Brewers' Urías, Lauer seek to rebound from tough 2020 season
The Milwaukee Brewers’ big trade from the fall of 2019 certainly didn’t work out in the short termMARCH 1, 2021•ASSOCIATED PRESS
31 days until Mariners Opening Day: Previewing Donnie WaltonThe countdown is slowly winding down! We're just 31 days away from Mariners Opening Day! So, let's get to know #31 Donnie Walton and what to...
MARCH 1, 2021•SODOMOJO.COM
Draws Tuesday startKikuchi, the Mariners' projected No. 3 starter, will make his Cactus League debut Tuesday against the Indians, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
ImpactThe left-hander slimmed down approximately 10 pounds during the offseason in an attempt to improve his overall mobility and mechanics on the mound. Kikuchi has a bloated 5.39 ERA through his first 41 major-league starts across two seasons after a successful career in Japan, but the Mariners are encouraged by the year-to-year change his K/9 (9.0, up from 6.5) and HR/9 (0.6, down from 2.0) exhibited in 2020.
MARCH 1, 2021•ROTOWIRE
Set for spring debutSheffield, the Mariners' projected No. 4 starter, will make his first Cactus League appearance Thursday versus the Rockies, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
ImpactThe young left-hander will look to build on a highly encouraging 2020 campaign this coming season, with Sheffield having shown considerable improvement from his seven-start cameo in 2019 by posting a 4-3 record and 3.58 ERA across 10 starts. Sheffield focused much more on honing his location last season, resulting in a drop in BB/9 from 4.5 in 2019 to 3.2, as well as a significant reduction in ERA from the 5.50 figure he generated in his first exposure to big-league bats.
MARCH 1, 2021•ROTOWIRE
Set for first Cactus League startPaxton is scheduled to start Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Cubs, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
ImpactThe veteran southpaw's work will undoubtedly be scrutinized this spring in his return to Seattle after a mixed bag of a two-year stay with the Yankees. After back and forearm injuries limited him to just five starts in 2020 following a 15-6 mark the prior season, Paxton spent most of the offseason rebuilding his strength and refining his mechanics. He now considers himself at full health and commented last week that he expects to build up to a five- or six-inning workload by the end of spring training.
MARCH 1, 2021•ROTOWIRE
Settling in after late arrivalMontero, whose arrival at spring training was delayed due to a visa issue, is already throwing bullpens and will face hitters in the coming days, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
ImpactThe hard-throwing right-hander was acquired from the Rangers on Dec. 15 and is expected to have a prominent bullpen role after going 8-for-8 in save chances in Texas during the 2020 campaign. Montero, who logged 18 starts for the Mets back in 2017, proved much more effective as a reliever the last two seasons and enters spring training as the Mariners' presumptive closer, given his recent body of work, demeanor and mid-90s fastball. "That ball comes out hot," manager Scott Servais said. "It's really easy, and he is as advertised -- his level-headed and just cool kind of attitude about him on the mound. He's very confident."
MARCH 1, 2021•ROTOWIRE
Plays in Cactus League openerHaggerty (forearm) went 0-for-2 while serving as a backup second baseman Sunday in the Mariners' 5-4 win over the Padres in Cactus League play.
ImpactHaggerty wasn't able to finish the 2020 season on the field after being placed on the injured list Sept. 7 with a left forearm strain, but he looks to have made it back to 100 percent health for the start of spring training. The 26-year-old switch-hitter will be vying for a utility role on the Mariners' Opening Day roster.
MARCH 1, 2021•ROTOWIRE
