Take a look at some of the most recent MLB News and Notes:
Red Sox Return to Boston With Trophy
The 2018 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox returned home to Fenway Park with the World Series Trophy. The Red Sox eliminated the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games to win the title for the fourth time in fifteen seasons. A couple hundred fans were waiting for the team upon their arrival at Fenway Park on Monday night. Veteran journeyman Steve Pearce was named World Series MVP after hitting two home runs in the clinching game on Sunday night. The city of Boston has planned a parade of Duck Boats to honor the champions on Wednesday afternoon.
Diamondbacks Exercise Option on Goldschmidt
The Arizona Diamondbacks announced that they have picked up the $14.5 million option on the contract of first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. The option will keep the All-Star in Arizona for the 2019 season. Goldschmidt signed a five-year contract in 2014 with a team option for the 2019 season. The original deal was worth just $32 million, which is extremely cheap for a player of Goldschmidt’s caliber. Goldschmidt, 31, has hit 209 home runs and posted a career batting average of .297 for the Diamondbacks. He hit .290 with 33 home runs and 83 runs batted in a season ago.
Cardinals, Wainwright Reach Deal
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright became a free agent for a brief time on Monday before reaching a one-year deal with the St. Louis Cardinals. The deal is worth $2 million in base salary but has several performance-based bonuses built into the contract. Wainwright could earn up to $8 million in extra money as a starting pitcher based on his performance. The Cardinals announced the original deal on October 11, but the contract had to be reworked because it violated baseball’s labor contract due to the reduction in annual salary.
In order to make the deal work, Wainwright had to become a free agent before re-signing with the team. The veteran right-hander went just 2-4 with a 4.46 earned run average in eight starts a season ago. The three-time All-Star struggled to stay healthy in 2018, but is one of the top pitchers in Cardinals history. His 148 wins are the fifth most of any pitcher in Cardinals history, and his 1,623 strikeouts place him in second place on the all-time Cardinals strikeouts list.
White Sox Decline Option on Shields
Veteran right-hander James Shields is a free agent after the Chicago White Sox have declined their team option for the 2019 season. Shields would have been owed $16 million by the team, but the White Sox exercised a $2 million buyout with the pitcher instead. Shields went 7-16 with a 4.53 earned run average in 34 appearances- 33 starts- a season ago. The White Sox acquired Shields from the San Diego Padres in 2016, and he posted a whopping 5.31 earned run average during his time on the South Side. The White Sox also announced that they have exercised a $4.65 million option on reliever Nate Jones for the 2019 season.
Giants Bring Back Bumgarner, Sandoval
The San Francisco Giants announced that they have exercised their team options on Madison Bumgarner and Pablo Sandoval. Bumgarner will be paid $12 million by the San Francisco Giants next season, keeping their longtime ace in a Giants jersey. Bumgarner originally signed a six-year $35.56 million deal in 2012 that had team options for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. The 2014 World Series MVP made just 21 starts for the Giants a season ago, posting a 6-7 record with a 3.26 earned run average.
The 29-year-old has had his past two seasons shortened by a variety of minor injuries. San Francisco exercised Pablo Sandoval’s $555,000 minimum option on Monday as well. The 2012 World Series MVP didn’t play in a game after July 29 when he underwent surgery on his right hamstring. The Giants brought Sandoval back a season ago after he spent time with the Boston Red Sox. Sandoval signed a five year $95 million deal with the Boston Red Sox after the 2014 season with the Giants. He is still owed $18 million from the Red Sox for the 2019 season.
