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• Monday: Milwaukee Brewers reliever Devin Williams and Seattle Mariners outfielder Kyle Lewis won Rookie of the Year honors. In 22 games, Williams went 4-1 with a 0.33 ERA and 53 K. In 58 games, Lewis had a .262 BA with 11 HR and 28 RBI, which would have potentially projected higher within a normal season.

• Tuesday: Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly, and Kevin Cash of the Tampa Bay Rays won Manager of the Year awards. This also makes Mattingly the 5th manager to win the award after winning an MVP–which he did in 1985 with the New York Yankees. He led the Marlins to a 31-29 record, and a wild card spot in the postseason, which ended their 16-year drought. They swept the Chicago Cubs, however, they got swept themselves in the NLDS by the Atlanta Braves. Cash led the Rays to a 40-20 record–the best record in the AL last season. He led the team to the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but they lost in six games in which will forever be known as the “Blake Snell” game. Many felt that he pulled him too soon. 

• Wednesday: Cincinnati Reds righty Trevor Bauer won the Cy Young award for the NL. He’s the first Red’s pitcher ever to win the award. In 11 games, Bauer went 5-4 with a NL leading 1.73 ERA and 100 K. 

• Thursday: Chicago White Sox outfielder Jose Abreu and Atlanta Braves infielder Freddie Freeman won MVP honors. In 60 games, Abreu had a phenomenal .317 BA with 19 HR and a AL leading 60 RBI. In 60 games for Freeman, he had an amazing .341 BA with 13 HR and 53 RBI. 

• Friday: The Miami Marlins made history. They hired Kim Ng as their new GM. Ng is the first Asian-American GM in MLB history, and the first woman to ever be hired at that position in any men’s sport in the country. She started out as an intern for the Chicago White Sox. She then became an assistant GM with the New York Yankees (Derek Jeter connection)  and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Congratulations for a new chapter in the MLB history!

• Saturday: MLB commissioner Rob Manfred intends to have fans back at the stadiums for the 2021 season. He believes that the lack of live baseball deterred the interest from fans and affected the current revenue problems the league is currently having. Manfred also believes that even at limited capacity, it would be better for the league in the long-run. There is no current plan in place, but there should be one within the upcoming months. 

• Sunday: The Chicago Cubs are open to trading veterans this off-season. Shortstop Javier Baez is among one of the players that could potentially be traded –for the right price. Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber are also some names that could be on other teams radar if Chicago does a fire sale. 

Indians News

• The Cleveland Indians and San Diego Padres have finally completed the Mike Clevinger trade. The PTBNL for the Padres is righty, Matt Waldron.

• Righty Shane Bieber is the AL Cy Young award winner with unanimous votes. In 12 games, Bieber went 8-1 with a 1.63 ERA–which led all of the MLB. He also finished with a MLB leading 122 K. 

New and Notes

• According to Jon Heyman of MLB.com, the Philadelphia Phillies are working on finalizing a deal with pitching coach, Caleb Cotham. He was previously assistant pitching coach and director of pitching for the Cincinnati Reds. 

• Buster Olney of ESPN.com reported that four teams are showing interest in free-agent righty, Jake Odorizzi. The Giants, Blue Jays, and Mets have all shown interest. The Minnesota Twins are also open to re-signing him. 

• Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic reported that infielder Howie Kendrick will continue his career next season. He hinted at potential retirement in September, but the 15-year veteran plans to continue on his career for the foreseeable future. 

• Free-agent righty Tommy Kahnle is weighing multiple two-year offers after undergoing Tommy John surgery in August. Kahnle is hoping to be back by the end of the 2021 season, which is the usual 12-15 month recovery time. 

Photo: USA Today