SHANNON DRAYER

Notebook: Felix Hernandez, Mike Leake done for 2017 as Mariners scramble the rotation one last time

Sep 26, 2017, 10:32 PM | Updated: Sep 27, 2017, 11:01 am

Felix Hernandez's injury-plagued 2017 season is over as the Mariners will skip him in the rotation ...

Felix Hernandez's injury-plagued 2017 season is over as the Mariners will skip him in the rotation this weekend. (AP)

(AP)

OAKLAND – With the Mariners’ playoff hopes put to rest last weekend, the team has decided that enough is enough for two veteran starters and could do the same for a third. Scott Servais announced Tuesday afternoon that Felix Hernandez and Mike Leake would not pitch again this season.

“He’s gone through a long year,” Servais said about Felix. “The shoulder has been barking for the majority of the year. He’s got kind of dead arm and he’s at the end of the year. I don’t know the benefit of running him out there right now and we’ve got young pitchers we want to take a look at.”

Valencia, Alonso homer as M’s beat A’s 6-3

Marco Gonzales is scheduled to start Friday in Anaheim with Andrew Moore following him Saturday. Felix finishes a largely disappointing year with a record of 6-5 and 4.36 ERA. He missed a total of 92 days split between two trips to the DL with shoulder bursitis. The team went 45-40 in his absence.

Servais is taking the opportunity to give a break to Leake, as well, as he has dealt with a lat injury this season. The Mariners could not have asked for much more after acquiring Leake from the Cardinals in late August. He pitched six or more innings in four of his five starts and put up a 2.53 ERA. He walked two batters in 32 innings while striking out 27 and allowing just one home run.

A decision on whether or not to give James Paxton one more start will be made on Wednesday.

Notes

• Outfielder Guillermo Heredia’s season has also come to an end. Heredia has been dealing with soreness in his right shoulder after aggravating an injury that originally occurred last year sliding into a base. He is headed back to Seattle to have the shoulder looked at.

• End-of-the-year meetings are a little different this year as the Mariners are on the road and the visiting managers offices in Oakland and Anaheim are anything but spacious. Servais is in the process of meeting with both coaches and players, some in the office, many in the outfield during batting practice. “With the players we get an idea of what their plans are in the offseason and kind of what the expectations are coming into next spring,” he said. “We’ve got to get better in a number of different areas and our spring training will probably be reflective of that. We’ll do some different things.”

Mariners Roof Report

Brought to you by
Rain Showers
High 52° | Low 42°
Roof is open
Red Sox at Mariners today at 7:10pm

Shannon Drayer

Seattle Mariners Cal Raleigh...

Shannon Drayer

Mariners’ young core, now veterans, fueled by last year’s letdown

Falling back can be a part of growing up, and for the once young core of the Seattle Mariners, it is now part of their DNA.

4 hours ago

Seattle Mariners Cal Raleigh...

Shannon Drayer

Why Mariners hitters are embracing new approach to offense

The Seattle Mariners have new players, new coaches and new messaging for their offense. Based on spring training, it's all landing.

1 day ago

Seattle Mariners Gabe Speier...

Shannon Drayer

Inside how the Mariners’ pitching lab gets most out of relievers

With two of the Seattle Mariners' best relievers beginning the season on the injured list, the team's “pitching lab” has perhaps never been needed more.

2 days ago

Seattle Mariners Dominic Canzone...

Shannon Drayer

Breakdown: What Mariners bring north this year is very different

How is the group the Seattle Mariners are bringing north from Arizona? Insider Shannon Drayer details the roster -- and some thoughts from clubhouse leaders -- after 40 days at spring training.

4 days ago

Seattle Mariners Emerson Hancock...

Shannon Drayer

Drayer’s Mariners Notebook: Expectations for demoted players, more

Shannon Drayer details plans for the players not making the Seattle Mariners' opening day roster and much more in her latest notebook.

5 days ago

Seattle Mariners Cal Raleigh Julio Rodríguez...

Shannon Drayer

Drayer: A look around the diamond as Mariners near opening day

Let's take a trip around the diamond with thoughts on each position as the Seattle Mariners are less than a week from the start of 2024.

6 days ago

Notebook: Felix Hernandez, Mike Leake done for 2017 as Mariners scramble the rotation one last time