Mariners Moose Tracks, 1/30/20: Mookie Betts, Dusty Baker, and the Seattle Kraken

Some links to kick off your Thursday.

By Anders Jorstad@AndersJorstad Jan 30, 2020, 7:00am PST

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Baltimore Orioles v Boston Red Sox

Good morning folks! We’ve got some news for you.

In Mariners news...

Justin Dunn joined MLB Network to talk about his time with the Mariners so far.

Around the league...

The Dodgers have emerged as real frontrunners in the effort to acquire Mookie Betts, reports Andy McCullough at The Athletic. ($)
The Astros found their man, and it’s going to be awesome to see him back in the dugout.

A day after the Houston Astros focused in on Dusty Baker as their main target, he is officially their new manager, a source familiar with the deal tells ESPN.

This will be Baker's fifth managerial job. At 70, he will be the oldest manager in baseball. @BNightengale had the news.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 29, 2020

Not a bad gig for the new guy.

Interesting twist to Dusty Baker's hiring by the Astros: Because Houston is the defending American League champion, Baker will manage the AL in this summer's All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 29, 2020

We love some fun charts.

Astros trashcan bangs by player: bangs vs their number of pitches.

See all the data at https://t.co/kVtisgUo74. pic.twitter.com/mseZmSjmIG
— Tony Adams (@adams_at) January 29, 2020

The threatened teams have done quite well.

The community impact that the 42 targeted @MiLB teams have had since 2015. pic.twitter.com/R2Bu5cGWb1
— Burlington Royals (@BRoyalsKC) January 29, 2020

This is pretty surprising, frankly.

BREAKING: Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant has lost his grievance against the team seeking an extra year of service, sources familiar with the ruling tell ESPN.

News story at @espn: https://t.co/07lx6NUttj
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 29, 2020

In case you have a hankering to watch great pitching...

We could watch nasty pitches all day. pic.twitter.com/UptFDEoVFf
— MLB (@MLB) January 29, 2020

Another player from Japan finds a home stateside.

The A's welcome RHP Shohei Tomioka, signed to a minor league contract today. The 23-year-old right-handed pitcher from Kurobe City, Japan was signed by A's scout Toshiyuki Tomizuka. #RootedInOakland pic.twitter.com/KazvEuIZnE
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) January 29, 2020

Left-handed pitcher Scott Kazmir is attempting a comeback to the big leagues.
Seems like a strange caveat.

MLB has told teams contemplating possible 26-man rosters for this season that the max number of pitchers per team has been set at 13.

That's been the assumption in front offices, but that's now a firm number

The message: You can carry an extra player - just not another reliever
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) January 29, 2020

Anders’ picks...

What do y’all think?

Report: Seattle Kraken believed to be name for NHL Seattle franchise https://t.co/dXFi9orO7c
— RMNB (@russianmachine) January 29, 2020