Mariners Moose Tracks, 12/3/24: Kyle Higashioka, Alex Ramirez, and Clay Holmes
Tuesday links!
In Mariners news...
- Lonely at the top.
Most 95+ MPH pitches this year by their starting pitchers: 5,167 SEA 3,269 LAD 2,784 NYY 2,717 DET 2,707 PIT 2,684 ATL 2,626 CIN 2,495 BAL 2,207 HOU 2,172 NYM 2,129 SF 2,012 MIA
— Codify Baseball (@codifybaseball.bsky.social) 2024-12-02T23:22:59.167Z
- The Mariners have announced a number of promotions in their baseball operations department.
- Ken Rosenthal at The Athletic predicts that the team will not seek outside help at second base this season, and will instead focus on internal options.
Around the league...
- An offseason well spent for Eugenio Suarez as he won the star-studded Venezuelan Winter League Home Run Derby yesterday:
¡GENOOOOOOO!
— El Extrabase ⚾️ (@ElExtrabase) December 3, 2024
¡EUGENIO SUÁREZ ES EL CAMPEÓN DEL FESTIVAL DEL JONRÓN PEPSI! https://t.co/p9mEghyjW7#ElExtrabase⚾️ pic.twitter.com/LxI45jLXHh
- Free agent catcher Kyle Higashioka has signed with the Texas Rangers on a two-year/$13.5 million deal that includes a mutual option for 2027.
- The Houston Astros have shown interest in former Mariners shortstop and current free agent Jorge Polanco as a fallback for their new vacancy at third base.
- The New York Mets have re-signed outfielder Alex Ramirez to a minor league contract
- Free agent reliever Clay Holmes is reportedly drawing interest as a starting pitcher, with multiple teams considering him as a candidate to move to a rotation.
- Commissioner Rob Manfred claims that there is talk among MLB owners surrounding the “Golden At-Bat” rule, which would allow a team to use its best hitter during a chosen at-bat in every game, regardless of where they are in the lineup. ($)
- Veteran catcher Martin Maldonado hopes to play in 2025 if he is signed by a team.