The Tampa Bay Rays are moving from another key piece of the team that made the World Series last season. According to multiple reports, the Rays are close to trading ace pitcher Blake Snell to the San Diego Padres.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that the Padres agreed to pay a steep price for Snell, sending pitching prospects Luis Patino and Cole Wilcox and catchers Francisco Mejia and Blake Hunt to Tampa Bay.

The deal is expected to be official once all the players go through medical reviews.

Padres have been aggressive in acquiring a star pitcher this offseason, exploring deals for Chicago Cubs’ All-MLB right-hander Yu Darvish and Cincinnati Reds’ All-Star Sonny Gray. However, their focus turned to Snell once it became clear that the Rays were willing to deal him.

Snell made his MLB debut in 2016 and has a 42–30 career record with 3.24 ERA and 648 strikeouts. He is a one-time All-Star and has won an AL Cy Young Award back in 2018.

With Snell as a headliner now, Padres are set to have a strong rotation that also includes Dinelson Lamet, Zach Davies, and Chris Paddack.

While losing a star starting pitcher is never easy, the Rays can be happy with the return for Snell.

Patino headlines the haul, being considered one of the most promising pitching talents in recent years. In his three seasons in minors, he had a 16-13 record with 2.35 ERA and 279 strikeouts.

Mejia is also a good pickup, being a powerful switch-hitter that can contribute right away, while Wilcox and Hunt might be starting-caliber players if they continue to develop.

The post Padres Finalizing a Trade for Rays’ Ace Blake Snell appeared first on toppoptoday.com.

They needed three attempts in four years, but Los Angeles Dodgers are World Series Champions once again. Dodgers secured their first title in 32 years with a 1-3 win over Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night.

It didn’t start well for the Dodgers, however.

Entering the elimination Game 6, Rays were determined to give Dodgers a run for their money and managed to get on the scoreboard in the first inning. Tampa Bay’s sensation Randy Arozarena hit a beautiful solo home run to give Rays the lead and add up to his postseason homers record.

Carried by a sensational run from starter Blake Snell, Rays managed to keep the lead but failed to extend it. Dodgers’ bullpen put up an impressive performance when it needed the most, with relievers Dylan Floro, Alex Wood, Pedro Baez, and Victor Gonzalez managing to retire 13 out of 14 batters they have come across.

The key moment in the contest took place in the sixth when Rays’ manager decided to pull out Snell despite his astonishing output until that moment. The 2018’s AL Cy Young Award winner had a 2.70 ERA up to that point, allowing two hits while striking out nine batters.

Snell’s replacement Nick Anderson quickly undid everything the Rays did up to that point. Austin Barnes scored on a wild pitch, while Mookie Betts got a double to put up Dodgers ahead.

Betts added a solo homer in the eighth inning while lefty Julio Urias pitched a save to kickstart a big celebration.

Shortstop Corey Seager took home the World Series MVP award after finishing the series with two home runs, five RBIs, and six walks while being .400 at-bats.

“It was absolutely phenomenal. This team was incredible,” said Seager. “We never stopped. We were ready to go as soon as the bell was called. Once it did, we kept rolling. You can’t say enough about what we did this season.”

The post LA Dodgers Win the World Series, Corey Seager Gets MVP Honors appeared first on toppoptoday.com.

The New York Yankees offense has looked unstoppable in the postseason thus far, continuing its assault in a dominant 9-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the American League Division Series.

The Yanks were injured a lot during the season, but none of that matters in the playoffs now that they are healthy and firing on all cylinders. In just three postseason games, the Yankees have scored 31 runs and now lead the Rays 1-0 in the best-of-five series.

New York had four home runs in Game 1. Clint Frazier, Kyle Higashioka, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton all went yard, with Stanton’s ninth-inning grand slam sealing the victory.

The Yankees are now the first team in MLB history to hit at least three home runs in their first three playoff games and haven’t scored less than 9 runs in any of their postseason games thus far.

On the defensive side, the Yankees top starter Gerrit Cole was not untouchable but was good enough to get the win, giving up only three runs in six innings and striking out eight batters. Rookie pitcher Delvi Garcia will get the start for the Yanks in Game 2.

The post Yankees Offense Makes Statement in Blowout Game 1 Win Over Rays appeared first on toppoptoday.com.

