MLB Off-Season News: Two Top Managerial Spots Get Interesting

The sports betting sites were buzzing when Texas Rangers’ pitching coach Mark Maddux was on the list of candidates for the managerial jobs with the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox. But the options for Maddux just got shorter as he recently announced that he is not interested in the Boston Red Sox managerial job. That means that Maddux will either stay on as the Rangers’ pitching coach, or he will take the managerial job with the Cubs. All signs point to Mark Maddux being the next manager of the Chicago Cubs.

The pay head baseball fans in Philadelphia will be happy to know that the Phillies are entering a serious set of negotiations with reliever Ryan Madson. After his performance in the playoffs this year, despite the Phillies losing in the divisional round, Madson made himself a priority among Phillies’ fans. The other Philadelphia priority, shortstop Jimmy Rollins, has not yet reported any activity in contract talks.

The Toronto Blue Jays are trying to find ways to bolster its young but effective pitching staff. The Jays announced that it has re-acquired pitcher Trystan Magnuson from the Oakland A’s. Magnuson was considered a top pitching prospect for the Blue Jays when he was sent to Oakland. The Jays hope that Magnuson can continue his progress and add some depth to the Toronto bullpen.

The first big name to be mentioned in a trade this off-season was Melky Cabrera when the Kansas City Royals traded Cabrera to the San Francisco Giants for left-handed pitchers Jonathan Sanchez and Ryan Verdugo.