Morning Mound Visit: The search for Matt Klentak’s replacement has a roadblock

John Stolnis | The Good Phight: The Phillies’ search for Matt Klentak’s replacement is moving at a snail’s pace. The reason for that may be that principal owner John Middleton is reluctant to do what’s best for the organization: let president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail go.

Tyler Kinzy | Viva El Birdos: A ton of appropriately-priced players had their options declined which might indicate that the price of a win will go way, way down this winter. Typically, a win has cost a team $8-10 million, but if these early moves are any indication, it might be half that in 2021.

Linda Surovich | Amazin’ Avenue: Steve Cohen’s purchase of the Mets has been approved and new ownership doesn’t just offer the hope that the organization won’t repeatedly look like a trainwreck. Citi Field is awfully impersonal, and Cohen has a chance to make the place feel more like home.