Mariners Moose Tracks, 10/3/19: Yandy Díaz, Corey Kluber, and Boban

In Mariners News...

• Baseball America released a top-10 mock for the 2020 Draft now that the order is set for non-playoff teams. They tied Arkansas SS/3B Casey Martin to Seattle with the 6th pick, who you can read profiled here.

• Mariners prospect Penn Murfee was sharp again in the AFL, with 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 7 K, and just 1 BB.
• A spoonful of Julio helps the medicine go down.

• Jarred Kelenic got glowing reviews himself in his long-awaited AFL debut.

Around the League...

• The Rays outslugged the A’s last night to earn the honor of being the Astros supper. See our sister site DRays (D-Rays?) Bay’s recap here. For the solemn among you, here is the Athletics Nation writeup. Please be respectful if you choose to comment, as always.
• Despite missing much of this season, Corey Kluber will have his $17.5 million option exercised by Cleveland. The club intends to decline their options for longtime players Jason Kipnis and Dan Otero.
• The Padres? Taking a shot? On Buck?

• Mets breakout stud and near-Mariner Jeff McNeil underwent surgery to repair a fracture in his right wrist. He’s expected to be without limitation well before Spring Training.
• The White Sox have let go of their hitting coach, Todd Steverson.
• Not to be outdone, the Red Sox have cut ties with assistant hitting coach Andy Barkett.
• Despite being based on just 12 PAs, Bob Melvin can’t be too upset with how Jurickson Profar performed yesterday.
• Jason Kendall and I both would like to be the Pirates next manager.
• So would Mark Kotsay, apparently! It’s a great time for above-average players from the late-90s and early 2000s.

• Continuing a banner week for Rockies ownership, the team’s owner/chairman expressed disappointment that the team’s new TV contract was “not as lucrative as [he] wanted it to be.”
• Let’s watch Juan Soto get tackled by his dad again.

• Major layoffs are expected at Sports Illustrated over the next 48-72 hours, which could further dramatic changes at one of the industry’s most recognizable outlets.
• Cleveland Low-A Lake County will have a female general manager - the first time a woman has occupied that role at any level in the organization.
• Bill Shaikin of The Los Angeles Times believes acquiring Joe Maddon would make the Angels a more attractive option for FA ace Gerrit Cole.
• “Roll Call” is how the Braves have helped build connections between a team whose stars vary wildly in age, native language, and life path, from Jayson Stark of The Athletic.
• Veteran RHP Julio Teheran has not made the Braves NLDS roster.
• Tim Kawakami of The Athletic argues the best is yet to come for the Athletics.
• Great news for a former Mariners great, less so for a former top prospect.

• Flagging attendance is the logical and acceptable outcome of MLB’s current two-pronged economic model, argues Neil deMause of Deadspin.
• Trevor Bauer will have his own bimonthly radio show on MLB Network starting next week.

• Maury Brown of Forbes notes that the decline in attendance, while notable, was smaller than in previous seasons, and seems driven more by a loss of season-ticket sales and, ergo, fewer repeat attendees.
• The Mets intend to make a decision on manager Mickey Callaway “no later than Friday”.

John’s Picks...

• The NBA has instituted “official measurements” this year, to offer a more uniform and truthful listing. Boban Marjanovic of the Dallas Mavericks clocked in at 7’3 and ¹⁄₂ inch. In addition to being universally beloved around the league, here he is holding a few things, like a basketball...

...or a microphone...

...or making announcers second-guess whether that’s a softball or baseball because SURELY NOT