The Boston Red Sox have agreed to a two-year, $14 million deal with the 29-year-old Puerto Rican professional baseball utility player, according to ESPN.
Hernandez, originally acquired from the Miami Marlins as part of a seven-player trade in December 2014, was a key cog for the Los Angeles Dodgers over the past six years because of his infectious energy, defensive versatility and production against left-handed pitching.
Hernandez is a career .240/.313/.425 hitter, making him slightly below league average, but he can provide premium defense as a middle infielder and in the outfield.
From 2016 to 2020, Hernandez compiled 5.7 FanGraphs wins above replacement.
One of his greatest highlights with the Dodgers came in October, when he hit the tying home run in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series.
The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired the 25-year-old Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher, a left-handed reliever, in a three-team trade with the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.
In the deal, Tampa Bay sent Alvarado to Philadelphia, the Phillies sent left-hander Garrett Cleavingerto Los Angeles and the Dodgers sent infielder Dillon Paulson and a player to be named later to Tampa Bay.
Alvarado has a career ERA of 3.46 in 149 appearances over four seasons with the Rays. He pitched in nine games during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and had a 6.00 ERA. His best season was in 2018, when he appeared in a career-high 70 games and had a 2.39 ERA. He is 2-15 in his career with 15 saves.
Cleavinger, 26, made one appearance for the Phillies last season, making his major league debut on September 17 against the New York Mets.
Paulson has yet to appear in a major league game. He had a slash line of .243/.366/.433 between two stops in the Dodgers’ minor league system in 2019.
There’s certainly a silver lining for Ronald Acuna Jr.
The 22-year-old Venezuelan professional baseball player is among four Atlanta Braves players to earn Silver Slugger Awards, which were unveiled Thursday by Major League Baseball in honor of the best offensive players at every position in each league.
Winning from the Braves were Acuna Jr., Freddie Freeman and Marcell Ozuna, who each won the award for the second time, and first-time winner Travis d’Arnaud.
The Chicago White Sox led the American League with three Silver Sluggers: shortstop Tim Anderson, left fielder Eloy Jimenezand first baseman Jose Abreu, who won the award for the third time after batting .317 with 19 home runs and 60 RBIs.
It was the first honor for both Anderson and Jimenez.
Los Angeles Angelsstar outfielder Mike Troutreceived his eighth Silver Slugger Award after batting .281 with 17 home runs and 46 RBIs this season.
2020 Silver Slugger Winners
POS.
AL
NL
C
Salvador Perez, Royals
Travis d’Arnaud, Braves
1B
Jose Abreu, White Sox
Freddie Freeman, Braves
2B
DJ LeMahieu, Yankees
Donovan Solano, Giants
SS
Tim Anderson, White Sox
Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres
3B
Jose Ramírez, Indians
Manny Machado, Padres
OF
Mike Trout, Angels
Juan Soto, Nationals
OF
Eloy Jimenez, White Sox
Mookie Betts, Dodgers
OF
Teoscar Hernandez, Blue Jays
Ronald Acuna Jr., Braves
DH
Nelson Cruz, Twins
Marcell Ozuna, Braves
Minnesota Twinsdesignated hitter Nelson Cruz, New York Yankeessecond baseman DJ LeMahieu, Cleveland Indiansthird baseman Jose Ramirez, Kansas CityRoyals catcher Salvador Perezand Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Teoscar Hernandez rounded out the American League winners.
World Series champion and Los Angeles Dodgersstar Mookie Betts, Washington Nationalsoutfielder Juan Soto, San Francisco Giantssecond baseman Donovan Solano and San Diego Padres teammates Fernando Tatis Jr.and Manny Machadocompleted the National League list.
Selections are based on a combination of offensive stats, including batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage, in addition to the managers’ and coaches’ views of a player’s overall offensive value.
Manny Machado has proven his most valuable status…
The 28-year-old Dominican-American professional baseball player and San Diego Padres third baseman and shortstop has been named a finalist in the MLB’s National LeagueMVP race.
Machado, who hit .304 with 16 homers and 47 RBIs for the Padres this season, is nominated alongside Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts and Atlanta Braves star Freddie Freeman, after balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
Meanwhile, New York Metsace Jacob deGromis going for his third consecutive National League Cy Young Award. He’s facing off Trevor Bauerand Yu Darvishfor the honor.
The top three finishers for each BBWAA award were revealed Monday. The winners will be announced next week.
Balloting for the BBWAA awards was completed before the start of the postseason.
Chicago White Soxfirst baseman Jose Abreu, Cleveland Indians infielder Jose Ramirez and New York Yankees leadoff man DJ LeMahieuare the top three finishers in voting for the American League MVP award.
LeMahieu, who hit a big league-best .364, and Bauer are free agents after starring during the pandemic-shortened season.