The Tampa Bay Rays are moving from another key piece of the team that made the World Series last season. According to multiple reports, the Rays are close to trading ace pitcher Blake Snell to the San Diego Padres.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that the Padres agreed to pay a steep price for Snell, sending pitching prospects Luis Patino and Cole Wilcox and catchers Francisco Mejia and Blake Hunt to Tampa Bay.

The deal is expected to be official once all the players go through medical reviews.

Padres have been aggressive in acquiring a star pitcher this offseason, exploring deals for Chicago Cubs’ All-MLB right-hander Yu Darvish and Cincinnati Reds’ All-Star Sonny Gray. However, their focus turned to Snell once it became clear that the Rays were willing to deal him.

Snell made his MLB debut in 2016 and has a 42–30 career record with 3.24 ERA and 648 strikeouts. He is a one-time All-Star and has won an AL Cy Young Award back in 2018.

With Snell as a headliner now, Padres are set to have a strong rotation that also includes Dinelson Lamet, Zach Davies, and Chris Paddack.

While losing a star starting pitcher is never easy, the Rays can be happy with the return for Snell.

Patino headlines the haul, being considered one of the most promising pitching talents in recent years. In his three seasons in minors, he had a 16-13 record with 2.35 ERA and 279 strikeouts.

Mejia is also a good pickup, being a powerful switch-hitter that can contribute right away, while Wilcox and Hunt might be starting-caliber players if they continue to develop.

The post Padres Finalizing a Trade for Rays’ Ace Blake Snell appeared first on toppoptoday.com.

They needed three attempts in four years, but Los Angeles Dodgers are World Series Champions once again. Dodgers secured their first title in 32 years with a 1-3 win over Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night.

It didn’t start well for the Dodgers, however.

Entering the elimination Game 6, Rays were determined to give Dodgers a run for their money and managed to get on the scoreboard in the first inning. Tampa Bay’s sensation Randy Arozarena hit a beautiful solo home run to give Rays the lead and add up to his postseason homers record.

Carried by a sensational run from starter Blake Snell, Rays managed to keep the lead but failed to extend it. Dodgers’ bullpen put up an impressive performance when it needed the most, with relievers Dylan Floro, Alex Wood, Pedro Baez, and Victor Gonzalez managing to retire 13 out of 14 batters they have come across.

The key moment in the contest took place in the sixth when Rays’ manager decided to pull out Snell despite his astonishing output until that moment. The 2018’s AL Cy Young Award winner had a 2.70 ERA up to that point, allowing two hits while striking out nine batters.

Snell’s replacement Nick Anderson quickly undid everything the Rays did up to that point. Austin Barnes scored on a wild pitch, while Mookie Betts got a double to put up Dodgers ahead.

Betts added a solo homer in the eighth inning while lefty Julio Urias pitched a save to kickstart a big celebration.

Shortstop Corey Seager took home the World Series MVP award after finishing the series with two home runs, five RBIs, and six walks while being .400 at-bats.

“It was absolutely phenomenal. This team was incredible,” said Seager. “We never stopped. We were ready to go as soon as the bell was called. Once it did, we kept rolling. You can’t say enough about what we did this season.”

The post LA Dodgers Win the World Series, Corey Seager Gets MVP Honors appeared first on toppoptoday.com.

The New York Yankees offense has looked unstoppable in the postseason thus far, continuing its assault in a dominant 9-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the American League Division Series.

The Yanks were injured a lot during the season, but none of that matters in the playoffs now that they are healthy and firing on all cylinders. In just three postseason games, the Yankees have scored 31 runs and now lead the Rays 1-0 in the best-of-five series.

New York had four home runs in Game 1. Clint Frazier, Kyle Higashioka, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton all went yard, with Stanton’s ninth-inning grand slam sealing the victory.

The Yankees are now the first team in MLB history to hit at least three home runs in their first three playoff games and haven’t scored less than 9 runs in any of their postseason games thus far.

On the defensive side, the Yankees top starter Gerrit Cole was not untouchable but was good enough to get the win, giving up only three runs in six innings and striking out eight batters. Rookie pitcher Delvi Garcia will get the start for the Yanks in Game 2.

The post Yankees Offense Makes Statement in Blowout Game 1 Win Over Rays appeared first on toppoptoday.com.