Morning Mound Visit: Rays extend and promote Erik Neander

Adam Berry | MLB.com: The Rays signed general manager Erik Neander to a multi-year extension while promoting him to president of baseball operations. Neander joined the Rays as an intern in 2007 and he became general manager in 2016.

Robert O’Conner | Defector: Major league teams have worked hard to ensure minor leaguers are paid as little as possible. The minor league system exploits the dreams of prospective ballplayers, offering them poverty wages for a chance to make it to the big leagues.

Michael Ajeto | Baseball Prospectus $: Trevor Story is in his final year with the Rockies and his production has fallen off as he approaches free agency. The good news is that Story is more or less the same hitter he’s always been. He just has a little less opposite-field power now.

Quick Hits

The Giants rode a four-run ninth to beat the Rockies and extend their lead in the NL West.

The Red Sox walked off the Rays with an outfield assist from Hunter Renfroe. That win moved Boston into the first wild card spot.

The Mariners broke a 4-4 tie in the ninth to salvage the final game of a three-game series against the Astros.