MLB News

With under 40 games remaining in the regular season, we are officially in the homestretch. Contending teams around the league have begun scoreboard watching as every win is important for overall standings.

While most of the focus is on the games at hand, let’s take a look at some of the other stories from around the league.

Travis d’Arnaud Signs Extension

Last Friday, the Atlanta Braves announced that they have agreed to a two-year extension with starting catcher Travis d’Arnaud. The agreement is for $16 million ($8 million per year) and does not include a buyout. This season, d’Arnaud has been limited to just 29 games due to a torn ligament in his thumb (and is currently on the paternity list).

In his 29 games, he is hitting .236/.293/.406 with four home runs and 17 runs batted in. While disappointing, he did have a 2019 that saw him hit .321/.386/.533 with nine home runs and 34 runs batted in, so the potential is there.

The Braves do have a highly regarded prospect in William Conteras coming through the ranks, but it looks like d’Arnaud will call Atlanta home at least through the 2023 season. Atlanta has won nine of their last ten to propel themselves to first in the N.L. East over the Philadelphia Phillies. They are +1500 to win the World Series currently.

Cardinals Also Discussing Extension With Backstop

The Braves aren’t the only ones looking to extend their catcher. According to Katie Woo of The Athletic and Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, not only have the St. Louis Cardinals been discussing a contract extension with Yadier Molina, but the talks appear to be going well.

Molina has expressed a desire to play into his age 40 season, and signing a deal into next season would take care of that.

This season, he is currently hitting .259/.304/.376 with eight home runs, 51 runs batted in, and 31 runs scored for the 63-60 Cardinals.

Like the Braves, the Cardinals have a highly regarded prospect coming through the ranks in Ivan Herrera, but one more year of Molina isn’t the worst thing as the 21-year-old Herrera is currently in Double-A Springfield.

Cabrera Most Recent Inductee Into The 500-Homer Club

Almost guaranteed to be inducted into the Hall-of-Fame after his career, the 38-year-old Miguel Cabrera helped to cement his place among the greats as he clobbered the 500th home run of his career in Sunday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The 19-year vet is a shell of the player he used to be, but as one of the greatest hitters of all time, his career is still historic.

Cabrera isn’t done, though. He currently sits just 45 hits away from 3,000, and with a couple of years left on his eight-year, $240 million contract, he will undoubtedly get there.

This season, Cabrera is hitting .246/.310/.381 with 10 home runs, 56 runs batted in, and 41 runs scored for a Detroit Tigers team that is 60-66.

“Greek Freak” Buys Into Brew Crew

In a bit of cross-sport news, newly-crowned NBA champion and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has decided to deepen his roots in the Milwaukee area as he has become a part-owner of the Milwaukee Brewers.

After signing a supermax extension worth just under $230 million with the Milwaukee Bucks, he decided to spend a little bit of that money on the N.L. Central-leading Brewers.

With a 76-49 record, the Brewers lead the division by 7.5 games and are +850 to win the World Series (fourth-best odds in the majors).