MLB news & notes: sign-stealing takes center-stage

Welcome to ‘Marty’s Musings’, my weekly column of numbers summarizing the happenings in the baseball world. I am your guide for taking an analytic look at the news and notes throughout the game, and highlighting this week’s key pitching matchups.

This week, MLB endures the most offseason negative press since the steroid scandal. The implications of the Houston sign-stealing story continue to trickle down to other teams.

News & Notes

3 - Teams that have lost their manager in response to the Houston Astros sign-stealing investigation. A.J. Hinch is out in Houston, Alex Cora is out as Boston’s manager, and Carlos Beltran parted ways with the Mets last week.

0 - Games managed by Beltran, who New York hired three months ago to lead the team. Due to his involvement as a player during the sign-stealing scheme of 2017, the Mets essentially fired him for being a potential distraction going into 2020.

1 - Year deal that Alex Gordon and the Kansas City Royals are supposedly close to entering the week. Although nothing is official, Gordon came up with Kansas City, and has only played there in his 13-year career. It would be fitting for him to end his career as a Royal for life; stay tuned as more details on the contract emerge.

2020 - The year in which an MLB team hired their first female coach. The Giants hired former Sacramento State All-American softball player Alyssa Nakkan to Gabe Kapler’s staff last week. Hopefully we’ll see more opportunities for women in MLB coaching in the coming months and years.

92 - Million dollar, four-year deal the Twins signed Josh Donaldson to last week. The 34-year-old took a pillow contract from the Braves last season after an injury-riddled 2018. Last season he helped the Braves win the NL East by hitting 37 homers and posting a 132 wRC+ last season.

73 - Days until Opening Day.