BaseballM's claim reliever Danner off waivers
The Seattle Mariners acquired right-handed reliever Hagen Danner on a waiver claim from the Toronto Blue Jays.
It's not the major move for which fans have been clamoring, but the Mariners did end weeks of inactivity with the addition of Danner, a 26-year-old converted catcher.
It's just the Mariners' third addition to their 40-man roster this offseason, and first since claiming catcher Nick Raposo off waivers from Toronto on Dec. 19.
The club's only other move this offseason was a minor trade for backup infielder Austin Shenton from Tampa Bay on Nov. 19.
Danner, listed at 6-feet-1 and 215 pounds, was drafted in the second round of the 2017 draft as a catcher out of Huntington Beach (Calif.) High.
He transition to pitcher during the 2020 COVID season, and made his first minor-league appearance on the mound in 2021.
He made one major-league appearance with the Blue Jays in 2023, recording an out against the only batter he faced.
Injuries have limited him to just 78.1 innings over the past three seasons. He has one minor-league option remaining.
Seattle adds Jay from Brewers: The Seattle Mariners picked up another reliever off the waiver wire, claiming left-hander Tyler Jay off waivers from the Brewers.
Jay, 30, appeared in five MLB games last season -- three with the Mets and two with the Brewers. He posted a 4.70 ERA in 7 2/3 innings pitched.
College footballCougars add QB prospect, three transfers
PULLMAN -- Washington State may have lost its class of 2025 quarterback with last month's coaching change, but the Cougars are bringing in another high school signal caller.
That would be Norman (Okla.) North product Owen Eshelman, who was previously committed to coach Jimmy Rogers at South Dakota State, announcing Wednesday he's flipping to WSU. Eshelman is Rogers' fourth high-school pledge with the Cougars, all of whom were former Jackrabbit commits.
Eshelman joins three-star linebacker Isaiah Hung, three-star defensive lineman Donovan Fitzmaurice and two-star defensive lineman Connor Sullivan as former SDSU pledges to follow Rogers to WSU. Sullivan, who announced his commitment on Wednesday, missed his senior season with an injury.
The Cougars also landed two more Jackrabbit transfers: Linebacker Anthony Palano and offensives lineman Nick Bakken.
Those two make up the 14th and 15th former SDSU players to transfer to WSU with Rogers, who also signed his first transfer from another school: Former Cal Poly defensive tackle Soni Finau, who started six of 11 games last season for the Mustangs.
Eshelman, a three-star QB according to Six Star Football, is a dual-threat quarterback. As a senior at Norman North, he completed 171 of 321 passes (53%) for 2,691 yards, 29 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, adding 224 carries for 1,383 yards and 19 touchdowns. At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, Eshelman has good size for the position, too.
His starting career began late in the 2022 season, Eshleman's sophomore year, when he stepped in for Norman North's injured starter for the team's first playoff game. The Timberwolves fell by a touchdown, but it was the springboard for Eshelman, who went on to thrive in Oklahoma's 6A1-2 division, the largest in the state.
"I think there's not a lot of guys that could do what he does and he's a very mentally strong person," Norman North coach Jones told Sports Illustrated. "He's an ultimate competitor and I think him playing multiple sports and being an exceptional basketball player as well, he brings that to the game and gets some tough runs.
"He takes a lick a lot and he just has a growth mindset and doesn't worry about the previous play. Moves on to the next one and that's why he's having some success right now."
While five players have decommitted from WSU's class of 2025 -- QB Steele Pizzella, running back Jamar Searcy, defensive tackle Josiah Pratt, wide receiver Jack Foley and linebacker AJ Tuitlele -- Rogers is free to keep or drop the remaining 18 players in the class.
For his part, the 6-foot-2, 345-pound Sinau totaled two sacks on 12 pressures last season, picking up seven total tackles. He will have one year of eligibility.
Palano was a freshman in 2024, playing six games on special teams. But only three came during the regular season, allowing him to retain his redshirt year, giving him four years of eligibility with the Cougars.
Bakken, an offensive tackle, was also a true freshman in 2024. He played 64 total snaps, appearing in four regular-season games, staying eligible for a redshirt year. In 24 pass-blocking snaps, Bakken allowed only one pressure, which was a QB hit against Murray State.
Mixed martial artsUFC to return to Seattle in February
UFC announced Tuesday it is returning to Seattle for the first time since 2013.
UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song will take place on Feb. 22 at Climate Pledge Arena with the main event featuring No. 7-ranked bantamweight contender Henry Cejudo taking on No. 8 Song Yadong.
In the co-main event, No. 9-ranked bantamweight Rob Font will fight former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz.
Other matches currently scheduled include Jean Silva vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan (featherweight); Edson Barboza vs. Steve Garcia (featherweight); Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev (heavyweight); and Kelten Vieira vs. Macy Chiasson (women's bantamweight).
Preliminaries are scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. with the main card starting at 6 p.m. The entire card will stream on ESPN+.