SEATTLE MARINERS NEWS

Billy Hamilton - Nabs MiLB deal from Seattle Hamilton agreed Monday with the Mariners on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to big-league spring training, Corey Brock of The Athletic reports.

Impact Hamilton will look to break camp with Seattle as a fourth or fifth outfielder, a role that would likely prevent him from making more than two starts per week when all of Jesse Winker, Jarred Kelenic and Mitch Haniger are in optimal health. Though he remains a well-below-league-average hitter, Hamilton's premium wheels and excellent range in center field can still give him some real-life value as a late-inning defensive replacement or pinch-running option.

MARCH 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Andrés Muñoz - Throws at camp Monday Munoz will throw a live batting practice session Monday after resolving the visa issue that delayed his arrival at big-league camp, Corey Brock of The Athletic reports.

Impact The fact that Munoz is facing hitters shortly after reporting to camp suggests that he was able to do some ramping up on his own while he was away from the team. After inking a four-year extension in November, Munoz is locked in as a critical late-inning piece for Seattle entering 2022. The availability of Munoz -- who was limited to one late-season appearance in 2021 while finishing up his recovery from Tommy John surgery -- takes on added importance after ace setup man Casey Sadler was ruled out for the season Sunday after undergoing shoulder surgery.

MARCH 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Eugenio Suárez - On base twice in loss Suarez singled and walked in his two plate appearances during a Cactus League loss to the Angels on Sunday.

Impact The recently acquired slugger had gone hitless over two at-bats in his official team debut Friday, but he bounced back with a productive afternoon his second time around Sunday before being subbed out for Joe Rizzo. Although Suarez's power is above question, the Mariners hope the change of scenery helps him rebound from the combined .199 average and .293 on-base percentage he generated across 805 plate appearances over the last two seasons.

MARCH 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Chris Flexen - Impressive in first spring start Flexen started the Mariners' Cactus League loss to the Angels on Sunday and allowed an earned run on two hits over three innings. He struck out four.

Impact Flexen was one of the several pleasant surprises for the Mariners last season, posting a 14-6 record, 3.61 ERA and 1.25 WHIP across 31 starts. The right-hander enters 2022 with a solid grip on the No. 4 spot in the rotation, and he made a strong impression on manager Scott Servais in his first spring action while liberally incorporating the cutter he found plenty of success with a year ago, Jesse Borek of MLB.com reports. "All of his pitchers were working, and he had really good command," Servais said.

MARCH 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Jesse Winker - First hit as Mariner Winker went 1-for-3 with a two-run double in a Cactus League loss to the Angels on Sunday.

Impact The recent trade acquisition had gone hitless in his first two at-bats with his new team Friday, but his third-inning two-bagger Sunday brought home Cal Raleigh and J.P. Crawford to erase an early 1-0 deficit. Winker's timely hit came off right-handed Angeles reliever Janson Junk, but manager Scott Servais has already gone on record with his plans to give the lefty-swinging Winker more opportunities against southpaws than he typically received in Cincinnati.

MARCH 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Steven Souza Jr. - Blasts grand slam Saturday Souza went 1-for-3 with a grand slam in a Cactus League win over the Dodgers on Saturday.

Impact The veteran, who's in camp on a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training, certainly made an emphatic early statement in his bid for a big-league roster spot with his bases-loaded blast in the bottom of the first. Souza will seemingly need to put together several more remarkable performances to gain serious consideration, however, as he hasn't even hit over .200 since 2018 and has played just 18 games at the big-league level since that season.

MARCH 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Diego Castillo - Sharing saves again The Mariners will use a handful of relievers to close out games again this season, Jesse Borek of MLB.com reports. "We'll have a number of guys who will finish off games for us," m...

Impact Many expected Castillo to pick up more saves upon getting traded to the Mariners last summer, but the opposite occurred, as he converted only two save chances with his new team. Castillo still has good reliever skills, but he's competing with Paul Sewald, Drew Steckenrider and Ken Giles (elbow) for those precious save chances.

MARCH 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Paul Sewald - Mariners closer committee The Mariners will use a committee to close out games again in 2022, Jesse Borek of MLB.com reports. "We'll have a number of guys who will finish off games for us," manager Scott Se...

Impact Sewald was one of the top breakout relief pitchers of 2021, using the change in his fastball angle to explode his strikeout rate. He certainly possessed closer skills last season with a 39.4% strikeout rate and a 30.3% K-BB%. But his ability to go longer in outings can work against him, as it could encourage Servais to turn to Sewald earlier in the game and get 4-to-5 critical outs, as he did five times in September last year.

MARCH 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Drew Steckenrider - Closer committee again The Mariners plan to employ a closer committee again this season, Jesse Borek of MLB.com reports. "We'll have a number of guys who will finish off games for us," manager Scott Serv...

Impact The Mariners are quickly becoming the Rays of the Pacific Northwest when it comes to bullpen management. Steckenrider profiles as having the skills to be one of those options again after converting 14 of 17 chances last season while posting a 2.00 ERA and 1.02 WHIP over 67.2 innings. Other possible options include Paul Sewald, Ken Giles (elbow) and Diego Castillo.

