OF Mookie Betts of the Red Sox wins the first salary arbitration filing to be decided this off-season and will earn $10.5 million

OF Mookie Betts of the Red Sox wins the first salary arbitration filing to be decided this off-season and will earn $10.5 million

OF Mookie Betts of the Red Sox wins the first salary arbitration filing to be decided this off-season and will earn $10.5 million, a significant raise over his previous salary of $950,000. He will still be a huge bargain, as he will win the MVP Award and lead the Sox to a World Series title.

The Cleveland Indians announce that they will stop using the image of “Chief Wahoo” on their uniforms starting in 2019. The caricatural Indian mascot, deemed offensive by most Native Americans and by many others, has been used by the team since 1947, but has drawn increasing criticism in the last two decades, prompting Commissioner Rob Manfred to formally ask the team to phase it out.

The Cleveland Indians announce that they will stop using the image of “Chief Wahoo” on their uniforms starting in 2019. The caricatural Indian mascot, deemed offensive by most Native Americans and by many others, has been used by the team since 1947, but has drawn increasing criticism in the last two decades, prompting Commissioner Rob Manfred to formally ask the team to phase it out.

Anger over the slow pace of free agent signings is boiling over. Today, Agent Scott Boras accuses the current system of threatening the sport’s integrity, as many teams have seemingly decided not to attempt being competitive. Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto adds that certain team would rather “win the top draft pick [in the amateur draft] than the World Series”. A day earlier, Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen vented that players should consider going on strike even though a new collective bargaining agreement was just signed. The reason for this frustration is that a month before the opening of spring training, 130 free agents remain unsigned, including some of the highest-profile players on the market.

Anger over the slow pace of free agent signings is boiling over. Today, Agent Scott Boras accuses the current system of threatening the sport’s integrity, as many teams have seemingly decided not to attempt being competitive. Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto adds that certain team would rather “win the top draft pick [in the amateur draft] than the World Series”. A day earlier, Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen vented that players should consider going on strike even though a new collective bargaining agreement was just signed. The reason for this frustration is that a month before the opening of spring training, 130 free agents remain unsigned, including some of the highest-profile players on the market.