Mariners notebook: Good news for Taijuan Walker

By Shannon Drayer

PEORIA, Ariz. – My first morning back in Peoria has been a little slow to get going. Our normal 8 a.m. meeting with Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon was pushed back as he and general manager Jack Zduriencik made more roster cuts.

Optioned to Triple-A Tacoma:

Bobby LaFromboise
Logan Bawcom
Jesus Sucre
Ji-Man Choi
Carlos Triunfel

Re-assigned to minor-league camp:

Matt Palmer
Nick Hill
Mike Dowd
Ty Kelly
Nate Tenbrink

Do we have a rotation?

The starters listed for the next six games are Scott Baker, Randy Wolf, Erasmo Ramirez, Felix Hernandez, James Paxton and Baker. Does this mean that Blake Beavan and Brandon Maurer are on the outside looking in right now? Probably, but there is is the chance that they could get starts in minor-league or B games, although the latter has yet to be scheduled. Wolf is the wild card here. Is he truly ready coming off Tommy John surgery? It looks like he will be given every opportunity to show that he is.

Walker progressing

If all goes well Taijuan Walker could get back on the hill Thursday. He is scheduled to throw a flat-ground session Tuesday, play catch Wednesday and then throw a bullpen on Thursday.

Lineup!

Day game after a night game and this is what we have got traveling to Tempe:

James Jones, 8
Chris Taylor, 5
Robinson Cano, 4
Justin Smoak, 3
Corey Hart, DH
Nick Franklin, 6
Dustin Ackley, 7
Stefen Romero, 9
Humberto Quintero, 2

Scott Baker

Robinson Cano is playing back-to-back games after missing four days with the root canal. This will be the second time that Justin Smoak has hit behind him with Corey Hart in the lineup. Interesting.

Last lineup note: the hot-hitting Stefen Romero (ignore the .222 average; he is hitting the ball hard and five of his six hits are for extra bases) gets his first start in right field.

Notes

• The Mariners have been scrambling a bit for help at third the last few days. DJ Peterson most likely would have gotten a couple of those starts but he came out of Saturday’s game with an upset stomach. Turns out it was a little more than that and he spent the night in the hospital. He is expected to be out for a few more days.

• Guests on “The Cactus League Report” – which can be heard on 710 ESPN Seattle Tuesday night from 7-9 – include Justin Smoak, Dustin Ackley, Lucas Luetge, Danny Farquhar, Stefen Romero and Bob Dutton. This will be the final “Cactus League Report” show that is broadcast live from the Salty Senorita this spring so stop by if you are in the area.