Ben Gamel To Begin Season On DL

Seattle Mariners outfielder Ben Gamel (oblique) will begin the season on the disabled list, per MLB.com. Gamel has been swinging off a tee trying to rehab an oblique injury and the team will bring him along cautiously. Gamel came on last season and put up decent numbers, hitting .275 with five triples, 11 home runs, 27... Read More

Veteran Mike Leake Aims To Bolster Mariners Rotation

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Mike Leake has had an up-and-down spring training, posting a 5.40 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. Leake was acquired mid-season from the Cardinals and pitched well, going 3-1 with a 2.53 ERA for the Mariners in the second half. Leake has spent his entire career in the National League, so a... Read More

Ariel Miranda Hopes To Carry Solid Spring Into The 2018 Season

Seattle Mariners left-hander Ariel Miranda enjoyed a solid spring training, posting a 3.60 ERA in 15 preseason innings. The walks (seven) were on the high side, but he managed to strike out 16 batters. Miranda was at times the ace of the Mariners pitching staff last season after injuries completely depleted the group. This season... Read More

Edwin Diaz Brings Quality As Mariners Closer

Seattle Mariners closer Edwin Diaz is ready for the regular season after striking out 11 hitters through nine spring training innings. Diaz converted 34 of 38 saves last season, striking out 89 batters through 66 innings. He posted a solid 1.15 WHIP and will be the unquestioned closer to begin the season for Seattle. The... Read More

Can Kyle Seager Take The Next Step?

Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager produced another ho-hum season of 25-plus home runs and 74 or more runs driven in last season. But he hit a career-low .249 and struggled to produce the kind of power numbers the Mariners were hoping for in the first half of the season. After slugging .499 in 2016,... Read More

Expectations Need To Be Tempered For Mitch Haniger

Seattle Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger heads into this season with plenty of national pundits picking him for a breakout season. He certainly has the tools, but Haniger staying healthy all season is an entirely different matter. The Mariners have been cautious with their usage of Haniger this spring, and he hit an uninspiring .200 through... Read More

Robinson Cano Ready To Roll After Hitting .406 This Spring

Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano finished up his spring going 13-for-42 for a .406 batting average. For a veteran like Cano, getting through the preseason healthy is all that really matters. But Cano has been hitting the ball on the screws and looks to improve after a dismal second half to his 2017 season.... Read More

Mike Zunino Enjoys Solid Spring At The Plate

Seattle Mariners catcher Mike Zunino will head into Opening Day on a nice roll at the plate after hitting .395 in 43 spring at-bats. He hit five home runs, drove in 12 runs and only struck out 11 times. Zunino will be a classic feast-or-famine fantasy gamble after popping 25 home runs and driving in... Read More

Taylor Motter Finishes Second On Mariners In Spring RBI

Seattle Mariners infielder Taylor Motter finished up his spring strong, hitting .297 and coming in second on the team with 14 runs batted in. Motter played in 25 spring games, the most on the team, and will need to be more consistent this season to be effective. He started off hot last season, racking up... Read More

Dan Vogelbach Presents Short-Term Fantasy Option For Opening Week

Seattle Mariners first baseman/designated hitter Dan Vogelbach should see plenty of at-bats in the first week of the season thanks to his sparkling spring training performance. Vogelbach hit .407 with seven doubles, seven home runs and 16 runs batted in through 54 at-bats. Vogelbach should see some time as free-agent acquisition Ryon Healy works his... Read More

Mariners Bring Back Gordon Beckham On Minor League Deal

The Seattle Mariners have re-signed infielder Gordon Beckham to a minor league deal, per MLB.com. Beckham was released last week despite hitting .340 in 47 preseason at-bats. The Mariners clearly value Beckham's veteran experience, and he is a plus defender at the shortstop, third and second base positions. Beckham should begin in the minors but... Read More

Evan White Hopes To Play His Way Into Big League At-Bats In 2018

Seattle Mariners first base prospect Evan White hit only .200 in 15 spring at-bats but was able to flash some of his talent in camp. Seattle's 2017 first-round pick got 47 at-bats playing for the Mariners A-ball affiliate last season, hitting .277 with five extra base hits and 12 runs batted in. White has excellent... Read More

Ichiro Suzuki Leaves Games After Being Hit In Head By Pitch

Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki left his minor league appearance after being hit in the head by a pitch, per MLB.com. Suzuki was back in the lineup and is working his way up to the big league club from a nagging calf injury. His exit is certainly precautionary and it is unclear if he suffered... Read More

Gordon Beckham Released By Mariners

The Seattle Mariners have released infielder Gordon Beckham, per MLB.com. The veteran infielder played well this spring, hitting .340 through 47 at-bats. The Mariners, in the end, opted for youth in keeping infielder Taylor Motter for backup duties. Beckham has versatility with his ability to play third base, shortstop and second base. He should be... Read More

Max Stassi Will Make Roster

Houston Astros catcher Max Stassi has been told he has made the opening roster, per MLB.com. Manager A.J. Hinch opted to take three catchers to keep veterans Evan Gattis and Brian McCann fresh for the long season. Stassi got off to a strong start to begin spring training but has tailed off and will serve... Read More

