The Seattle Mariners made another move through the injury shuffle Monday, placing Rob Refsnyder on the 10-day injured list with issues in both knees and bringing up newly acquired Buddy Kennedy to take his spot.
Refsnyder has been dealing with the problem for a while, and the club had been trying to manage it rather than shut him down. He got injections in both knees last week, but he still hasn’t moved forward, and now he’ll rehab in Arizona in hopes of returning in better shape and with less pain.
Seattle also laid out the status of several other banged-up players. Luke Raley and Dominic Canzone will stay active for now, even with their own limitations.
Raley is working through a strain in his left arm, the non-throwing one, but he’s shown he can still swing and may be able to get back to right field within a few days. Canzone is playing through hamstring tightness that will limit him in the field, though the Mariners seem inclined to keep his bat in the lineup.
The situation was compared to Jorge Polanco last season, when the club had to manage a hitter whose offense was too important to take out of the lineup. Connor Joe is with the team but not activated, giving Seattle another option if it needs one before or during the series.
General manager Justin Hollander also spoke at length about the Mariners’ training staff while giving updates on more players who are sidelined. He said right-handers Matt Brash and Cooper Criswell are likely to return in “August,” with MRIs set for July 6 to check whether their recovery is on schedule. Utility man Brendan Donovan “had a good week,” according to Hollander, including running near full effort and taking a full round in the batting cage, but his return still sounds like it will come in August or later.
Hollander was also asked about Seattle’s willingness this year to keep injured players on the roster instead of sending them straight to the injured list. His explanation was straightforward: the team has believed, case by case, that some players could come back sooner or still contribute effectively during the shorter window than they would after a longer stint on the IL.
There were more minor-league injury notes as well. Infielder Leo Rivas has been out essentially since he was optioned back to Tacoma on May 18 and is dealing with vertigo. His symptoms have improved, but he still gets dizzy when he tilts his head up quickly, like when tracking a fly ball.
Left-hander Mason Peters has missed the last two weeks with forearm soreness. An MRI did not show anything significant, and the plan is to build him back slowly over the next couple of weeks.
Right-hander Jackson Steensma is dealing with forearm soreness too. He received a cortisone shot last week to ease inflammation and swelling, but Hollander said his progress has been “a little slower than we would have hoped.”
In Other News...
Mariners Add Buddy Kennedy As Another Infield Depth Debate Begins
The Mariners kept adding to their infield options Monday by bringing in Buddy Kennedy, a move that fits the kind of small, practical depth shopping Seattle has been doing as the season wears on. Kennedy arrives from the Giants for cash considerations after spending most of the year at Triple-A Sacramento, and he gives the organization another experienced minor league bat to plug into the system without costing much to acquire.
Kennedy is expected to report to Tacoma, where he can stay ready if Seattle needs an extra body at third or second base. His major league rsum is still thin, with just 8 plate appearances in 7 games this season and no hits to show for them, but the Mariners are clearly treating him as a viable fallback while the bigger infield picture continues to sort itself out, including the possibility of covering for Patrick Wisdom if the need arises. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners May Be Eyeing A Riskier Twins Pivot For Right-Handed Thump
As the trade deadline creeps closer, the Mariners search for offense is starting to look a little broader than the obvious names. Minnesota keeps popping up as a possible source, with Royce Lewis emerging as one alternative to Byron Buxton and Ryan Jeffers also mentioned as a right-handed bat who could help balance Seattles lineup. Lewis has shown some life since coming back from the minors, but the attraction is tied as much to his upside as to the frustration that has followed him for much of his career.
The risk is baked into both Twins options, which is why this feels more like a front-office debate than a clean fit. Lewis comes with the kind of injury history and inconsistency that can make any club hesitate, while Jeffers would need to prove he is healthy enough and worth the at-bats in a crowded mix. Even so, Seattle has the kind of payroll flexibility to chase a bat if it decides the upside is worth the gamble, and that is what makes this a name to keep on the radar. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners May Be Headed For Another Dugout Debate Soon
Speculation around Dan Wilsons future is starting to follow the Mariners again, and it comes with the kind of backdrop that tends to make every loss feel bigger. The discussion is rooted in the clubs current performance and the broader organizational mood, with some around the team wondering whether a change could eventually become necessary if the season keeps going the wrong way.
If Seattle were to decide it needed a new voice before the year is over, the conversation would likely stay inside the building rather than turn outward. Manny Acta has the clearest profile as a replacement given his long run with the organization and prior managerial experience, while Jake McKinley sits farther down the list as more of a wildcard. If the Mariners wait until the offseason, though, the field could widen considerably, with names such as Alex Cora and Grady Sizemore entering the conversation. [Read more 🡒]