Madritsch, Soriano eye possible returns this season
Injured pitchers Bobby Madritsch and Rafael Soriano can do little more than play catch, but that’s good enough for the Seattle Mariners to take them on the next road trip.
Both will travel with the team to Detroit and Chicago next week to continue their work toward a possible return to the mound before the end of the season.
Madritsch has been out since April 7 because of a strained left shoulder and may begin playing catch within days.
“Hopefully by the end of this week or the first part of next week,” trainer Rick Griffin said.
Soriano, a right-hander recovering from elbow surgery last August, had pitched in seven minor league rehab games but was shut down because of shoulder soreness.
He played catch Monday and may do it again today, but his return to the mound is uncertain because he continues to feel pain in the back of the shoulder.
“As soon as he feels good, he’ll pitch off the mound,” Griffin said.
From the sick bay
Shortstop Mike Morse returned to the clubhouse after missing Monday because of illness.
“It felt more like a head cold and I was real weak,” said Morse, who followed Willie Bloomquist on the sick list. Bloomquist suffered flu symptoms on the last road trip. “This wasn’t anything like what Willie had.”
Morse wasn’t in the lineup Tuesday against Detroit, but manager Mike Hargrove said he may play.
Notes
The Mariners finally made the swap that they started to do more than a week ago, activating utility player Dave Hansen from the disabled list and optioning outfielder Chris Snelling to Triple-A Tacoma. The Mariners announced July 17 that they were making that move but changed their minds the next day. … Pitcher Aaron Looper, who suffered elbow pain last month after missing most of the past year because of Tommy John surgery, will have more surgery soon to clean up scar tissue. … The signing of Clement gives the Mariners 19 draft picks under contract. Bob Fontaine, the team’s scouting director, believes the M’s will sign 25 of their 48 picks. … The Mariners’ wives have assembled 17 baskets containing many of the players’ “favorite things” to be auctioned at Friday’s game. The auction will benefit Army Emergency Relief.