Hisashi Iwakuma Begins To Throw Off Mound

Seattle Mariners pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma has begun to throw some pitches off the mound, per MLB.com. Manager Scott Servais hopes to have the starter back at some point this season, but Iwakuma is a long way from returning from shoulder surgery. For now, any news is good news for the right-hander who struggled with shoulder... Read More

Jean Segura Hopes To Return Saturday

Seattle Mariners shortstop Jean Segura will test his sprained thumb in the batting cages with hopes of playing this Saturday, per MLB.com. Segura battled numerous injuries last season and the Mariners have to be keeping their fingers crossed their shortstop will be ready for Opening Day. When healthy, Segura is a top table setter in... Read More

Ichiro To Rehab Calf In Minor League Games

Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki will continue to work his way back from a nagging calf injury by playing minor league games over the next few days, per MLB.com. The iconic Mariner returned to the team as a free agent in the offseason and the 44-year old will be brought along slowly. He is not... Read More

Nelson Cruz Returns To Lineup

Seattle Mariners designated hitter Nelson Cruz will return to the lineup on Thursday, per cbssports.com. Cruz has missed the past week with a quad injury and hopes to get back into game shape by Opening Day. Cruz is, by far, the most productive bat in the Mariners lineup and can carry an offense for weeks... Read More

Mariners Will Wait Before Naming Opening Day Starter

Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais will wait a few more days before naming the team's Opening Day starter, per MLB.com. The season is almost a week away, but Servais wants to see how the candidates fare this weekend. Veteran starter Felix Hernandez, who is familiar with pitching Opening Day, is scheduled to pitch on Saturday... Read More

Ben Gamel Begins Taking Swings Off Tee

Seattle Mariners outfielder Ben Gamel (oblique) took 20 swings off a tee and will progress to 40 swings in the coming days, per MLB.com. Gamel is rehabbing an oblique injury suffered almost three weeks ago and will be cautious in his rehab. Gamel is highly unlikely to break camp with the team and the hope is... Read More

Collin McHugh Being Groomed For Bullpen

Houston Astros pitcher Collin McHugh appears destined for the bullpen. The former 19-game winner is the odd man out in a numbers game with so many quality starting pitchers now on the roster. But manager A.J. Hinch expressed optimism about the move and shot down the notion that McHugh will simply be a setup man.... Read More

Jose Altuve Nearing Massive Extension

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is nearing a five-year, $150 million extension that would begin in 2020, per MLB.com. The reigning MVP's deal ensures he will be in the heart of the Houston lineup for a long time after slashing .346/.410/.547 with four triples, 24 home runs, 32 stolen bases, 39 doubles, 81 runs... Read More

Daniel Vogelbach Playing His Way Into Early Season At-Bats

Seattle Mariners first baseman Daniel Vogelbach is hitting .407 over his last 10 spring games and is playing his way onto the Opening Day roster. With Ryon Healy still rehabbing a hand injury and the uncertain severity of Nelson Cruz's quad injury, Vogelbach could be in line for at-bats to begin the season. So far... Read More

Alex Bregman Having Solid Spring

Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman collected two hits, walked twice and scored two runs Thursday against the Nationals. The 23-year-old has been pegged as a fantasy breakout candidate and is enjoying a solid, if unspectacular, spring training. He is hitting .318 over his last nine preseason games and has hits in six of his... Read More

Collin McHugh Strikes Out The Side

Houston Astros pitcher Collin McHugh struck out the side in one inning of relief work Thursday against the Nationals. It was a positive outing for McHugh, who has struggled thus far in spring training. As of now, McHugh is the odd man out as a starter after several acquisitions have completely reshaped Houston's rotation. He... Read More

Dallas Keuchel Rounding Into Shape With Five Shutout Innings

Houston Astros starter Dallas Keuchel continued to have a strong spring, tossing five shutout innings against the Nationals on Thursday. He allowed only four hits and looked sharp executing his pitches. It is beginning to look like Keuchel is ready to have another strong start to a season. Last year Keuchel came out dealing, going... Read More

Yuli Gurriel To Begin Defensive Drills

Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel (hand) will be cleared to begin defensive drills in his rehab process, according to manager A.J. Hinch. Hinch told reporters, "He's starting to do a little bit more...He's not close to hitting, but he'll put a glove on his hand and start to do some defensive stuff." Gurriel is still... Read More

Derek Fisher Off To Slow Spring Start

Houston Astros outfielder Derek Fisher is off to a tepid start in spring training, posting only four hits in his first 20 March at-bats. Fisher came to camp as the favorite to earn the starting job in left field, but that could be short-lived if he starts slow out of the gate. Of course, this... Read More

Julius Peppers Signs One-Year Deal To Return To Panthers

Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers will sign a one-year, $5 million deal to return to the Panthers, per NFL.com. Peppers had 11 sacks last season and the future Hall of Famer can still rush the quarterback with efficiency. In his career, he has 10 seasons of 10 sacks or more and 154.5 in his... Read More