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Hooray, it’s Saturday! If you work a traditional work week, then congratulations! You made it to the weekend. If you don’t work a traditional work week, then I hope these soothing, aloe-infused links will help you relax into your Saturday grind.
In Mariners news...
- The Mariners have announced that they’re partnering with United Way and the King Country Bar Association to help keep struggling tenants from being evicted. As part of the partnership, they’re going to be contributing $3 million.
- Corey Brock looks at J.P. Crawford, and when he can reasonably be expected to start making a contribution. ($)
- Newly acquired Mariner Kaleb Cowart had a spot on MLB Network Radio, and was asked what he’d do if he were to face Mike Trout.
"You're going to look out, and they're going to bring you in to face @MikeTrout. What's your approach there?"
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) December 14, 2018
"Act like I don't know him, and throw him three splitters."
New #Mariners IF/RHP @KalebCowart sounding confident, excited about his move to the mound: pic.twitter.com/qTFcgLMEd5
- A funny additional detail about Jerry Dipoto’s hospital bed trade from Thursday:
Seattle #Mariners GM Jerry DiPoto rreturns to the winter meetings hotel after being hospitalized with blood clot in his lung. He actually made the 3-way trade in the hospital giving fist pumps to nurses.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 13, 2018
- Edgar isn’t on the 100% tear he was at the beginning, but his Hall of Fame vote tally still stacks up favorably so far.
So far, so good. ✔️#EdgarHOF is tracking well early, with 'Gar on 90.2% of ballots. pic.twitter.com/h1gysEqkfh
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) December 14, 2018
Around the league...
- The White Sox have signed free agent catcher James McCann.
- The Padres have signed free agent second baseman Ian Kinsler.
- The Indians have continued their bizarre sell-first off season and the White Sox have confused their bizarre buy-first off season.
Source: #WhiteSox acquire 1B Yonder Alonso from #Indians. First reported @WatchStadium.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 15, 2018
- We knew it was coming, but the Orioles’ hiring of Brandon Hyde to be their manager has become official.
- Everyone’s favorite non-Mariners third baseman, Matt Chapman, underwent shoulder surgery yesterday. It sounds like he should be ready for the regular season.
Matt Chapman underwent left (non-throwing) shoulder surgery today, per A's release. The procedure was a distal clavicle resection, to alleviate pain in the AC joint. Dr. William Workman, who performed the surgery, expects Chapman to be ready to swing in 6 weeks. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 15, 2018
- Brad Ausmus is an MLB manager again, this time for the Angels. Unfortunately for the rest of the MLB’s managers, that puts him at number one in the “Most Handsome Manager” rankings. Wait, that’s a real thing?
- Somehow, a 2018 draftee in the Cardinals system has already been suspended twice for violations of a drug of abuse. I hope he gets some good help.
Griffin Roberts, taken No. 43 overall by the #STLCards in the 2018 #MLBDraft, has been suspended 50 games after a second violation for a drug of abuse. The 22-year-old RHP is No. 10 on the @Cardinals' Top 30 Prospects list: https://t.co/zGqqpcDMBG pic.twitter.com/WqHsIkEFjN
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) December 14, 2018
- Infielder Carlos Asuaje was recently DFA’d by the Padres and then claimed off of waivers by the Rangers. However, it looks like he’s going to play in South Korea instead.
Carlos Asuaje, who was recently DFA'd by San Diego and then claimed by Texas, probably won't be reporting to the Rangers after all. He's close to signing a deal with a team in South Korea.
— Jared Diamond (@jareddiamond) December 14, 2018
Zach’s pick...
Move over, Spirit and Opportunity, there’s a new Mars rover called InSight. It just landed a couple of weeks ago, and the project is going swimmingly. More amusingly, it took a selfie.