The Mariners are having a team meeting - MLB

Mariners logo.gif Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times just tweeted that the Mariners’ clubhouse is closed for a team meeting. Let’s try to guess the meeting agenda:

1. Call to order; introductory remarks; coffee, donuts, Red Bull, Mountain Dew, assorted energy drinks to be served.

2. Guest speaker, Dr. Phillip P. Scheaf, Sleep Apnea Expert

3. Guest speaker, Julia R. Wilkinson, Psy.D. topic: “Keeping the dirty laundry in the laundry room: 12 tips to successful team building”

4. Breakout sessions (see Rick Adair for dry erase markers; note cards)

5. Ken Griffey Jr. to address team (no questions to follow)

6. Milton Bradley presentation. Topic: “You people have a lot of nerve calling me dysfunctional.”

7. Closing remarks, adjournment.

SAN DIEGO — The Cleveland Guardians and slugging first baseman Josh Bell have agreed to a two-year, $33 million contract, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a review of medical records.

Bell played for Washington and San Diego last season, batting .266 with 17 homers and 71 RBIs in 156 games.

Cleveland is coming off a surprising 2022 season, going 92-70 and winning the AL Central for the first time since 2018. The addition of Bell gives the Guardians more power for their lineup after they hit just 127 homers this year – the second-lowest total in the majors.

The 30-year-old Bell is a .262 hitter with 130 homers and 468 RBIs over seven seasons with three big league teams. He had his best year with Pittsburgh in 2019, making the NL All-Star team while batting .277 with 37 homers and 116 RBIs in 143 games.

The switch-hitting Bell also is expected to benefit from restrictions on defensive positioning coming to the game next year.