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Top News

• Monday: The Washington Nationals hired pitching coach Jim Hickey. He spent the past two seasons as an special assistant for player development with the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

• Tuesday: San Diego Padres righty Luis Perdomo underwent Tommy John surgery He will miss 12-15 months, and will miss the entire 2021 season. 

• Wednesday: Toronto Blue Jays president, and former Cleveland Indians team president Mark Shapiro plans to re-sign with the club barring any unforseen events. He’s had alot of criticism from Blue Jays fans over his five-year tenure, but he and GM Ross Atkins delivered a postseason appearance–which secures his position.

• Thursday: Former Houston Astros GM Jeff Luhnow continually denied having any part in the Astros cheating case, stating that the MLB had no right to give him a one-year ban. However, a report in February mentions how he allegedly was aware of a video scheme known as “Codebreaker,” which was a video that stole signs from the opposing team. “ I didn’t know we were cheating. I had no idea. I wasn’t involved.” 

• Friday: MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred discussed some of the COVID-related rule changes from this year that can potentially carry over into next season. Manfred wants to continue to expand the playoffs, but not to 16 teams. He would prefer to have it a 10-team format.  He is also in favor of keeping the “man-on-second,” rule in extra innings. The rules will be discussed with Player’s Union Head, Tony Clark, before anything would be official for the 2021 campaign. 

• Saturday: Houston Astros righty Josh James underwent left hip surgery to repair a labral tear. He will miss 6-to-8 months, and will miss the entire 2021 season. 

• Sunday: The Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers have interviewed New York Yankees bench coach, Carlos Mendoza for their vacant managerial job. He’s been with the Yankees since 2006–as a minor-league player, and different managerial roles. 

News and Notes

• Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports that the Baltimore Orioles are re-signing utilityman Stevie Wilkerson to a minor-league deal. 

• The Arizona Diamondbacks have released righty Artie Lewecki. He is currently in negotiations with KBO team SK Wyverns. 

Photo: Josh James – Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports