Morosi on Mariners’ Colt Emerson: ‘The book is not closed’

MLB Network insider Jon Morosi joined Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob for his weekly conversation Friday, and it was timely coming off the announcement that scuffling rookie shortstop Colt Emerson had been placed on the 10-day injured list with left wrist tendon inflammation.

Dipoto details Mariners’ plan for Colt Emerson’s wrist injury

The Mariners initially informed Emerson he would be sent down to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers following Thursday’s game in New York, but plans were changed when Emerson informed the team that a wrist injury he first suffered in spring training has continued to be an issue.

Here’s what Morosi had to say in the wake of the news about the prized 21-year-old shortstop, who the Mariners signed to an eight-year, $95 million contract extension in March, almost two months before his MLB debut.

‘The book is not closed’

I think it’s the right move to give him that mental break. And sometimes you see front offices get a little too stubborn where they say, no, I don’t want to send the player down because I’m admitting a mistake. And by the way, the Mariners gave Emerson one of the largest contracts in history for a player his age, so the front office, this doesn’t work out, it doesn’t exactly reflect beautifully on them either. You’re supposed to be right about your own players, and importantly, they can still be right about him.

The book is not closed when you are removed from the roster, whether it’s for reason of injured list or being sent down, however you want to describe it. It’s a mental break, which he very clearly needs.

Let’s not discount the overall vibe of this team right now. It’s a team that’s supposed to win (and) is not winning. You’ve got veterans struggling, you’ve got young guys struggling. You do start to wonder at what point in time do you look at more fundamental changes to the way this team is going?

… I think you’ve got to take a step back and say, why is this happening? Why are so many players, both veterans and young players, struggling right now? And I think if they miss the playoffs, and they’re certainly on pace to do that, you’re going to see a lot of questions asked about operationally why things are going the way they are.

Hear the full Wyman and Bob conversation with MLB Network insider Jon Morosi in the podcast at this link or the player below. Catch Wyman and Bob from 2-7 p.m. weekdays on Seattle Sports.

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