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Mariners signed RHP Zach Pop to a minor league deal.
Pop was released by the Blue Jays at the start of April. The 28-year-old has had some success in the majors, but has struggled over the last two seasons. Seattle’s bullpen has struggled in 2025, so they’ll look and see if they can turn him into something useful for a very low price.
Jake McCarthy (hand) is hitting eighth and playing center against the Cubs on Friday.
McCarthy will get his first action since Sunday after being plunked in the hand. The outfielder has scuffled with the bat in 2025, but the D-Backs will give him a shot to turn it around before handing the job full-time to Alek Thomas.
The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec reports there’s “certainly been dialogue with other teams” about Mark Andrews.
Zrebiec couches this in a prediction that the Ravens will trade Andrews during the draft, but the way it is framed suggests the reporter doesn’t necessarily believe it will happen, as he says it “doesn’t feel likely.” The Ravens, per Zrebiec, want “strong value” in return for Andrews. With both Andrews and Dallas Goedert reportedly available, teams looking at the veteran tight ends are probably dealing from a position of strength at this point. Andrews remains a name to watch as we head into the final week before the draft.
CBS’ Jonathan Jones reports the Raiders and Falcons “should have some level of interest” in CB Jalen Ramsey.
Jones believes Ramsey has been known to be available since the NFL Combine and that Miami going public with it is an attempt to raise up a bigger trade market. It’s not surprising that a cornerback entering his age-31 season with a large recent extension isn’t going to return a major draft pick. Ramsey played well in 2024, with a 71.9 PFF coverage grade and a 76.9 overall rating. Still, he’s not likely to fetch more than a third-round pick in a trade.
CBS’ Jonathan Jones reports “plenty around the league believe strongly the Raiders have fallen in love” with Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty.
“One executive from an AFC team went so far as to say it’s ‘a forgone conclusion’ that Vegas will take him with the No. 6 pick,” Jones added. It would not qualify as a surprise that a Pete Carroll team wanted to invest at running back, nor should it be a shock that the Raiders would add to a running back room that is regarded as one of the worst in the NFL currently. Jeanty would immediately be a bellcow back for the Raiders — it’s hard to imagine him not being a bellcow no matter what team he lands on — and is a likely first-round pick in fantasy drafts this summer as well.
Vidal Bruján, who came off the IL on Tuesday, is playing third base Friday in his first start for the Cubs.
That’s three third basemen in three games since Matt Shaw was sent down; Gage Workman got the call Tuesday, and Jon Berti played the position on Wednesday. The Cubs will likely go with the hot hand if one ever materializes.