone …

Discussion: Detroit Free Press, MLB Trade Rumors, WKYC-TV, New York Times, Yahoo Sports and Royals Review

BBWAA:

Pat Murphy becomes first Brewers' skipper to win Manager of the Year — Pat Murphy is the first Milwaukee Brewers manager to win the Manager of the Year Award in BBWAA voting dating to 1983. — In previous elections, Brewers managers placed second seven times.

Discussion: Amazin' Avenue, Arizona Sports, Associated Press, Chicago Tribune, Battery Power, Yahoo Sports, Just Baseball, True Blue LA, Brew Crew Ball, BVM Sports, baseballmusings.com and New York Times

Mark Feinsand / MLB.com:

Inside the Soto sweepstakes: December decision? And a mystery club? — The Juan Soto sweepstakes are in full swing, and while no conclusion is expected before Thanksgiving, the feeling around the industry is that the slugger could make his decision prior to the Winter Meetings, which get underway on Dec. 9 in Dallas.

Discussion: CBSSports.com, MLB Trade Rumors, True Blue LA, Larry Brown Sports, NESN.com, New Jersey Online, Bleacher Nation, Phillies Nation and Yahoo Sports

Jon Heyman / New York Post:

Yankees brass meets with Juan Soto as Dodgers expected to enter the fray — Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner was due to lead a contingent of high-ranking club personnel, including general manager Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone, to meet with superstar free agent hitter Juan Soto late Monday afternoon in southern California.

Discussion: Newsday, Los Angeles Times, Bleacher Nation, New York Daily News, Dodgers Digest, New Jersey Online, Pinstripe Alley, New York Times, Yahoo Sports, Amazin' Avenue and BVM Sports

Jon Heyman / New York Post:

Steve Cohen, Mets have ‘very detailed’ meeting with Juan Soto in California — Mets owner Steve Cohen led a contingent of high-ranking club officials to meet with coveted free agent superstar Juan Soto on Saturday in Orange County, Calif., The Post has learned.

Discussion: New Jersey Online, Sports Illustrated, NorthJersey.com, New York Daily News, MLB Trade Rumors, BVM Sports, Bleeding Yankee Blue, NESN.com and Yahoo Sports

John Sparaco / Sports Illustrated:
Yankees Make Final Preparations Before Juan Soto Meeting

Discussion: New Jersey Online, Chicago Tribune, BVM Sports, New York Post, NESN.com and Pinstripe Alley

Jesse Rogers / ESPN:

MLB offseason survey: Execs predict free agency, trades — The MLB offseason is off to a slow start — but things are expected to heat up soon. — While we wait for the action to pick up, we asked a panel of experts to predict what's to come. Which teams will be the busiest when the free agency and trade movement starts?

Discussion: Yahoo Sports and NESN.com

Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:

Arizona Diamondbacks find the right man to take over as third base coach in 2025 — The Diamondbacks are turning to the farm for their new third base coach. — Shaun Larkin, who spent last season as the club's farm director, will take over as Tony Perezchica's replacement, a job that includes overseeing the infield coaching duties.

Discussion: Arizona Sports, BVM Sports and MLB Trade Rumors

Daniel Russell / DRaysBay:

Jose Siri traded to Mets for relief prospect Eric Orze — Will the Rays need a new center fielder? — The Tampa Bay Rays have traded centerfielder Jose Siri to the New York Mets in exchange for reliever RHP Eric Orze. — Siri has been a bombastic star player for the Rays …

Discussion: ESPN, New York Daily News, Larry Brown Sports, New York Post, Yahoo Sports, MLB.com, Amazin' Avenue, MLB Trade Rumors, Sportsnet.ca and BVM Sports

Max Rieper / Royals Review:

Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia among first-timers on Hall of Fame ballot — Former Royals infielder Ben Zobrist is also on the ballot. — Ichiro Suzuki and CC Sabathia headline a list of 14 new candidates on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot for enshrinement in Cooperstown.