Mariners Rumors & News

The News Tribune "The time is right, Taijuan Walker believes, to validate his long-held status as the Mariners’ top pitching prospect. And Wednesday served as a strong opening statement. Walker delivered two strong innings against San Diego’s revamped lineup when the Mariners opened their 32-game Cactus League..." March 04

The News Tribune "That Mariners ace Felix Hernandez hasn’t yet stepped to the mound for a bullpen workout in spring training isn’t new or particularly surprising. “Felix can do whatever the (heck) he wants to do,” manager Lloyd McClendon said. “He has his own beat. He usually doesn’t throw early. I have no..." February 23

The News Tribune "The thawing relations between the United States and Cuba already has Mariners left-hander Roenis Elias, a 2010 defector, planning a trip back to his homeland to visit his family. “I’ve got a visa,” he said. “I’m looking to go down there to visit family at the end of December. That’s going to be..." February 22

MLB.com "A long year of waiting for Danny Hultzen came to an end on Saturday as the talented young hurler finally was back on the practice field with the rest of his Mariners teammates, sporting a fully recovered left shoulder. Following surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff and labrum, the second..." February 22

Seattle Times "The piece of paper caused his hands to shake just a little as he shuffled it in his hands. It wasn’t heavy, but the weight of the words he’d written on it and their meaning were enough to burden any person. Yet they were important. They were his. And they needed to be said. They made his voice..." February 21

MLB.com "Mariners pitching prospect Victor Sanchez showed signs of improvement on Wednesday, but he remains unconscious and in critical condition in a Venezuelan hospital after sustaining a head injury in a boating accident in his home country last week. A CT scan on Sanchez, 20, revealed reduced..." February 18

The News Tribune "Unconfirmed reports in Venezuela say Mariners pitching prospect Victor Sanchez, a right-hander, suffered a head injury when hit by a boat while swimming in that country. The full extent and specific nature of Sanchez’s injuries are not known, but those reports said he was unconscious and..." February 15

Hardball Talk "To make room for newly-signed Rickie Weeks on the 40-man roster, the Mariners have designated pitcher Edgar Olmos for assignment, Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune reports. The Mariners had picked up Olmos off waivers from the Marlins back in November." February 14

MLB.com "Looking to add depth to the left-handed pitchers pool, the Mariners have signed veteran relief pitcher Rafael Perez to a minor league contract with an invitation to Major League Spring Training. Perez will report to Arizona in a little over a week when pitchers and catchers hold the first workout..." February 12

Hardball Talk "We heard about the possibility of a reunion over the weekend and the Mariners made it official today by signing outfielder Franklin Gutierrez to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Gutierrez, who turns 32 next month, sat out the entire 2014 season due to a..." January 26

The News Tribune "Familiarity can also breed contentment. That’s Austin Jackson’s view as he prepares for his first full season with the Mariners after two disappointing months last year following his July 31 arrival. Jackson batted just .229 in 54 games after the Mariners acquired him from Detroit in a..." January 25

The News Tribune "The two pitchers sat side-by-side atop the dugout Saturday while answering questions from fans as the Mariners kicked off their two-day FanFest at Safeco Field. James Paxton and Taijuan Walker, the lefty and the righty, have long been linked as key elements to the organization’s now-brightening..." January 25

Hardball Talk "Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune reports that the Mariners are considering bringing back outfielder Franklin Gutierrez on a minor league contract. Gutierrez sat out 2014 due to a gastrointestinal issue and hasn’t played in more than 41 major league games since 2011." January 25

The News Tribune "Anticipation is already building within the Mariners’ organization regarding the looming spring battle between Brad Miller and Chris Taylor to determine a starting shortstop. “There is no favorite right now,” general manager Jack Zduriencik said. “Let’s see what happens.” Miller won a..." January 24

The Score "Seattle Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik expressed disappointment when Jesus Montero arrived at spring training last February roughly 40 pounds overweight, admitting shortly thereafter that he no longer had any expectations for the fallen prospect. Zduriencik noted Thursday that Montero..." January 22

MLB.com "Randy Johnson will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame this summer as a member of the D-backs. Johnson told club president Derrick Hall about his decision on Thursday and the Hall of Fame made a formal announcement on Friday morning. In addition, the D-backs will retire..." January 16

MLB.com "Robinson Cano has been granted permission by the Mariners to play a handful of games in the Dominican Winter League starting next week as he returns from a broken toe that was injured during the MLB All-Star Series in Japan in November. Cano is expected to be used primarily as a designated..." January 10

MLB.com "Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz and Craig Biggio were elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Tuesday. The three pitchers were voted in on their first time on the ballot, while Biggio was selected in his third year. Johnson received 97.3 percent..." January 06

Hardball Talk "Sad news to report tonight, as longtime Mariners scout Bill Kearns passed away this morning at the age of 94. According to Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune, Kearns suffered a ruptured aorta and died at a Boston hospital. Kearns was a New England area scout for the Mariners since the..." January 03

New York Post "No more ice cream sandwiches for Jesus Montero. The former top Yankees prospect, now better known for his girth than anything he’s done on the baseball field, has shed upwards of 30 pounds this offseason according to Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik — before the calendar has even..." January 02

SB Nation "San Diego receives potential back-end bullpen help in exchange for its best hitter from 2014. The Seattle Mariners on Tuesday acquired outfielder Seth Smith from the San Diego Padres in exchange for relief pitcher Brandon Maurer, according to a team announcement. Smith, 32, hit..." December 31

Hardball Talk "The Padres have [frantically taps numbers on an adding machine, looks at the tape readout] a gabillion outfielders, and Seth Smith is one of them. Given that one cannot play a gabillion outfielders at a time — Mayo Smith and Mickey Stanley are not walking through that door — they probably need to..." December 30

Hardball Talk "The best things in life are free. But you can keep them for the birds and bees: Major League Baseball’s average salary shot up to more than $3.8-million (U.S.) this year following the steepest rise since 2001, putting big-leaguers on track to top the $4-million barrier for the first time in..." December 24

Hardball Talk "Mariners utilityman Willie Bloomquist tweeted that he has been given the thumbs-up from his doctor to do some light jogging when the calendar flips to January. Bloomquist underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in August." December 21

Sporting News "Major League Baseball and its umpires will maintain labor peace for the next few seasons. The sides agreed to a five-year collective bargaining agreement late Friday, The Associated Press reported. The current agreement was set to expire Dec. 31. The umpires and team owners will hold..." December 21

MLB Daily Dish "The Pirates have signed Corey Hart to a one-year, $2.5 million contract, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Hart can earn an additional $2.5 million in incentives to push the deal's total potential value to $5 million. Hart, 32, spent last season with the Mariners, hitting .203/.271/.319..." December 19

Hardball Talk "The Mariners announced Thursday that they signed reliever Mark Lowe to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Lowe began his career with Seattle and had his best season with the club in 2009, posting a 3.26 ERA across 75 appearances. The 31-year-old right-hander was..." December 18

Sporting News "President Barack Obama's desire to restore relations with Cuba could have a significant impact on Major League Baseball. Obama said Wednesday he wants the U.S. to normalize diplomatic relations with Cuba because isolating the communist Caribbean country has not worked. "Neither the American..." December 17

Seattle Times "The trade that was debated, discussed and fretted about is done. The Mariners have acquired outfielder Justin Ruggiano from the Cubs in exchange for right-handed reliever Matt Brazis. To make room for Ruggiano on the 40-man roster, reliever Logan Bawcom has been designated for assignment. “I..." December 17