The American League absolutely rolled over the National League 4-0 in last night's All-Star Game, with Yankees center fielder Cody Bellinger snagging the MVP trophy, but for us here in the Emerald City, the bigger news dropped: Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras is seemingly off the Mariners' trade target list. That's a real punch to the gut for any M's fan hoping for a mid-season boost, especially with our guys getting ready to jump back into action.
Contreras Says No, M's Prep for Giants
Contreras flat out said he's "unlikely to waive his no-trade clause this summer." Talk about deflating! We've still got two more off-days for our Mariners before they get back to it, gearing up to host the Giants for a big weekend matchup at T-Mobile Park. It would've been sweet to see a new bat join the lineup for that series. Meanwhile, Amanda Lane Cumming even pulled us back to the '96 M's, remembering a hot April start before closer Bobby Ayala's struggles. And Kate Preusser jumped on King 5's Ultimate Seattle Sports Show to chat Mariners ahead of the second half, so if you missed it, go check out her segment around the 32-minute mark.Around the Diamond: Draft Fallout and Olympic Dreams
Around the rest of the league, there's chatter about MLB players hitting the 2028 Olympics. Owners are totally on board, but the MLBPA is still working through some concerns, especially fighting to keep high school amateur players eligible for the draft. Kiley McDaniel gave us the full scoop on the MLB draft for all 30 clubs, breaking down his favorite picks and some deep cuts. Jesse Rogers at ESPN even took us inside the White Sox's decision room for their No. 1 overall pick, where they chose between Roch Cholowsky and Grady Emerson. And for all you card collectors, a 2018 Bowman Chrome Superfactor Shohei Ohtani rookie card just sold for a mind-blowing $3.3 million. That's the third-highest amount ever for a modern baseball card, wild! So, while the rest of the league is dealing with draft fallout and Olympic dreams, we're here counting down the hours until our M's host the Giants this weekend. It's time to shake off that Contreras news and get ready to roar for our guys at T-Mobile Park. Go M's!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.