It's Sunday, and you know what that means—time for another edition of Meet the Links! We've got a packed lineup of MLB news, from Mariners roster moves to a heartbreaking loss for baseball royalty. Let's dive in.
The Mariners dropped a tough one in Chicago yesterday, but there's still a chance to salvage a series win tomorrow at 11:10 am PST. Buckle up—it's going to be a tight finish.
In brighter news, the M's announced that Bryce Miller will make his season debut on Wednesday in Houston. Manager Dan Wilson confirmed that with Miller's return, the club will roll with a six-man rotation for the rest of the road trip. They'll reassess the plan once the team gets back to Seattle—so stay tuned for how that shakes out.
Big props to the Chicago White Sox, who went above and beyond to honor legendary Mariners broadcaster Rick Rizzs during his last visit to the Southside. They put him on the big board, let him call some play-by-play on their radio broadcast, and even presented him with a jersey of his favorite player, Luis Aparicio. Classy move all around—and a moment Rizzy won't forget.
Now for some somber news: the great Bobby Cox, who managed the Braves through their dominant 1990s dynasty, passed away yesterday at age 84. The baseball world responded with an overwhelming wave of respect and grief from Braves legends past and present. Cox's legacy as a leader and tactician will never be forgotten.
In trade action, the Cleveland Guardians acquired defensive-catching specialist Patrick Bailey from the San Francisco Giants. In exchange, they sent left-handed pitching prospect Matt Wilkinson and the 29th overall draft pick to the Bay Area. Bailey has been a "change of scenery" candidate since his debut, and the more hitter-friendly environment in Cleveland could unlock some extra pop in his bat.
Over in Minnesota, the Twins placed pitcher Taj Bradley on the 15-day IL with inflammation in his right pec. That's a tough injury for any pitcher—especially if you've got any chest muscle to speak of (which, honestly, I don't).
Meanwhile, the Baltimore Orioles are getting creative: Jackson Holliday will take reps at third base during his upcoming injury rehab assignment. Manager Craig Albernaz says this move could add some much-needed positional flexibility to the Orioles' roster when Holliday returns.
Finally, the Houston Astros filled the roster spot vacated when they placed starter Hunter Brown on the 60-day IL by signing recently released pitcher M. Stay tuned for more updates as the season heats up!