Mariners Moose Tracks, 9/20/20: Tim Anderson, Gary Hughes, and Players To Be Named Today

In Mariners news...

• We got a few updates on some injured Mariners position players this weekend. It sounds, unsurprisingly, like Tom Murphy, Mitch Haniger, and Shed Long are all gearing up for spring training in 2021.
• Surgery remains an option for Shed Long Jr. to address the stress fracture in his shin.

Around the league...

• The big news of the weekend in MLB is Justin Verlander being pegged for Tommy John surgery. There’s little precedent of a player of his age coming back with good results.

• Several teams appear to have made today their determination point for Players To Be Named Later. The Mets named a pair of minor leaguers sent away.

• The Phillies also announced the acquisition of a minor league reliever. Presumably, all players announced are subsequently being added to their teams’ player pools.

• The Athletics have broken the hearts of haberdashers and boutique barbers across the Bay Area, designating RHP Daniel Mengden for assignment.
• Two players and one staffer have tested positive for COVID-19 at the Brewers alternate site.
• Gary Hughes, beloved scout, coach, and executive across several organizations including the 1977 Mariners, has passed away.
• With Ron Gardenhire retiring to focus on his health, a number of options have come up as possibilities to take over the Detroit Tigers managerial role.

• Reds righty Tyler Thornburg has undergone Tommy John surgery.
• Dan Szymborski of FanGraphs wrote about whether the apparent sudden decline and injury-uptick of José Altuve has waylaid his chances of getting 3,000 hits.
• Is 2020 the year a DH wins MVP? Anthony Castrovince argues Nelson Cruz has a deserving case.
• Do you remember all these quotes?

• Trevor Bauer remains himself.

• Tim Anderson, however, remains himself as well.

• John Perrotto talked to Cubs outfielder Cameron Maybin about the growth of the Players Alliance, and awareness of the importance of player unity.