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Seattle Mariners

Mariners sign RHP Brian Shaw, place C Tom Murphy on IL ahead of opener

Seattle’s Tom Murphy shakes hands with third-base coach Chris Prieto after Murphy hit a two-run home run off Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Jalen Beeks during the sixth inning Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (Chris O'Meara / AP)
Associated Press

SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners signed right-handed pitcher Brian Shaw and placed catcher Tom Murphy on the 10-day injured list on Thursday in setting their 30-man roster for the start of the regular season.

Shaw was released by the Colorado Rockies earlier this week. The veteran made 70 appearances with a 5.38 ERA last season with Colorado.

Seattle’s bullpen is one of its major concerns going into the 60-game season, and the Mariners will start the season without veteran Yoshihisa Hirano, who is also on the injured list after having tested positive for COVID-19 last month.

Seattle will owe Shaw $208,704 of his prorated salary of $3,333,333, with the Rockies responsible for the rest.

Murphy was diagnosed with a broken bone in his left foot on Wednesday, leaving the Mariners with only Austin Nola and Joe Hudson as their catchers going into the regular season.

Seattle also optioned outfielder Jake Fraley to its taxi squad, leaving one of the outfield positions a question mark going into the opener. Seattle will likely use a mix of Tim Lopes, José Marmolejos, Dylan Moore and Dee Gordon with Mallex Smith and Kyle Lewis the other outfield starters.