Mariners’ Jesse Winker to IL ahead of playoffs; Taylor Trammell recalled
Oct 5, 2022, 12:43 PM | Updated: 1:59 pm
Mariners LF Jesse Winker rounds the bases after hitting a home run against Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
A second Mariners option for left field has hit the injured list just before the beginning of the playoffs.
Mariners lock up second AL wild card, going to Toronto for playoff series
Jesse Winker was placed on the 10-day IL with a cervical disc bulge in his neck Wednesday just before the finale of Seattle’s regular season at 1:10 p.m. against the Detroit Tigers on Seattle Sports. Winker joins speedy utility man Sam Haggerty, who suffered a left groin strain while stealing second base late in Monday’s loss to Detroit, as players to go on the IL this week and ruling them out for this weekend’s wild card series at Toronto.
Winker started the most games in left field for the Mariners this season with 113, while Haggerty was second in starts at the position with 21.
With those two players out, Jarred Kelenic appears the logical starter in left field for the series against the Blue Jays. Taylor Trammell, who was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma to take Winker’s roster spot, and utility man Dylan Moore are also options at the spot.
Winker, 29, was a trade acquisition from the Cincinnati Reds along with Eugenio Suárez by Seattle early in spring training this year. A starter for the National League All-Star team in 2021, Winker has struggled to repeat his career numbers with the Mariners. He posted a slash line of .219/.344/.344 for a .688 OPS in 2022, all career-low numbers. He added 14 home runs, 15 doubles and 53 RBIs in 136 games played a year after hitting 24 homers, 32 doubles and 71 RBIs in 110 games for the Reds.
Winker is under contract through 2023 after signing a one-year extension during this season, which essentially was an instance of the Mariners buying out his final arbitration year.
Trammell, 25, has a .204/.295/.418 slash line for a .713 OPS with four homers, nine doubles and 10 RBIs in 42 games with Seattle this year.
The Mariners will be off Thursday to travel to Toronto, where they will meet the Blue Jays in a best-of-three series with a trip to the ALDS against the AL West-champion Astros on the line.
Mariners Playoffs Schedule: Blue Jays series, Seattle Sports coverage
