USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale notes the Mariners are "stuck" with 2B Robinson Canó and the $120M remaining on his contract through '23 despite his 80-game suspension for using a banned substance. The Mariners now have "no idea how much of his past performance was impacted by performance-enhancing drugs, whether he'll ever again be the same player, but knowing he [no] longer will be marketable to their fanbase" (USA TODAY, 5/16). MLB Network's Dan O'Dowd: This player represents their brand. ... Now your star player's put the franchise into a position where it has a stain on it." He added the Mariners "have to live with this now for the next five years" ("MLB Tonight," MLB Network, 5/15).
SO FAR, SO GOOD: The Pirates have occupied first place in the NL Central for 22 days so far this season, and team Chair Bob Nutting said while it is early in the year, the team has a "long-term plan" to get "younger, hungrier and more aggressive." The team was criticized for trading CF Andrew McCutchen and P Gerrit Cole this offseason, but Nutting said, "I'm going to continue to do everything I can to put winning teams on the field. That's what we've relentlessly tried to do every year." He added there is still a "lot of work to do, internally and externally." However, he said, "We're making good progress and we're on the right path" (THEATHLETIC.com, 5/15).
DON'T FORGET US: The Orioles will offer a "special senior ticket package" to the June 28 game against the Mariners. Fans at least 60 years old can buy a package that "includes a lower level or club level ticket and an Orioles travel umbrella." The move comes as the team this season began a new initiative that "allows parents to bring two kids to Camden Yards for free" (BALTIMORESUN.com, 5/14).
