Sports

MLB Free Agency Recap

OPINION

Sam Shuster, EIC

The 2021 MLB season was one of the most exciting seasons in MLB history from underdog champions to fans back in the stands. The MLB season had it all. With that being said, teams are already getting ready for next season. MLB free agency is always highly anticipated, as the game's biggest stars are sure to make a splash wherever they may land. Some of the top free agents include Carlos Correa, Cory Seager, Freddie Freeman, Marcus Semien, Kevin Gausman, Kris Bryant, Trevor Story, Robbie Ray, Nick Castellanos, Noah Syndergaard, and Eduardo Rodriguez. These stars will have to sign somewhere, and we have you covered for the latest news on signings and predictions.

Shortstop Carlos Correa is surely on his way to a big payday. Though he is a known cheater, Correa was a key part of the Houston Astros’ run to the World Series. Correa is an elite defensive shortstop, which can be proven with statistics. His outs above average is tied for third in the MLB. The prediction for Carlos Correa is to sign with the Detroit Tigers. Detroit can afford the superstar and are in the market for a shortstop. 

Cory Seager is another big name on the free agent market. Like Correa, Seager led his team deep into the playoffs with an NLCS run cut short by the champion Atlanta Braves. The Yankees could be a suitable team for Seager as they are injury riddled and lacked the offense in this year’s wildcard game at Fenway Park. 

Freddie Freeman is coming off a World Series win where he was the man in the playoffs. While he did reject his qualifying offer from the Braves, it was so he could sign there long term and for more money. This suggests that Freddie Freeman will return to the Braves on a massive deal.

Marcus Semien has signed a deal with the Texas Rangers. The deal is for 7 years and is for $175 million dollars. Semien was great for the Blue Jays, who fell just short of a wild card position in an airtight American League race. Semien no doubt deserves the deal and we are really excited to see him play in Texas.

Kevin Gausman has agreed to sign with the Toronto Blue Jays. The deal is for five years and is worth $110 million dollars. Gausman posted a 2.81 earned run average in 2021 for the San Francisco Giants, helping them secure the best record in baseball with 107 wins and 55 losses. Watching Gausman pitch in the AL East against some great hitters will be fun to watch.

Kris Bryant is a big name, so many fans around the world are on edge about where he is going to sign. The Natick Nest prediction is that Kris Bryant will sign with the Seattle Mariners. Bryant may not play third base in Seattle, but can play outfield or first base like he did with San Francisco.

Being the 2021 Cy Young award winner is something that will have helped Robbie Ray earn a big payday. Posting a 2.84 era, Ray had a great season. Our prediction is that Ray will re-sign with the Blue Jays and resume his role as the Toronto ace.

Trevor Story is one of the best free agents on the market. The Rockies didn’t win much while he was with them, which is why it is best they part ways. Our prediction for Trevor Story is that he will sign with the Philadelphia Phillies. Because he would be with MVP Bryce Harper, an addition of Trevor Story is a combination for a very scary lineup.

Natick High School Soccer: A Tale of Two Teams

Anthony Bilis-Gruson

After a difficult 2020/21 season due to Covid, Natick High School boys and girls soccer teams were ready to bounce back and finally have a regular season. No more challenges such as a shortened season, masks while playing, altered rules, and no fans—it was good to get back to the norm. Both teams, with plenty of new faces on Varsity, were motivated to get their Division 1 seasons underway with a game against Walpole. Now, with both teams' seasons completed, we look back and compare the two teams, and the drastically different seasons they had. The boys team went on to put up a season in which they went 2-10-3, getting one more win than the year before, but failing to make the playoffs, while the girls team, going 16-1-5, went on to win the state championship for the first time in program history. As a player on the boys team, I was close to both teams, and will analyze the differences between the two teams and the characteristics that led the girls to a state title. 

One of the biggest differences between the boys and girls teams this season was the style of play. The boys struggled to develop a style of play and never managed to develop a system that played to their strengths. Switching formation helped the team, but the squad never found the defensive structure that could have helped them survive in games against superior opposition, especially in one of the state’s toughest conferences. The girls team, in contrast, developed a really successful style of play as the season went on. A crucial part of their success came from every player giving into the system. Watching the girls play, you could tell that every player knew their role, deeply understood their position on the field, and backed each other up. Their team grew stronger and stronger as the games went on. 

Don’t get me wrong, the girls didn’t play fancy, possession-based soccer, but they had a style of play that was effective and that played to their strengths. As the season progressed, the girls team recognized their strengths and their weaknesses and changed their way of playing accordingly. They knew that their biggest strength was their defense. Led by the brick wall in goal, Allison Jeter, and by captain and center back Kyra Hacker, along with others, the girls knew that they could always rely on their defense. This meant that they were comfortable and confident without the ball. The girls’ team knew that they didn’t necessarily have to dominante the game in terms of possession because they could trust their defense to hold out. They knew that if they could just get one or two chances, their individual brilliance up top, mainly of Emma Grant and Zoe Graves, would push them over the line. 

When I talk about their tough defending, I am not talking only about the defenders, but about how the whole team defended. The team defended from the front, with the forwards, Emma Grant, Eliza Campana, and Zoe Graves, working tirelessly to press from the front and get behind the ball when needed. In midfield, captains Briar Grady and Mikayla Henderson used their physical strength, as well as their pure determination, to win 50/50 balls and set the tone in the middle of the field. With the whole team defending as a unit, Natick became almost impossible to score against, having 10 games where they conceded 0 goals, including every playoff game up until the final. With this style of play in mind, the girls grew stronger and stronger and more and more comfortable in the system. Come playoffs, they became so in tune that they started to dominate games, using their technical brilliance from players like Kyra Hacker, Olivia Penn, and Zoe Graves to keep the ball and tire the opponent out. This kind of unity on the field is something that the boys team never accomplished, unfortunately. The girls built a system in which every player knew their role, was comfortable, and would give everything for their teammates. Where the girls grew confident as the season advanced, the boys struggled to find cohesiveness, despite some highlights like the tribute on Senior Night to Giovanni Taboh and beating Wellesley that night. 

In the end, the girls team made Natick history, and the boys could learn from their example for next season. As the only team in the conversation in 2021 when it comes to Natick High School Soccer and more importantly, as Massachusetts State Champs, we should all congratulate Varsity Girls Soccer for their amazing season and inspiring victory.