Mariners Moose Tracks, 10/30/20: Tim Beckham, Tony La Russa, and A.J. Hinch

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A couple of surprising managerial hires, for different reasons.

By Anders Jorstad@AndersJorstad Oct 30, 2020, 7:00am PDT

MLB: Boston Red Sox at Los Angeles Angels

Hello and happy Friday everyone! Let’s get you the latest from around the world of baseball.

In Mariners news...

Corey Brock at The Athletic previews what could be a pivotal offseason for the Mariners. ($)
We got our first episode of the JRod Show, and it was pretty entertaining!

Around the league...

Let’s hope that nobody signs him after he elects free agency.

The Astros placed Roberto Osuna on outright waivers, per sources. Osuna, who barely pitched in 2020 because of an elbow injury, was expected to make ~$10 million in '21 through arbitration.

Presuming he clears waivers and elects free agency, it's basically an early non-tender.
— Jake Kaplan (@jakemkaplan) October 29, 2020

Fabian Ardaya at The Athletic evaluates some proposed blockbuster moves that the Angels could make this winter. ($)
Even though there won’t be a game for it, you can still vote for this year’s MLB All-Stars. I’m glad they’re doing this, because players deserve to be recognized for having career years they may never repeat again.
After a year without a team to play for, Tim Beckham will be back in the league in 2021.

The Chicago #WhiteSox have signed veteran infielder Tim Beckham to a minor-league contact that will pay him $1.35 million if makes their big-league roster. He last played for the #Mariners in 2019.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 29, 2020

Here’s another arm for the Mariners to potentially look into.

The Indians have placed Brad Hand on outright waivers with the intention of declining his $10 million club option if he goes unclaimed, sources say. If a team does claim him, the Indians won't be responsible for paying his $1 million buyout. Hand posted a 2.05 ERA in 2020.
— Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) October 29, 2020

In a pretty stunning decision, the White Sox announced that they have hired Tony La Russa to serve as their manager in 2021.
Michael Baumann at The Ringer doesn’t think the White Sox made the correct decision in bringing back the Hall of Fame manager.
I’ve always wondered what it would be like if something like this happened. I guess now we know.

This is the first time a Hall of Fame manager has returned to manage after being inducted. When La Russa was selected for Cooperstown in 2014 the belief was that he was retired. He obviously changed his mind. #WhiteSox
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 29, 2020

Meanwhile in Detroit, the Tigers are on the verge of agreeing with A.J. Hinch on a deal that would make the former Astros skipper their new manager.
Andy McCullough at The Athletic talks to people around the game to get their thoughts on the possibility of Hinch and Alex Cora managing in baseball again so soon. ($)