Mariners Moose Tracks: 12/8/24: Félix Hernández, Roki Sasaki, and Willy Adames

It’s Sunday, and if it’s Sunday, it’s Meet the Links.

In Mariners news...

• Big ups to future Hall of Famer Félix Hernández for his eleven Opening Day starts

• Baby JP!

Around the league...

• The stove is hot and the winter meetings haven’t even started yet. The San Francisco Giants took middle-infielder Willy Adames off the board with a sizable seven year deal.

• According to Jeff Passan at ESPN, expectations are that Japanese superstar pitcher Roki Sasaki is expected to be posted during the upcoming GM winter meetings this coming week.
• Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson underwent core surgery in early October, but should be ready to go in time for Spring Training.

• While we’re in Chicago, the Cubs also announced that they signed left-hander Matthew Boyd to a two-year, $29 million deal. According to Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma at the Athletic, the Cubs are hoping to add more pitching for 2025, with Walker Buehler being a special focus.
• The Baltimore Orioles signed two big additions yesterday, adding a backup catcher in Gary Sanchez (one year, $8.5 million), and a new outfielder in Tyler O’Neill (three years, $49.5 million). O’Neill’s addition all but confirms that Anthony Santander will not return to Baltimore in free agency, and Sanchez fills the gap left by James McCann.
• The Cardinals are potentially looking to move third baseman Nolan Arenado and his contract but that may be easier said than done. Arenado’s contract coupled with his no-trade clause make his market “very limitied.”

Nick’s pick...

• “He shall know your ways as though born to them.” Muad’Dib made a bad call in the Marshall-Louisiana game, lost on SMU vs. Clemson, and missed on a doomed Texas matchup, but hey 4-3 ain’t bad, Plenty have done worse.