There hasn’t been a repeat World Series winner since the New York Yankees three-peated from 1998 to 2000, but the Los Angeles Dodgers are favored to repeat in 2021. After adding Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer last week, the defending champions retained the services of All-Star third baseman Justin Turner on Friday.
Turner, a free agent, signed a two-year deal worth a guaranteed $34 million to stay in Los Angeles. The deal has a club option for a third year and includes an $8 million signing bonus.
Turner announced the move on his Twitter account, though the Dodgers have yet to make it official as they need to release a player from the 40-man roster to complete the deal.
Turner has 116 homers and a .302 average in a Dodgers uniform after he was released by the New York Mets in 2014. If the designated hitter is approved for the National League in 2021, he will likely serve in that role the most. If not, he can return to third base.
The Dodgers are +350 to win the title at DraftKings, with the next best odds belonging to the Yankees at +500. They are +175 to win the National League, ahead of the San Diego Padres at +390 and the Atlanta Braves at +500.
The Dodgers also have two of the top three MVP favorites with Mookie Betts at +750 and Cody Bellinger at +800. Washington’s Juan Soto is even with Betts at +750 as co-favorites.
Bauer is +700 to repeat as Cy Young winner behind favorite Jacob deGrom (+500) of the New York Mets. The Dodgers’ Walker Buehler has the fourth-best odds at +1000, with Washington’s Max Scherzer (+850) sitting ahead of him.
Paxton Returns to Mariners
MLB.com reported on Friday that free-agent left-handed pitcher James Paxton signed a one-year deal with his former team, the Seattle Mariners. The one-year deal can reach as high as $10 million if Paxton hits all his incentives.
The 32-year-old pitched for the New York Yankees the last two seasons after the Mariners traded him for pitcher Justus Sheffield in 2018. Paxton was drafted by Seattle in the fourth round of the 2010 draft out of the University of Kentucky and pitched six seasons in the Pacific Northwest.
Paxton made just five starts in 2020 with a 6.64 ERA before a left flexor tendon strain ended his season. He also had back surgery in February 2020 after making 29 starts with a 3.82 ERA in his first season in the Bronx.
Paxton threw a no-hitter with Seattle on May 8, 2018, and posted a 3.42 ERA over 102 starts in six seasons with the club during his first stint.
Spring Training Set to Start Later than Expected
MLB announced a revised Spring Training schedule on Friday, with the first games pushed back to Feb. 28. Pitchers and catchers will start reporting to Arizona and Florida facilities next week with health and safety conditions in place.
All but two of the league’s 30 teams (New York Mets, Chicago Cubs) will be in action on the first day, and the schedules were composed with limited travel in mind. The Grapefruit League in Florida will feature play between the teams in their regional group.
The East Coast group includes the Astros, Cardinals, Marlins, Mets and Nationals playing each other for 24 games in 30 days. The West Coast teams are split into two groups for 28 games in 30 days, and the Orioles and Pirates will play teams from both West groups.
The Blue Jays, Phillies, Tigers and Yankees are in one group, while the Braves, Rays, Red Sox and Twins are in the other.
The Cactus League in Arizona will feature 28 games in 30 days, and, with the teams more centrally located around the Phoenix metropolitan area, there is just one division. Teams will begin to leave Arizona and Florida on March 28 for a final exhibition game ahead of the April 1 Opening Day games.
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