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Hello everyone! Welcome to the weekend. Here are some links to get your day going.
In Mariners news...
- Yesterday was Truck Day!
Next stop: Peoria. pic.twitter.com/gEkVONP0KE
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) February 6, 2021
Around the league...
- This tracks with the level of talent in the National League right now compared to what’s in the American League.
Looking at MLB payroll estimates for 2021, what stands out is how much the National League is out-spending the American League.
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) February 5, 2021
NL average payroll: $138 million
AL average payroll: $114 million
Comparing league vs. league, the NL is out-spending the AL by $360 million for 2021.
- Dennis Young at the New York Daily News says that owners are just pretending that their wanting to delay the season is health-related.
- Ronald Blum reports that, strangely, MLB salaries have been on the decline for the last three years.
- The Trevor Bauer sweepstakes is finally over, with the Dodgers swooping in at the last minute to make a deal with the right-hander.
- The Rangers bolster their rotation with a bounce-back candidate.
Source: RHP Mike Foltynewicz is nearing a one-year MLB guaranteed deal with the Texas Rangers. Folty fell out of favor in Atlanta, would join Kohei Arihara and Dane Dunning as incoming rotation options in Texas. Rangers 40-man is full, so a corresponding move would be needed.
— Kiley McDaniel (@kileymcd) February 5, 2021
- Another free agent infielder is off the board.
Free-agent second baseman Jonathan Schoop has signed a one-year, $4.5M contract with the Tigers, source tells @TheAthletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 5, 2021
- The Cubs were wheeling and dealing yesterday.
Cubs officially announce they’ve agreed to terms with Joc Pederson (2021, mutual option for 2022), Trevor Williams (2021) and Andrew Chafin (2021, mutual option for 2022).
— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) February 5, 2021
Infielder Max Schrock DFA’d to make room on 40-man roster
- After flirting with the Rays for most of the last week, Marcell Ozuna has decided to return to the Braves on a four-year deal.