Indian’ pitcher Shane Bieber joined Minnesota Twinsright-hander Kenta Maeda and Toronto Blue Jaysleft-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu as finalists for the American League Cy Young Award.
The top finishers in voting for American League Manager of the Year are Tampa Bay Rays‘ Kevin Cash, Toronto Orioles‘ Charlie Montoyo and Rick Renteria, who was let go by the Chicago White Sox after the team made the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
Miami’s Don Mattingly, San Diego’s Jayce Tingler and the Cubs’ David Ross are the finalists for NL Manager of the Year. Tingler and Ross just completed their first seasons as big league skippers.
The finalists for AL Rookie of the Year are Houston Astrosright-hander Cristian Javier and center fielders Kyle Lewis of the Seattle Mariners and Luis Robert of the White Sox. Philadelphia Philliesinfielder Alec Bohm, Padres infielder Jake Cronenworth and Milwaukee Brewersreliever Devin Williamsare the top finishers for the National League rookie award.
Randy Arozarena is breaking records like they’re going out of style…
The 25-year-old Cuban professional baseball outfielder and Tampa Bay Rays rookie, who had already set the MLB record for most home runs in a postseason, now owns the record for most hits in a single postseason after his third-inning base hit off Los Angeles Dodgers starter Clayton Kershawin Sunday’s Game 5 of the World Series.
Arozarena hit a 1-2 slider to left field for his 27th hit this postseason. He was tied with Pablo Sandoval, who had 26 hits in the 2014 postseason. The single brought home Yandy Diaz, who had tripled.
It was the first of Arozarena’s 27 hits with a runner in scoring position. Arozarena was previously 0-for-6 in that category.
“Pretty special. Pretty special,” manager Kevin Cash said after the Rays’ 4-2 loss to the Dodgers that left Tampa Bay in a 3-2 series deficit. “He wanted the ball, too. I noticed that. He asked for the ball. Congrats to Randy.”
After reaching first base, he signaled for someone to get the ball for him as a keepsake. Arozarena also has a record nine home runs in his first playoff experience, while Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager is right behind him with eight.
The 25-year-old Cuban professional baseball outfielder and Tampa Bay Rays rookie has become the first player to hit nine home runs in a single postseason after taking Los Angeles Dodgers starter Julio Urias deep to right field in the fourth inning of Game 4 of the World Series on Saturday night.
Arozarena already holds the rookie hit record for a single postseason, set in Game 3, while breaking a four-way tie for most home runs.
Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager also homered in Game 4 and has eight this postseason.
Arozarena later scored the winning run on Brett Phillips‘ walk-off single, as the Rays beat the Dodgers 8-7 in Game 4 to even the World Series at two games apiece.
Arozarena actually fell down rounding third base, but after Dodgers catcher Will Smith couldn’t handle the relay throw, the Rays’ rookie was able to make it home with the winning run.
“All I was thinking about was just running hard,” Arozarena said through an interpreter. “Running hard as I could. Once I got to a certain spot, I saw that the ball got bobbled. I got sent home. I tripped. … I was actually trying to get back to third base because I knew we had already tied the game so, if anything, I was just trying to get in a rundown. Then, I saw the ball get past him, so I turned around and scored.”
Arozarena also holds the record for total bases in a single postseason. He singled to lead off the sixth inning Saturday night, tying Pablo Sandoval for most hits by any player in one postseason.
The 2020 playoffs featured an extra round, meaning Arozarena is playing in his 18th playoff game already.
Nelson Cruz, Carlos Beltran and Barry Bonds are the three other players — along with Seager — to hit eight home runs in a single postseason.
Julio Uríashas etched his name into the annals of Major League Baseball history…
On Sunday night, the 24-year-old Mexican professional baseball player, a former child prodigy, pitched the Los Angeles Dodgers into the 2020 World Series.
“It was his moment,” manager Dave Robertssaid.
Urías entered the seventh inning of a tied game and retired the next nine Atlanta Braves batters in order, requiring only 39 pitches to do so. He blanked the over the final three innings of a 4-3 victory in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series in Arlington, Texas.
With that, the left-hander became only the second reliever to close out a winner-take-all game with at least three no-hit innings. The other: Pedro Martinez in his famous six-inning performance in Game 5 of the 1999 American League Division Series for the Boston Red Sox against the Cleveland Indians.
It was Urias’ second win of the series, the first coming only four days earlier, when he threw 101 pitches in a Game 3 start.
His fastball touching 96 mph, he recorded his first three outs on only 10 pitches.
The quick seventh inning positioned Urías to earn the victory when Cody Bellinger launched a 94-mph sinker by Chris Martin into the right-field stands in the bottom of the inning.
