As is the case every season, Major League Baseball pre-produced championship gear for both the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians before a World Series winner was determined. In doing so, the league was afforded the opportunity to ship the gear in advance, allowing Cubs championship merchandise to reach shelves at retail stores and other outlets within hours and even minutes of their winning the World Series.
The voters of Arlington, Texas have spoken, and they want the Texas Rangers to have a new stadium. It’s a retractable roof stadium that’s estimated to cost around $1 billion, and it will replace the Rangers’ current home, Globe Life Park. The deal will keep the Rangers in Arlington through 2053, their 82nd season.
ESPN’s Buster Olney reports that the Pirates are considering moving Andrew McCutchen — the club’s long time center fielder — to right field. They would then move Starling Marte to center and Gregory Polanco to left. McCutchen’s defense in center has deteriorated in recent years. Meanwhile, Marte earned his second career Rawlings Gold Glove Award on Tuesday. It also makes sense that the Pirates would move Polanco to left field to utilize his speed in the most spacious area of the ballpark. That, however, means that McCutchen’s relatively weak arm would be in right field, a spot where teams typically put their best outfield arm. In other McCutchen-related news, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports