Mariners Moose Tracks, 7/5/17: Hisashi Iwakuma, Tyler O’Neill, and Gordon Hayward

Good morning everyone and happy Wednesday! I hope you all had a terrific Fourth of July. Now we must go back to our boring daily lives free of fireworks. Unless you set off fireworks during all days of the year. If so, your neighbors must hate you.

Anyway, let’s get on with it.

In Mariners news...

• MLB Daily Dish previews what the Mariners might do at the trade deadline, which is only a few weeks away.
• In some bad news, the Mariners have shut down Hisashi Iwakuma. Kuma was on his way back from injury and was set to join the rotation very soon. Thinking a little bit into the future: I’d be shocked if they pick up his option at the end of the season.
• Luke Arkins at Prospect Insider wonders if the Mariners will bother keeping Drew Smyly.

In Mariners minors news...

• The Clinton LumberKings’ offense continued to stumble in their loss to Burlington.
• Tacoma obliterated Reno last night — who has been pretty good by the way. Tyler O’Neill went deep again.

Around the league...

• The ESPN baseball staff checked in on the state of the game now that the season is just about half over.
• Tim Keown went inside the story of Jameson Taillon’s diagnosis and recovery from testicular cancer.
• Grant Brisbee is a big fan of this year’s Home Run Derby field, despite the fact that most of the participants are extraordinarily young.
• Aaron Judge dented the stadium with his home run yesterday.

• He’s uhh...he’s pretty good guys.

• The Dodgers have a lack of representation in the All-Star Game not because their fans are bad, it’s because the fans can’t watch their games.

Anders’ picks...

• Former Utah Jazz star Gordon Hayward wrote a piece for The Players’ Tribune announcing his intentions to play for Boston next year.