Cubs Accept White House Invitation

By ESPN

The Chicago Cubs couldn't say no to the president.

With just days left in Barack Obama's administration, the team accepted his invitation to be honored at the White House on Monday, a day after the team completes its annual fan convention in Chicago.

"When you get invited to go to the White House, you say, 'Yes,'" team owner Tom Ricketts said Wednesday evening. "We're excited. It's a plus that President Obama is a Chicagoan -- although he's a Sox fan."

Ricketts' brother, Todd, will be part of the next administration, as he was named Deputy Commerce Secretary by President-elect Donald Trump, but that didn't sway the team to delay their visit.

Soon after the Cubs won their first World Series in 108 years, Obama called manager Joe Maddon from Air Force One and immediately invited him to Washington before the president's term was up. It will be Maddon's third visit to the White House but first as World Series-winning manager.

"He's a good sport," Maddon said.

As Ricketts added, "Once you get invited, you go. I don't care where you live or who you voted for, it's an honor to just be involved."

Ricketts is hopeful to see his brother in Washington after future seasons, as once again the Cubs are favorites to return to the Fall Classic.

"Hopefully, it's an annual thing for us, but we're really going to appreciate this one," Ricketts said. "You don't know how many times in your life you'll get that opportunity."

Ricketts indicated almost the entire team will make the trip, though there might be a couple of players with scheduling conflicts.

A tweet to Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo -- who wears no. 44 -- suggested the honorary jersey should have "RizzObama" on it, since Obama is the 44th President of the United States.

Rizzo then tweeted to the President's official Twitter account asking: "What do you think Mr. President?"

Mariners Send Three Players to Rays

The Seattle Mariners acquired left-hander Drew Smyly from the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday in exchange for three players.

Headed to Tampa Bay are outfielder Mallex Smith (acquired earlier in the day from the Atlanta Braves), infielder Carlos Vargas and left-hander Ryan Yarbrough.

"We have been clear that one of our top priorities this offseason was to continue to bolster our starting rotation," Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said in a statement. "Today's moves allowed us to add an experienced pitcher to our starting group. Drew took the ball 30 times last season, threw over 175 innings and is a proven performer in the American League. He's a good fit for our club."

Earlier Wednesday, the Mariners acquired Smith and right-hander Shae Simmons from the Braves in exchange for left-handed pitching prospects Luiz Gohara and Thomas Burrows.

Smyly, 27, was 7-12 with 4.88 ERA last season, establishing career highs in starts (30), innings (175 1/3) and strikeouts (167).

Smith, 23, made his major league debut for the Braves last season, hitting .238 with three homers and 22 RBIs in 72 games. He also had 16 stolen bases.

Vargas, 17, hit .242 with seven home runs and 35 RBIs in his rookie season with the DSL Mariners in 2016. He signed as an international free agent in July 2015.

Yarbrough, 25, was named Southern League Pitcher of the Year after going 12-4 with a 2.95 ERA in 25 starts for Double-A Jackson.

"You have to give up something to get something. The type of return and talent we got we thought was something that made sense for us and we are eager to see how it plays out from here," Rays senior vice president