#cody-bellinger

#cody-bellinger

If the sides end up going to a trial, it would be one of the most impactful decisions ever made at the league's arbitration hearings. The current record for a pitcher's salary in arbitration is held by David Price and sits at just $19.75MM. A victory in this case for Skubal would utterly shatter that record, and it's not hard to see why he might deserve that sort of price tag given his incredible back-to-back Cy Young award winning seasons the past two years.

It doesn't appear that Bellinger is on the verge of accepting a deal, however. Contract length could be a holdup. Kuty wrote that Bellinger and his representatives at the Boras Corporation were likely looking for a six- or seven-year contract. In an MLB Network appearance, Jon Morosi also suggested that Bellinger continued to seek a deal in the seven-year range. Morosi added that the Yankees unsurprisingly preferred a four- or five-year commitment.

Much of the buzz surrounding the Phillies this winter has concerned their efforts to re-sign one or both or Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto. Since either of those free agents might well end up leaving Philadelphia for another team, the Phils have also been doing their due diligence on other major free agents or trade targets, including Tatsuya Imai and Ketel Marte.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have a major decision to make surrounding All-Star third baseman Max Muncy. The 35-year-old slugger broke out of quite the slump during the first two months of the season and batted .258 with a .880 OPS and 17 home runs before he suffered an oblique strain in mid August. In other news, specifically for those who claim that the Dodgers are ruining baseball, Game 7 of the World Series hit historic television ratings across the United States, Canada, and Japan.

The All-Star Game featured a thrilling ninth-inning comeback and a swing-off to determine the winner, showcasing a gripping and competitive match.

Cody Bellinger made a stunning catch and threw a quick, 89.9 mph ball to first base, completing a double play against Francisco Lindor, who didn't slide.