Mariners Moose Tracks, 1/10/24: Minor League Signings, Shota Imanaga, and Rachel Balkovec

The Mariners add several interesting pitchers to the bullpen pile.

Good morning friends! We’re getting some movement around the league right now as the offseason enters its third act. Here’s what is happening in baseball.

In Mariners news...

• The Mariners signed left-handers Kirby Snead and Jhonathan Diaz as well as right-hander Cory Abbott to minor league deals.
• Another top international prospect appears poised to enter the Mariners system.

• Luke Raley spoke about his experience getting traded — on his honeymoon!

• I spent way too long staring at this.

Around the league...

• The Cubs have reportedly agreed to a two-year deal with left-hander Shota Imanaga, though the precise details of the contract are not yet known.
• California’s state controller appealed to Congress over Shohei Ohtani’s unprecedented deferral structure. This is worth tracking as it may impact how players can do this in the future.
• The Marlins have hired Rachel Balkovec to serve as their new Director of Player Development. Balkovec spent the last two years as a minor league manager in the Yankees’ organization, where she was the first woman ever to do so.
• The Internationalization of baseball continues...