World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg to opt out of contract, hit free agency  —  It was a joyous day for the Washington Nationals with their World Series parade, but it wasn't without some bad, though not surprising, news.  —  As expected, World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg has decided to opt …

Phillies' Jake Arrieta exercises $20 million option for 2020  —  PHILADELPHIA — Jake Arrieta is staying with the Philadelphia Phillies, exercising a $20 million player option for 2020 on Saturday.  —  A 33-year-old right-hander, Arrieta was 8-8 with a 4.64 ERA in 24 starts this year.

Automated Strike Zone Whiffs At Arizona Fall League  —  In his start in the Arizona Fall League's annual Fall Stars Game, Royals prospect Daniel Lynch was extremely impressive.  The 6-foot-6 lefthander whiffed two hitters in a scoreless inning and showed a fastball that reached 99 mph.

Moustakas, Grandal Decline Mutual Options; Brewers Outright Austin, Spangenberg  —  The Brewers have announced some early-offseason roster moves.  As anticipated, Mike Moustakas and Yasmani Grandal have each declined their side of mutual options and will become free agents.

Flattery won't get you anywhere with the Rays  —  Rays Tales: Losing top exec and coaches to other teams has become a regular issue, and somewhat of a compliment.  —  ST. PETERSBURG — If imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery, repeatedly having top staffers hired away by your competitors has to rank a pretty close second.

Brewers Select Angel Perdomo  —  The Brewers have selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Angel Perdomo, according to an official club announcement.  He'll be added to the 40-man roster, which now sits at 32 players.  —  Perdomo, 25, was originally signed by the Blue Jays …

Why did those World Series games last so long?  —  MLB, Houston Astros, Washington Nationals  —  Baseball's regular season has the pace-of-play problem with which we're all familiar: Many of the 2,430 games take on dead time until they are boring, lulling.  It's a good dish, watered down until you don't love it as much.

Sean Doolittle on declining White House invite: 'I don't want to hang out with somebody who talks like that'  —  Ever since Sean Doolittle was traded to the Washington Nationals in the summer of 2017, the reliever was often asked whether he would visit the White House after winning the World Series.

Nationals' World Series parade: D.C. throws a ‘once in a lifetime’ baseball bash  —  Washington threw a party 95 years in the making Saturday afternoon, with baseball fans gleefully lining downtown streets for a World Series parade and rally that covered the Mall in a sea of red.

Cleveland Indians radio announcer Tom Hamilton named finalist for 2020 Ford C. Frick Award  —  The Cleveland Indians' longtime radio voice is among eight finalists for the 2020 Ford C. Frick Award, presented by the National Baseball Hall of Fame.  —  CLEVELAND — Cleveland Indians radio play …