The Opener: Award Finalists, McCullough, Free Agent Prediction Contest


As a brand new week of the MLB offseason begins, listed here are three issues we’ll be keeping track of in the present day:

1. BBWAA awards finalists to be introduced:

The Baseball Writers’ Affiliation of America will reveal the highest three vote-getters (a.okay.a. the finalists) for every of their 4 main awards tonight at 5:00 pm CT on MLB Community. These 4 awards are the Most Invaluable Participant, the Cy Younger Award, the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Yr, and the Supervisor of the Yr. The favorites for the MVP and Cy Younger in every league are already fairly clear, whereas the Rookie of the Yr appears like a two-man race in each the AL and NL. Aaron Decide (AL) and Shohei Ohtani (NL) are the MVP frontrunners, and Tarik Skubal (AL) and Chris Sale (NL) are the Cy Younger frontrunners. Colton Cowser and Luis Gil appear to be the 2 strongest candidates for AL Rookie of the Yr, whereas Jackson Merrill and Paul Skenes are battling it out within the NL. Merely put, it will likely be a significant upset if any of the above names are usually not included among the many finalists.

Tonight’s announcement may very well be most eye-opening relating to the Supervisor of the Yr competitors, which is usually more durable to foretell. Potential candidates embrace Stephen Vogt (CLE), Matt Quatraro (KCR), A.J. Hinch (DET), and Brandon Hyde (BAL) within the AL and Pat Murphy (MIL), Mike Shildt (SDP), Rob Thomson (PHI), and Carlos Mendoza (NYM) within the NL.

2. Marlins and McCullough to make it official?

ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez reported on Sunday that the Marlins have employed Clayton McCullough as their new supervisor, however the staff has but to substantiate the information. Followers can count on a proper announcement from Miami within the coming days, in addition to a press convention to introduce the brand new skipper. For what it’s price, the Marlins introduced Skip Schumaker’s hiring in 2022 the identical day the information broke, though he wasn’t formally launched till the next week.

With McCullough’s hiring, all three managerial openings across the league have now been crammed. Nevertheless, there are nonetheless loads of teaching roles obtainable, notably on McCullough’s employees in Miami. The Marlins have reportedly employed Pedro Guerrero to be their new hitting coach, however nearly each different teaching job in Miami remains to be up for grabs.

3. Free Agent Prediction Contest closes tonight:

Get your picks in fast, as a result of the annual MLB Commerce Rumors Free Agent Prediction Contest closes tonight at 11:00 pm CT. And in case you’ve already submitted your solutions, don’t neglect which you could edit the shape till the entry interval closes. Click on right here to enter the competition now!

The aim is straightforward: Accurately predict the place MLBTR’s High 50 Free Brokers will signal this offseason. The winner will obtain a $500 prize, and there’s a $300 prize for the runner-up and a $100 prize for the third-place finisher. Anybody who finishes within the high 15 may also obtain a one-year membership to Commerce Rumors Entrance Workplace. For extra particulars in regards to the contest, click on right here.

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