Baseball Connection

When will Wander Franco and Adley Rutschman make their debuts? Neither has played past high-A, but as the top two prospects in baseball, they will be a big part of their teams' plans moving forward. Which JD Martinez will we see this year? Can Judge and Stanton finally stay healthy? We take a look at the biggest questions in the AL East this year.

Yadier Molina is back with the Cardinals on a 1-year, $9 million deal. It was hard to imagine Yadi playing anywhere else. He's the face of the franchise and still their best option at catcher. There will be no universal DH in 2021, but we'll still have 7-inning doubleheaders and a runner on 2nd base to begin extra innings.

It wasn't a flashy move by any means, but the Mets may have found their center fielder by signing Albert Almora Jr. Almora is a strong defender but weak hitter, so New York might still seek additional help. Pedro Gomez, the ESPN reporter who was so beloved in the baseball community, passed away unexpectedly. Jackie Bradley Jr. is the top remaining center fielder on the market. What will be his final price?

The A's and Rangers have a deal that will send Elvis Andrus to Oakland in exchange for Khris Davis as part of a 5-player deal. This trade puts an end to Elvis Andrus' 12 year tenure in Texas which saw him climb near the top of several franchise leaderboards. With Dahl and Gallo already at the corner OF slots, Khris Davis should compete for at-bats as the Rangers' DH.

Marcell Ozuna is returning to Atlanta on a 4-year, $64 million deal. Ozuna is a premier bat but it will be interesting to see how he takes to playing the outfield if the DH is not present in the National League this year. Atlanta is paying him to anchor the middle of their lineup, and he forms an elite tandem with the reigning MVP, Freddie Freeman.

Trevor Bauer has agreed to sign with the LA Dodgers. Bauer lands a 3-year, $102 million contract. The deal is front-loaded as it will pay him $40 million in 2021 and $45 million in 2022. Bauer also has the ability to opt out after each of the first two years, so we could see him back on the open market very soon if he pitches well. This move makes the Dodgers the clear-cut favorites once again.

Trevor Bauer's free agency decision is reportedly down to 2 teams - the Mets and Dodgers. Will it be the east or west coast for the reigning Cy Young? We consider the pros and cons of each option.

Nelson Cruz is going back to the Twins on a 1-year deal worth $13 million. Even at the age of 40, Cruz is one of the best bats in the game. When will he slow down? Kolten Wong is heading to the Brewers on a 2-year, $18 million deal. Wong, a Gold Glove winner, will push Keston Hiura off 2B in Milwaukee.

Sean Doolittle is heading to the Cincinnati Reds on a one-year deal. The former Nationals closer will look to bounce back after a rough 2020. The Rockies received 5 prospects in the Arenado trade. MLB has said the 2020 season will begin on time.

Dustin Pedroia has hung up his cleats. Pedroia closes the book on a legendary Red Sox career that saw him collect 3 World Series rings, an MVP, 4 Gold Gloves, and a Silver Slugger. Pedroia missed most of the last 2 years due to a knee injury. It's easy to imagine what his final numbers could've looked like if he stayed healthy. Pedroia defied many odds due to his size and was one of the best 2B of his generation.