Good
day folks! We’ve got some movement around the league to report on, so let’s get to it.
In Mariners news…
- The Mariners have hired Sam Delaplane as a minor league pitching coach. Delaplane was drafted by the Mariners and likely would have played for the big league squad in 2021 if not for an untimely Tommy John procedure.
- For the second winter in a row, the Mariners have reportedly engaged in trade discussions with the Cardinals regarding infielder Brendan Donovan.
Around the league…
- It’s been a good week to be an American-born baseball player returning home from playing in Asia — left-hander Anthony Kay agreed to a two-year, $12M deal with the White Sox.
- The Rays added veteran outfielder Cedric Mullins on a one-year, $7M contract.
- The Dodgers are bringing back infielder Miguel Rojas on a one-year, $5.5M deal with the understanding that he will retire at the end of the season to join their front office.
- Former Mariner Emilio Pagán is headed back to the Reds on a two-year, $20M contract.
- The Guardians signed righty Connor Brogdon to a one-year, $900K deal.
- Former Rockies outfielder Sam Hilliard agreed to a one-year deal with the KBO’s KT Wiz.
- The Rockies named Josh Byrnes as their new general manager. Byrnes was most recently the Dodgers’ senior vice president of baseball operations.
- The 2026 MLB Draft order is officially set, with the Competitive Balance round selections recently announced. The Mariners will get a pick in Comp Round B.
- Jayson Stark at The Athletic dug into what caused the drop-off in doubles and triples — and pitches a rule change on how the league could bring them back. ($)
- The New York Gaming Facility Location Board approved the licenses for three Las Vegas-style casinos to be built in New York City, with Mets owner Steve Cohen the receiver of one such license.
- Steve Wulf at ESPN provided a written history of baseball’s deflated glove scandal of 1990.
