Mariners Moose Tracks, 1/3/19: Yusei Kikuchi, Bryce Harper, and Steph Curry

We’ve got some links to kick-start your Thursday.

By Anders Jorstad@AndersJorstad Jan 3, 2019, 7:00am PST

MLB: Miami Marlins at Washington Nationals — I’m starting to run out of Bryce Harper pictures to use

Good morning everybody! It’s already Thursday, which is pretty neat. We’ve got some stories to get your day started.

In Mariners news...

The Mariners officially announced the Yusei Kikuchi signing, and there are some quotes from Jerry Dipoto on the deal.
Jeff Sullivan at Fangraphs provides his take on the Mariners’ signing of Kikuchi.
Keith Law opines that the Kikuchi deal shows the M’s are serious about kickstarting their rebuild (ESPN+ subscription only).
Here’s a fun fact about the M’s new lefty!

Maybe this has already been pointed out and I missed it, but new #Mariners pitcher Yusei Kikuchi was teammates with Wade LeBlanc on the Seibu Lions in 2015.
— Larry Stone (@StoneLarry) January 2, 2019

If any of you are feeling nostalgic...

This is a must listen -- @TheLydiaCruz put together a supercut of the radio calls of all 163 home runs Nelson Cruz hit in a #Mariners uniform.https://t.co/N7UnOvt0Fv
— 710 ESPN Seattle (@710ESPNSeattle) January 2, 2019

The Mariners caravan starts next week! Check out the details here.
The Tacoma Rainiers could be in some financial trouble because of team employees dancing on the roof during games.
Here are some interesting little nuggets on the Mariners’ closer situation.

Jerry Dipoto on the closer position for the @Mariners in 2019:

"I'm guessing that our closer doesn't yet play for the Mariners...somebody or multiple somebodies are still yet to enter the fray."
— Jessamyn McIntyre (@JessamynMcIntyr) January 3, 2019

Bless @cougsgo for asking Jerry Dipoto what he thinks about Felix as a closer.

"I don't think much of it at all."
— Brent Stecker (@BrentStecker) January 3, 2019

Around the league...

Can you spot the two former Mariners on the Braves’ Single-A coaching staff?

Introducing your 2019 Field Staff

: https://t.co/WxReM55nrP pic.twitter.com/fvQGP6jvhJ
— Rome Braves (@TheRomeBraves) January 2, 2019

It’s getting to be a desperate part of the offseason for baseball news...

A.J. Pollock's six most recent follows are five different surfing accounts and one called Nut Shots, which is a bunch of videos of dudes getting whaled in the nuts.
— Ted Berg (@OGTedBerg) January 2, 2019

Bill Baer wonders if the grind of a minor league baseball season could drive Kyler Murray away from the sport.
The Bryce Harper sweepstakes continue as the Phillies are setting up an in-person meeting with the outfielder.

Anders’ picks...

This is really cool.

Remember the girl who wrote to Steph Curry asking why his sneakers weren’t available for girls?

She got a Christmas surprise from the 2x MVP pic.twitter.com/fRi5kbOEO8
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 2, 2019