Latest MLB 2020 Betting News & Rumors Dec. 30th Edition

With the start of the 2021 MLB season set for April 1, it’s time to take a look at some of the most recent news circulating around the league. Let’s have a look at the latest news and rumors out there so you can continue planning your bets against our MLB odds.

MLB Rumors Making the Rounds for the 2021 Season

Say My Name

The San Diego Padres are clearly going all-in on their efforts to become a legitimate World Series contender in the National League. The NL West residents acquired superstar southpaw Blake Snell from the Tampa Bay rays on Tuesday. San Diego sent four prospects to the Rays in exchange for the 2018 American League Cy Young Award winner.

“They’re super exciting,” Snell said. “They’re a team that plays with a lot of fun. They’re swaggy, and they can swing the bat.”

Snell went 4-2 with a 3.24 ERA in 11 starts during the shortened 2020 season, before going 2-2 with a 3.03 ERA in six postseason starts for the AL champion Rays.

The Padres also acquired veteran right-hander Yu Darvish from the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday as they try to catch up to World Series champion Los Angeles in the NL West.

“If we’re going to get to that level, that championship level, which the Dodgers got to last year, we’ve got some things we’ve got to work on, and we’ll see how things play out,” Padres general manager A.J. Preller said Tuesday night.

Last, but not least, the Padres added another big name by agreeing to a deal with Korean star infielder Ha-seong Kim. The 25-year-old batted .306 with 30 home runs, 109 RBIs, 111 runs scored and 23 stolen bases this past season with the Kiwoom Heroes.

Tampa Bay Stunner

After reaching the 2020 World Series opposite the LA Dodgers, the Tampa Bay Rays stunned everyone by trading staff ace and 2018 AL y Young winner Blake Snell to San Diego. The Rays get right-handers Luis Patino and Cole Wilcox and catchers Francisco Mejia and Blake Hunt in the deal. While all four players are considered elite prospects, Tampa Bay’s trade of one of the top pitchers in the games is still a stunner of epic proportions.

Cubs Move On From Yu

The Chicago Cubs acquired right-hander Zach Davies and four young prospects in exchange for veteran right-hander Yu Darvish and catcher Victor Caratini on Tuesday. The 34-year-old Darvish is in the middle of six-year, $126 million contract he signed with the Cubs before the 2018 season.

See Ya’ and Wouldn’t Wanna’ be Ya’

Veteran first baseman Justin Smoak is saying see ya’ later to the majors as he reportedly is in the process of finalizing a deal with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan. Smoak spent last season with the Milwaukee Brewers and San Francisco Giants, with five home runs and a pitiful .176 batting average.

Making Moves in Minnesota

The Minnesota Twins have signed former Los Angeles Angels closer Hansel Robles to a one-year, $2 million contract on Tuesday. In 2019, Robles went 5-1 with a 2.48 ERA while recording 23 saves in 27 chances. Last season, he went 0-2 with a 10.26 ERA in 18 appearances with one save in three chances.

Philadelphia Freedom

The Philadelphia Phillies acquired left-handed reliever Jose Alvarado in a three-team trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday. Tampa Bay sent Alvarado to Philadelphia. The Phillies sent left-hander Garrett Cleavinger to Los Angeles and the Dodgers sent infielder Dillon Paulson and a player to be named later to Tampa Bay. The 25-year-old Alvarado has a career ERA of 3.46 in 149 appearances over four seasons with the Rays.

Remembering Rakim

In the words of legendary rap artist Rakim…Yo, i’m doing the knowledge, E., i’m trying to get paid in full. Apparently veteran free agent right-hander and reigning NL Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer is trying to get ‘paid in full’. After playing on a one-year, $17.5 million deal with Cincinnati last season, reports say Bauer is seeking a five-to-six-year deal worth at least $36 million per season! While the Yankees gave right-hander Gerrit Cole a nine-year, $324 million deal ($36 million per year) last offseason, I don’t see it happening for Bauer.

I have read enough, I need to place my bet now. What to do?