Snake Bytes: 11/02 - Option Declined

Around the MLB

[MLB Trade Rumours] Giants surprisingly give Kevin Gausman $18.9M qualifying offer

With players getting dumped all around the league and the few players that could opt in doing so faster than at the speed of light, it was a big surprise that the San Francisco Giants actually saw Kevin Gausman fit for a qualifying offer where players like Marcus Semien, Andrelton Simmons, Liam Hendriks or Michael Brantley did not get one. The others to get a qualifying offer were, unsurprisingly, Trevor Bauer, D.J. LeMahieu, J.T. Realmuto, George Springer and even Marcus Stroman, despite the latter not playing in 2020 (but a big mouth helps in New York).

[CBS Sports] Here’s the easy way new Mets owner Steve Cohen can distinguish himself in his first season

Mets’ fans jumped with joy when MLB ratified last Friday Steve Cohen as the new owner of the New York Mets. The wealthiest owner in the MLB is expected to create a new dynasty in New York and might lead his club to some big spending this offseason as one of few teams.

[Yahoo Sports] Tony La Russa ‘a great move’ for White Sox manager, Dave Stewart says

“I think that it’s a great move, I really do,” Stewart said Friday on KNBR’s “Papa & Lund.” “I think that Tony has a way of putting the finishing touches on a team. Asked about whether Stewart was asked by LaRussa to join him, he answered: “To this point, I have not had any conversations about coming with him to Chicago as part of his coaching staff.”

[Yahoo Sports] Detroit Tigers fans have mixed feelings on A.J. Hinch: Is he a cheater or a winner?

You bash on the cheaters until one of them is contracted by your favorite team. Dilemma. With the return of Alex Cora looming in Boston, the people that were the face of the Astros’ cheating scandal are returning after just one shortened season, leaving a sour taste in the mouth of the baseball loving world. We only need Carlos Beltran to get a coaching job for the cycle to become complete.

Across the Pacific

[Japan] NPB wrapping up regular season

Reigning champion and top favorite Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks clinched the Pacific League while the Yomiuri Giants secured the Central League. Former D-Backs Gerardo Parra and Rubby de la Rosa will thus play for the NPB Championship, since the Central League will not have its own play-off series this season unlike the Pacific League.

[South Korea] First-time champions emerge in first regular season during COVID-19 pandemic

NC Dinos became the regular season champions in Korea and became the first team in KBO history to produce three players with at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs, among the three was former MLB player Aaron Altherr. The LG Twins, the KT Wiz, the Kiwoom Heroes and the Doosan Bears secured a playoff spot as well. For the post-season, The KBO announced Thursday that the cap of spectators will rise to 50 percent of stadium capacity.

[Taiwan] Taiwan Series opener sold out! Uni-Lions top Brothers 4-2 in 10-inning thriller

The Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL), the first sports league in the world to start the season amid the outbreak of COVID-19, opened its Taiwan Series at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in front of sold-out crowd of 15,600, the highest allowed attendance (78% of its capacity) under current pandemic prevention measures by the authority.

Across the Atlantic

[Burkina Faso] Africa: Baseball, softball rebirth in Burkina Faso, strong National Team planned under new leader Sibore

“We intend to restore motivation amongst the people involved in baseball and softball in our country,” said newly elected Federation Burkinabe de Baseball et Softball president Ibrahima Sibore. “Let me quote St Anthony of Padua, who said that stones by themselves could only be stones, but if they come together can become a temple. I mean that we can’t do anything alone. We need everybody to come together to make this term successful. Sport promotes peace and cohesion. We are open to the contribution from all those who wish to develop baseball and softball in Burkina Faso.”

Across The Wall

[Dominican Republic] Big names heading to the Dominican winter leagues

Some big names were announced last week and who will be putting on their cleats in the Dominican winter league that will start in November. Tampa Bay Rays cleared slugger Nate Lowe and MLB Pipeline’s number 1 prospect Wander Franco to play for the Leones del Escogido. Another big signing for the Leones is Gregory Polanco who got permission from the Pittsburgh Pirates, while former top prospect and Padre Francisco Mejía will catch for the Estrellas.