Urías responded by navigating through the middle of the Braves’ order in the eighth inning. Their best hitter, Freddie Freeman, worked a nine-pitch at-bat, but Urías ultimately made him line out weakly to center field.
In Roberts’ mind, there was little question about who would pitch the ninth inning.
Kenley Jansenhad pitched in each of the two previous games. This was Urías’ game to finish.
“I trust him,” Roberts said.
Urías forced Ozzie Albies to ground out. He made Dansby Swanson do the same. And when his changeup was lazily golfed to center field by Austin Riley, Urías raised his arms skyward.
Bellinger caught the fly ball, prompting Will Smith to approach the mound in celebration. Urías slapped Smith’s chest protector and embraced the catcher.
In the immediate aftermath of the victory, NLCS most valuable player Corey Seager marveled at Urías’ composure.
“That was his moment right there,” Seager said. “That was his game to win, and he went out and did it.”
Yonder Alonso is making a big return to Southern California…
The San Diego Padres have acquired the 33-year-old Cuban professional baseball player and first baseman in a trade with the Atlanta Braves.
The Padres will send cash to the Braves to complete the deal.
Alonso, the brother-in-law of Padres third baseman Manny Machado, returns to San Diego, where he played from 2012 to 2015. It’s also the city where Machado and Alonso’s sister make their offseason home.
“I’m definitely excited to have my brother-in-law finally on the same team,” Machado said on Tuesday after the Padres beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2.
Alonso was on the Braves’ restricted list after not reporting to their alternate training site. He’ll report to the Padres’ alternate site at the University of San Diego.
The 29-year-old Cuban professional baseball player and free agent is signing with the Atlanta Braves, according to a report by MLB.com.
The agreement comes after Braves outfielder Nick Markakis opted out of the 2020 season earlier this month.
An MLB All-Star in 2014, Puig batted .267 in 149 games last season with the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians.
He hit .297 with Cleveland after being acquired on July 30 and gave the Indians an infusion of power and energy, helping their ultimately fruitless surge to catch the Minnesota Twins for the AL Central title.
The boisterous right fielder was part of a wild fight between the Reds and Pirates mere hours before he was dealt to Cleveland as part of a three-team trade that sent right-hander Trevor Bauer from Cleveland to Cincinnati.
Puig was suspended three games for his aggressive actions on what turned out to be his last day with the Reds.
Puig, who joined the Reds in a December 2018 trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers, has a career batting average of .277. Perhaps his best overall offensive season was in 2017, when he batted .263 with a career-high 28 home runs and 74 RBIs.
The NL East champion Braves were facing a depth problem in their outfield even after they signed Marcell Ozuna to a one-year, $18 million deal in the offseason.
Markakis opted out of the season before summer camp. Ozuna or Adam Duvall could be needed as the designated hitter in the shortened 60-game season.
The team’s shortage of outfielders was highlighted when rookie Cristian Pache jammed his right ankle in Monday night’s intrasquad game and was not available Tuesday.
“We’re thin a little bit,” manager Brian Snitker said Tuesday. “We started this thing feeling really good about the depth, and we’ve used all of it already, as I think a lot of teams have. We’re stretched a little bit.”
If Ozuna is the primary designated hitter, Puig could join Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ender Inciarte in a starting outfield.
Puig, who has a .285 career average against right-handers, will be expected to replace Markakis’ production.
Puig, who defected from Cuba in 2012, was popular with Dodgers fans during his six years in L.A. for his colorful personality, home run trots and ability to throw runners out from right field. He made headlines away from the field when his Los Angeles home was burglarized multiple times.
At the ballpark, he was benched at times, and the team considered trading him long before it did because of his perceived lack of hustle or interest in following orders.
It looks like all bets are on Anthony Rendonto be the first of the mega-dollar free agents to come off the board this winter…
The 29-year-old Latino third baseman has already had meetings with teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers, according to ESPN. And before Rendon reached the open market, the Washington Nationals made an offer in an effort to keep him.
Rendon helped lead the Nationals to the World Seriestitle and finished third in the National League MVPballoting last month.
As reported in September, friends of Rendon believe he’s not going to take the conventional path through free agency. Rather than look for a long-term deal that lasts into his late 30s, they think he’s more interested in a deal in the range of five years, presumably for a higher average annual salary. In fact, some executives believe that Rendon’s forthcoming contract could establish a record for highest annual value.
The Rangers will move into a new ballpark next spring, and Rendon, a Texas native, could be the big marquee name on the revamped team.
The Dodgers have coveted Rendon because of his perfect fit with their hitting approach and their financial strategy. Under baseball operations chief Andrew Friedman, they have shied away from doling out deals of more than three-to-five years. Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner has one more year left on his contract, but he has told reporters that he’d be willing to change position.
The Dallas Morning Newswas the first to report Rendon’s meeting with the Rangers.
