Mariners Moose Tracks, 4/27/25: Judge vs. Bonds, Devin Williams, and Croatian baseball

Links for a post-blowout Sunday.

Good morning and apologies for the delayed links. Here’s what’s new and in review around the league.

In Mariners news...

• We got details yesterday on Logan Gilbert’s injury, officially a “right elbow flexor strain” of the Grade 1 (lowest severity) variety. Kate wrote up the whole situation, as well as the corresponding roster moves and quotes from those on hand.
• The Meet at the Mitt Podcast crew convened to assess the fallout of a missing Logan.

• If you’d like a Marlins perspective on yesterday’s blowout victory for the Mariners, Fish On First did the unenviable task of taking it to recount.

Around the league...

• Better than Bonds? It’s no longer just East Coast Bias and bluster, as Aaron Judge’s sustained performance is putting him on par or beyond the greatest hitter in modern baseball.
• Conversations w/Edgar Martinez were a point of encouragement for struggling Red Sox star Rafael Devers, who is still having trouble coming into his DH role. ($)
• Baseball’s growth internationally is seeing sizable advances in the nation of Croatia, with the support of former big leaguers and pros.
• The struggling Baltimore Orioles took another hit, as they placed offseason signee OF Tyler O’Neill on the 10-day injured list with neck inflammation.
• Baseball America’s JJ Cooper takes aim at front offices who are not matching their words with their actions in terms of competitiveness. (Free article)
• SS/2B Ha-Seong Kim has yet to debut for his new club, but the Tampa Bay Rays are targeting a June/July return per the Tampa Bay Times. ($)
• Condolences to the family and loved ones of Walt Jocketty, the longtime GM and twice World Series winning executive who went from Charlie Finley’s scouting director in the Oakland Athletics system up to rejuvenating the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He led the Redbirds to their NL Central dominance in the late 1990s and 2000s, hiring former A’s colleague Tony La Russa to manage the club. He passed away at age 74.
• If you’re headed to a Washington Nationals game from Old Town Alexandria, the foot ferry water taxi that once served trips to and from Nationals Park is making its return.
• You wont see Paul DeJong there for a few months, however, as the veteran Nats shortstop is having surgery to repair his fractured sinuses and orbital plate stemming from a hit by pitch.
• Struggling reliever Devin Williams has been removed as the closer for the New York Yankees, though Pinstripe Alley notes the move is hopefully temporary.
• Forbes digs into the messy public spat the Atlanta Braves fostered following a lack of hustle by Jarred Kelenic that sparked a nerve in injured superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. due to a double standard of treatment.
• Adley Rutschman took a clubbing to his throwing hand blocking a ball yesterday, but the O’s backstop is not expected to miss time.
• World class panderer Bryce Harper stated during the Phillies series with the Chicago Cubs that the Lovable Losers were the No. 1 team on his list when he’d been a free agent initially.
• The Mets lost LHP A.J. Minter to a lat strain, and are bringing in journeyman RHP Jose Ureña to fill the space.
• Baseball Prospectus updated their leaderboards. That can always lead to some challenges in maneuvering, so they’ve published an example post. ($)
• Former Mariners farmhand Jonatan Clase is up in the bigs today as the 27th player for the Toronto Blue Jays.

John’s Pick...

• We do prospect writeups here, and while they are not too hidden, I figured I’d refresh the piece Kate wrote on Logan Evans ahead of his debut today!