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Happy Tuesday folks! Here’s what’s going on in baseball.
In Mariners news...
- Nelson Cruz caught up with some old friends before yesterday’s game.
*clutches chest* pic.twitter.com/lsxCNPCuCS
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) June 15, 2021
- Oh boy, I wonder if this means more than meets the eye.
Nelson Cruz, in town as a visiting player, said that he had lunch today with John Stanton.
— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) June 14, 2021
The two went over Nellie's and the Mariners' efforts for the Boomstick23 Foundation that he established in 2016 and still has a very strong imprint in Seattle.
- Brandon Gustafson at My Northwest wrote about the patience level that fans have for this current M’s rebuild.
- Another new friend gone too soon.
The Mariners have traded RHP Yacksel Rios to the Red Sox for cash considerations. He was DFA’d a few days ago.
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) June 14, 2021
I have no pun for Yacksel.
- Anyone remember Zach Vincej? Even vaguely? He’s back in the Mariners system thanks to a minor league deal.
- The M’s and Rangers completed the Rafael Montero trade with Seattle sending teenage infielder Andrés Mesa to Texas.
Around the league...
- We have some more details on Major League Baseball’s plan to police foreign substances: players caught will initially face a 10-day suspension with full pay.
- A guy claiming to be one of the main points of initial contact for pitchers looking for access to foreign substances spoke out about his involvement in the scandal.
- Eric Longenhagen and Kevin Goldstein at Fangraphs provide their latest 2021 MLB mock draft with just a month to go until the real thing.
- Aaron Gleeman at The Athletic says the Twins need to face the fact that they’re a seller this summer. ($)
- Shane Bieber has hit the injured list with a right shoulder strain.
- That’s...strange.
How much do Giants relievers Zack Littell and Conner Menez look alike?
— Sporting Green (@SportingGreenSF) June 14, 2021
Zack’s wife recently thought Menez was her husband when Menez was warming up — despite the fact that Menez is left-handed.
The similarities don't end there, writes @susanslusser.https://t.co/xJ95By9O5Y
- We’ve got a Mike Trout update.
Joe Maddon said Mike Trout got evaluated today and he’s most likely a month away. A month would be 8 weeks from the time of the injury, which was the upper end of the initial projected timeline. Also doesn’t look like the ASG is possible. #Angels
— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) June 14, 2021
- Ben Clemens at Frangraphs lists the worst bunt attempts of the season so far.
- Devan Fink at Fangraphs argues that hitters should simply not swing against Jacob deGrom right now.