Sidelinr Sports FTW: Mariners make a splash; Cowboys drama; Wilkins out in Vegas; Fans revolt against ESPN/NFL Network acquisition

FROM THE WEEK & FOR THE WEEKEND

FROM THE WEEK

Mariners acquire Josh Naylor in big move ahead of the deadline

As the MLB trade deadline nears, the Seattle Mariners sent two prospects (Brandyn Garcia and Ashton Izzi) back to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for the big fella manning 1B.

It’s a massive upgrade for the M’s who have received sub-optimal batting averages of .243 (Dominic Solano) and .220 (Luke Raley) from their primary first basemen this season.

Add in the combined seven home runs from the two, the move was immediately met by fans with overwhelming joy.

Naylor boasts an impressive .292 average with 11 home runs, 59 RBIs, and currently touting a career best .360 on base percentage.

As the Mariners sit five games back of the AL West lead, Naylor provides a major spark to an already potent middle of the lineup for Seattle.

Naylor becomes a free agent at the end of next season, so short-term, it’s a big win for Seattle’s playoff push that the acquisition cost them nothing more than a few dryer sheets (no offense to Garcia and Izzi).

Micah beefing with the Cowboys

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones decided to fire off a stray at one of the greatest players in the NFL, who happens to play on his team. As expected, Micah Parsons didn’t receive the news well, sharing his approval of JJ Watt’s take on the absurdity.

Jones ripping Parsons’ availability is a wild move coming from an owner that hasn’t got the team to a Super Bowl since ‘96.

The timing couldn’t be better either.

The Cowboys talks with Parsons on a world-shattering type of contract are getting more real each passing day that Dallas keeps spending big money on not Parsons.

But hats off to Jones & Co in the front office. It’s almost commendable how they really haven’t done a single thing right to improve the chances of signing Micah.

Raiders cut star Christian Wilkins over injury dispute

Just as the Las Vegas Raiders are starting to look like they’re gonna be as mid as ever again, they have now parted ways with star Defensive Tackle Christian Wilkins after one season of a massive $110 million contract.

The news comes after the Raiders have been less than thrilled with how Wilkins has rehabbed his foot injury, leading to them axing the remaining $35.2 million guaranteed from his deal.

This is going to make for one hell of a saga as this case is presented to an NFLPA in shambles to review if there was wrongdoing.

Per Ari Meirov, the Raiders site Wilkins’ “failure to maintain his physical condition to play” as the reason he was let go. Vegas also insisted he get surgery for his foot but Wilkins elected not to.

Wilkins is actively rehabbing the injury and seems to be on a good path to soon reclaiming his throne as one of the most disruptive DTs in football.

Expect a fringe playoff team to throw money at him.

Fans pissed about ESPN / NFL Network acquisition talks

Story broke over the week that ESPN is in talks to acquire the once king of commercial free football, NFL RedZone, and NFL Network all together.

To put it lightly, fans aren’t having it. Here’s a few of the best reactions:

FOR THE WEEKEND

Red Sox vs Dodgers

Cubs vs White Sox (Crosstown Classic)

NFL Training Camp