By Blaidd Drwg
Disclaimer: This is purely speculation on my part.
Somehow I missed this in the daily transaction report on Saturday:
Seattle: Optioned RHP Hector Noesi to Tacoma (PCL). Recalled RHP Brandon Maurer from Tacoma.
I thought that was a little strange – replacing a back of the bullpen guy with a guy who has potential to be a decent MLB starter. I thought it might be that the M’s needed a long guy because Noesi had seen a bunch of action, but that was not the case. Noesi last pitched 2 1/3 innings on July 24th. Maurer last started on July 24th – then it occurred to me why this move might have been made. The M’s are on an East Coast swing. The trading deadline is Wednesday. They have Joe Saunders scheduled to go tomorrow. I would bet dollars to donuts that the M’s are actively shopping Saunders and will yank him from his start if they end up with a deal in place. Maurer is the insurance policy – if they make a deal, Maurer starts. If not, I bet he goes back to Tacoma on Wednesday.
FlatbreadGarden 