MARCH 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Ken Giles - Throwing 95 mph Giles (elbow) has been throwing 95 mph in batting practice and will make his spring training game debut soon, Jesse Borek of MLB.com reports.

Impact Giles will not be a full-time closer for the Mariners, nor will anyone else in their pen, as they will be going by committee again by design. "We'll have a number of guys who will finish off games for us," manager Scott Servais said.

MARCH 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Mariners Relief Pitcher Casey Sadler Will Miss 2022 Campaign With Shoulder Injury Casey Sadler will require shoulder surgery; who replaces him in the Mariners' bullpen?

MARCH 21, 2022 • NESN.COM

Angels 7, Mariners 3

MARCH 21, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

MLB Free Agency Tracker: Story signs with Red Sox

MLB free agency is back! Stay up-to-date with the latest moves, including Trevor Story to the Red Sox.

MARCH 21, 2022

Adjustments made, Raleigh 'ready to go'; Flexen debuts PEORIA, Ariz. -- The 2021 season marked Cal Raleigh 's first taste of big league action. But it also featured something he was unaccustomed...

MARCH 21, 2022 • MLB.COM

Casey Sadler - Undergoing season-ending surgery Manager Scott Servais said Sunday that Sadler will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Impact Servais said earlier in the day that Sadler would be forced to miss time due to shoulder soreness, and he'll ultimately be sidelined for the entire 2022 campaign after undergoing the procedure. It's a discouraging development for Sadler, who had a strong performance in 2021 with a 0.67 ERA and 0.72 WHIP in 40.1 innings across 42 relief appearances.

MARCH 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Chris Flexen has decent first spring start for Mariners, but bullpen struggles vs. Angels Chris Flexen pitched three innings, allowing one run on two hits with no walks and four strikeouts in the Mariners' 7-3 loss to the Angels.

MARCH 20, 2022 • SEATTLETIMES.COM

Mariners RHP Sadler out indefinitely with shoulder injury Seattle Mariners right-hander Casey Sadler has injured his right shoulder and will be shut down indefinitely, manager Scott Servais

MARCH 20, 2022 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Mariners RHP Sadler to have season-ending shoulder surgery

Seattle Mariners right-hander Casey Sadler needs season-ending surgery on his injured right shoulder, manager Scott Servais said

MARCH 20, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Casey Sadler - Out indefinitely Manager Scott Servais said Sunday that Sadler is dealing with shoulder soreness and will "be down for quite some time," Jesse Borek of MLB.com reports.

Impact Sadler missed some time with a shoulder issue last year but put together the best season of his career with a 0.67 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, 37:10 K:BB and 15 holds over 40.1 innings. It's unclear exactly how long he'll be sidelined, but the right-hander is set to open the season on the injured list.

MARCH 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Ryan Buchter - Inks deal with Mariners Buchter signed a minor-league contract with the Mariners on Sunday that includes an invite to big-league camp.

Impact Buchter was released by Arizona in August after posting a 6.61 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 16:13 K:BB across 16.1 innings. The veteran left-hander has a career 3.16 ERA but has struggled over the past two years, as the implementation of the three-batter minimum limits his effectiveness.

MARCH 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Julio Rodríguez - Big blast in spring opener Rodriguez went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a walk in the Mariners' Cactus League loss to the Padres on Friday. He was also caught stealing on his one attempt.

Impact The prized prospect wasted no time making an impact in his first official exposure of the spring to big-league arms, uncorking a three-run blast in the sixth inning to erase a 1-0 deficit. Rodriguez's round tripper traveled 431 feet and boasted an exit velocity of 117 mph, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports. Rodriguez hasn't been ruled out from potentially opening the season on the big-league club with an impressive enough spring after eviscerating Double-A pitching in 2021 to the tune of a .362/.461/.546 slash line across 206 plate appearances with Arkansas.

MARCH 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Marco Gonzales - Solid in first exhibition action Gonzales started Friday's Cactus League loss to the Padres and allowed an unearned run on two hits over three innings. He struck out one.

Impact The left-hander could hardly have asked for a better start to spring action, with Gonzales looking like he hadn't missed a beat following another solid season in 2021. The veteran got good work in while facing 12 batters overall and will potentially bump up to four innings in his next Cactus League outing at some point in the coming week.

MARCH 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Mariners 7, Dodgers 6

MARCH 20, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Steven Souza Jr. smacks an early grand slam and Mariners hold on vs. Dodgers The Mariners had a five-run first inning and then held on for a 7-6 win in Cactus League play.

MARCH 20, 2022 • SEATTLETIMES.COM

Alberto Rodriguez - Reports to camp Rodriguez (visa issues) reported to camp Saturday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Impact Rodriguez is a prospect of note, but he was not going to be competing for a spot on the big-league roster. He will likely open the year at High-A.

MARCH 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE