Mariners Moose Tracks, 5/9/25: Derek Shelton, Cade Horton, and Pope Leo XIV

Do you think the new Pope has an opinion on Zach DeLoach?

Good morning everyone and happy Friday! Yesterday was a weird day around sports (especially for a day where so many teams were off). We’ll do our best to get you all caught up on the day’s happenings.

In Mariners news...

• Like a trusty boomerang, Casey Lawrence is back with the Mariners on a minor league deal.
• Mike Vorel at The Seattle Times told the story of how the M’s beat the clock to lock down a streaming rights deal for ROOT Sports.
• Adam Jude at the Seattle Times explains why the Mariners’ hot hitting might be more sustainable than you’d otherwise believe.
• Could this be the M’s team that finally makes a deep postseason run? Will Leitch at MLB is starting to believe.
• Stephen Hunt at the Spokesman spoke to Gonzaga grad Casey Legumina about his journey to the Mariners.
• It looks like some Orioles fans really thought they got the good Luis Castillo...

Around the league...

• Heads are starting to roll already in Pittsburgh, with the Pirates parting ways with skipper Derek Shelton.
• The Cubs are calling up top pitching prospect Cade Horton to make his MLB debut this weekend against the Mets.
• Former White Sox and Tigers star Chet Lemon passed away yesterday at the age of 70.
• The drama around Red Sox infielder Rafael Devers continues, as he told reporters that he refuses to move to first base.
• The first-ever American-born Pope was elected yesterday, and two baseball teams fought over the right to claim him.
• Keith Law at The Athletic dropped his first 2025 mock draft of the season in what’s expected to be a wild one. ($)
• MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis also took his first stab at projecting this year’s first round picks.
• Dan Szymborski at Fangraphs took a crack at outlining some big potential contract extensions for stars around the sport.
• Russell A. Carleton at Baseball Prospectus tried to determine why there’s been a noticeable decline in line drives around baseball. ($)
• More baseball data to sink your teeth into!