Hunt and Peck

This offseason is gonna be weird - A Hunt and Peck

Already not liking this.

By lil_scooter93 Oct 30, 2020, 2:00pm EDT

National League Wild Card Game 3: St. Louis Cardinals v. San Diego Padres

When the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Tampa Bays Rays on 3-1 on Tuesday the MLB offseason official began. Immediately, shenanigans began. Cardinals fans likely already know about the Cardinals choice to decline Kolten Wong’s option — a choice that frustrated many. Soon after though, many other teams announced they too had declined options for their players. Over and over again this headline appears on MLBTradeRumors.com.

I am not sure what to expect this offseason. With team revenues down due the the pandemic, it appears many are looking to shed payroll. The Cardinals have reportedly let go of special assistants Chris Carpenter, Jason Isringhausen, and Jim Edmonds.

Some of the #STLCards layoffs last month were to the team’s special assistants, former players such as Chris Carpenter, Jason Isringhausen and Jim Edmonds. (Doesn’t affect Edmonds’ deal with Fox Sports Midwest). Spring training will look different in ‘21.
— Mark Saxon (@markasaxon) October 27, 2020

Other cost-cutting measure look to be coming, too.

#STLCards executive John Mozeliak said the team's payroll will come down in 2021. The Kolten Wong move was the first domino of that. "Obviously, the success of the Cardinals the last 20 years has been our gate revenue. I do think we might be more negatively affected than others."
— Mark Saxon (@markasaxon) October 28, 2020

With other teams likely following suit, the free agent market could be different than what we have seen in the past. Offers are poised to be lower, the minor leagues are in limbo, and COVID-19 still strains daily life. Also the White Sox have named Tony La Russa their manager? What in the world?

This offseason is going to get really weird. Hold on, folks.