Mariners center fielder Mallex Smith has been sitting out the early portion of camp due to a strained flexor mass in his right forearm, but doctors have cleared him to begin baseball activities, Greg Johns of MLB.com tweets. Smith has already played light catch and will begin the process of getting himself into game shape. It’s perhaps a stretch to think he could be ready for the team’s two-game set against the A’s in Japan on March 20-21, but he still has a bit more than three weeks to prep for the Mariners’ home opener on March 28. Acquired in the trade that sent Mike Zunino to the Rays this winter, the 25-year-old Smith is penciled in as Seattle’s primary center fielder for the upcoming season. In 141 games for Tampa Bay last season, he hit .296/.367/.406 with a pair of homers and 40 stolen bases.
A few more injury updates from around the game…
- The competition to serve as the Cardinals’ backup to catcher Yadier Molina may have gained further clarity Tuesday, as Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch tweets that Francisco Pena will be sidelined for the next 10 to 15 days due to an apparent oblique injury. It’s awful timing for Pena, who looked like the primary choice to serve as Molina’s backup until the Cardinals signed Matt Wieters to a minor league contract last week. Now, with Pena ailing, Wieters looks all the more likely to secure a roster spot with the Cards come Opening Day. While Pena would be the stronger defensive option of the two, even Wieters’ diminished offensive production in recent seasons dwarfs that of Pena; in 271 plate appearances last season, Wieters slashed .238/.330/.374 to Pena’s .203/.239/.271 (142 PAs).
- Yankees center fielder Aaron Hicks underwent an MRI after feeling discomfort in his back, per Brendan Kuty of NJ.com. Doctors didn’t express concern upon viewing the results of the test, and Hicks said he’s confident he’s headed in the right direction. However, there’s also no clear timeline for when Hicks will return to game activity. He’s been out since last Friday, and Bryan Hoch of MLB.com tweets that it’ll be “several more days” before Hicks resumes batting practice. Hicks signed a seven-year, $70MM contract extension recently, forgoing a trip through free agency next offseason in the process.
- Nationals infielder/outfielder Howie Kendrick could be headed for an MRI after exiting this morning’s Grapefruit League game with a hamstring strain, tweets Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post. The 35-year-old is hoping for a bounceback season in terms of health after missing the majority of the 2018 campaign due to a ruptured Achilles tendon. Kendrick was excellent in the 40 games he played last year, hitting .303/.331/.474 through 160 plate appearances. He’ll back up all around the infield and in the outfield corners this season, health permitting, as he plays out the second season of a two-year, $7MM contract in D.C.
Uh oh. Already? Hicksie!
The yankee medical staff will need to reach deep into their medical bags again. Maybe around left some supplements around?
Maybe they’ll sign harper?
Already been signed
I’m sure the amazing Cashman has some unbelievable tricks up his sleeve… he is the bestest GM
Luckily we have Florial. It’s time to give him the opportunity.
Florial who hasn’t had a single PA above high A? He’s not ready for the big leagues.
Florial is at the least 2-3 years away.
To each their own opinion.
Let me see. You have 1 pitcher that had an angioplasty, n the other with a shoulder problem. How is that being a great GM? Obviously no one out of cardiology thinks the angioplasty is nothing, you need to get educated about that issue. I can assure you Cashman “knows nothing”.
Sarcasm is just lost on some
Funny, both players Yankees extended are injured
Are they taking the word “extension” too literally and putting these players on the rack?
fail
It was an honest effort—and better than you being a jerk and snarking at him
Hicks is a weakling and was signed to a fitting lowball contract. He can barely stay healthy or has a very low threshold for pain, most athletes play with some form of injuries and gut it out.
I think Pedro Martinez was right and Sevy was injured near the playoffs. I remember he didn’t warm up the game they lost 16-1 or so. I think he was resting the shoulder. He has signed a low contract due to this injury issue. It could be chronic and they will have to monitor his innings. But given the Pen they can still win the division. The Sox are underestimating the stress of late innings.
Why would any player play through pain in Spring Training?
Because Constanza, simple minds want simple solutions to suggest. The Yankees always play on the ultra conservative side of these issues-especially in spring time and also during the season.
Not like when the numskulls “TC” and Sandy we’re running injured payers-especially pitchers out before they were healed.
Someone is off their meds again
Oh no a Yankee in distress?? Perhaps A-Roids can help the Yankees medical staff getting Hicks a fix.
Well buddy, at least you tried!
Well TC-you are from Queens so your stupid comment is noted based upon where you grew up.
Aaron Hicks is crystal, I do not know why he was signed for 7 years if he is not a gold glove fielder and has shown frequent injuries in previous years.
Calm down folks, Hicks is fine. We just need to hypnotize him and make him believe he’s on the last year of his contract.
The Mariners finally have OF depth knocking on the door. Although it’s a SSS Jake Fraley is hitting around .450 w 2 HRs in ST and looks a capable understudy in CF. Braden Bishop is also ready for a back up OF role and if 6’4” 220lb 2016 1st rd pick Kyle Lewis starts well in AAA this season we’ll have a superstar in the making- kid looks great in ST. That’s 3 promising OFers who will each have a chance to come up from AAA this year- been a while since we’ve had that!
The same Kyle Lewis who’s been a huge bust so far, and couldn’t even stay at AA last season before being sent back to A+.
Yep, same guy. Kind of tough to call him a bust though, at least not yet. Have you ever had to come back from a horrific knee injury? He’s working very hard to get healthy and stay that way. Best of luck to him!
Does huge bust mean rehabbing from injury in your vernacular? If so I agree
Wow! Mallex Smith hitting .296 with 40 stolen bases… where do I remember that name? Ah, that’s right. Part of the AJ Preller rebuild in San Diego. So that makes tre turner, joe ross, Zach efflin, Mallex Smith…. (hopefully I’m not forgetting anyone) who have made impactful differences at the major league level. But it’s cool…. we wouldn’t need that kind of talent in CF on the Padres…. We have Manuel Margot (insert sarcasm face)
Getting really frustrating to continue seeing players sent away have success, while our returns and/or replacements bring us little to no success (Myers, Margot, etc). This will be a big year for Preller…. he needs some of that farm system potential… to finally blossom into major league players.
He was traded for Justin Upton…hard to say they were rebuilding at that point.
Smith is a fourth outfielder on most teams.
In another not has anyone seen Jordan Hicks k/9??
Sign Kimbel !!!!!
Richard Kimbel [sic], the Fugitive?