Mariners Moose Tracks, 7/17/21: trade deadline, Austin Shenton, Rockies, kittehs

Welcome to the back half of the 2020 season! It’s wild to think that last year we hadn’t even had the first day of the season by this time, and I’m trying hard to practice gratitude every day that baseball is back and in full swing, even when it frustrates me or costs me precious amounts of stomach lining (hello, last night’s game) or is just flat-out boring. Practice gratitude with me and read today’s links:

In Mariners news:

• If we’re to believe Jerry Dipoto, the Mariners are looking to add a right-handed bat, preferably one who is a second baseman, at the trade deadline.

• If you’re an ESPN insider, you can read what Kiley McDaniel thought of the Mariners’ draft. And if you have an Athletic subscription and care, here’s what Keith Law thought.
• As far as draft signings go, we’re tracking the players who are reporting to Arizona here. As far as the top-level guys, nothing has been officially reported yet, but apparently second-rounder Edwin Arroyo has a deal in place, according to his hometown newspapers; the deal is said to be over slot, but short of $2M (slot value for the pick is ~1.5M).
• If you were wondering why Jake Fraley was a late scratch from yesterday’s game, apparently he’s feeling a little under the weather (non-COVID symptoms).
• In case you missed it, Bellingham native Austin Shenton has been promoted from Everett to Double-A Arkansas. Shenton had two hits, including a double, in his debut yesterday.

Julio also had a homer in that game, and Brandon Williamson struck out eight in four innings, as the Travs lost 9-8.

As a reminder, MiLB TV is free all weekend and you can watch the Travelers (and the Rainiers, and the Nuts) for free all weekend! Wheeeee! Go to MiLB.TV to get in on the action.

• ICYMI, Evan White will be out the rest of the season with a torn hip labrum.

Around the league:

• The Diamondbacks sell-off has seemingly begun, as they traded old friend Stephen Vogt for a rookie-level first baseman, Mason Berne. Berne is 25 and still in rookie ball, so this move seems to be a pure salary dump (moving Vogt saves Arizona about $1.5M).
• The Rockies are the latest team dealing with a COVID outbreak:

• Drew Robinson, who survived a suicide attempt and made a comeback this year as documented by Jeff Passan, has retired from baseball and will be joining the San Francisco Giants front office.
• Exciting news for the Blue Jays organization, less exciting for fans at T-Mobile Park who dislike the annual Canadian Invasion at the park: Canada is planning to lift the border restrictions, allowing for play starting as early as July 30. The Blue Jays are scheduled to come to T-Mobile Park August 13-15.

Kate’s pick:

As a cat person I beseech: more baseball players and cats, please. We have so many dog players but precious few cat players (although shoutout to Mariners minor leaguer Ian McKinney, who has a cat named Lord Tyrion who walks on a leash and seems DELIGHTFUL). Lucas Giolito, welcome to the top of my favorite players list along with Tony Gonsolin: