SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Seattle Mariners are monitoring Ichiro Suzuki’s strained right calf to determine whether he’ll be on the opening day roster or the disabled list.
Ichiro went 0 for 3 with a walk and played seven innings in left field Tuesday in the 5-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
“I don’t think he’s quite at 100 percent yet,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “He’s moving much better. He feels better out there. We’ll see how he feels tomorrow and make a decision from there.”
Ichiro is hitless in 10 at-bats with two walks and five strikeouts since signing on March 7.
“Unfortunately the leg injury with Ichiro slowed him down in the number of at-bats he can get and the comfort level he’s got,” Servais said. “It’s more about just getting him healthy and making sure he’s good to go when the bell rings on Thursday. The leg is what worries me, making sure he can move around and there’s nothing he’s guarding against in left field. Being able to cover the ground, he needs to get to out there. You can’t protect him in the field. It’s a big league game, a play in the outfield can sway the game one way or another, so you want to make sure he’s very close to 100 percent when you put him there.”
The 44-year-old made a nice running catch to the left-center gap to retire pinch hitter Pat Valaika to end the fourth with the bases loaded.
Ichiro is a 10-time All Star with 3,080 hits in 17 years in the majors.
Servais said they would further evaluate Ichiro in a workout Wednesday, a day ahead of the opener against Cleveland.
“I’ve very hopeful that Ichiro is going to be able to go,” Servais said.
If Ichiro goes on the disabled list, a spot would open for utility player Taylor Motter.
“If Ichiro is not ready to go, Motter gives us a ton of flexibility,” Servais said.
Notes
• The Mariners are expected to sign Jayson Werth to a minor league contract, a deal contingent on a successful physical.
Servais said before Seattle’s spring training finale on Tuesday that Werth’s name was brought up about a week ago and the Mariners believe there may be an opportunity for him to get some at-bats at Triple-A to see what is left.
Servais said Werth, who turns 39 in May, likely would be at extended spring training for a while.
• Pitcher Wade LeBlanc has a $650,000 salary in his one-year contract with Seattle.
The 33-year-old left-hander can earn $50,000 in performance bases for starts as part of the deal announced Sunday: $25,000 each for 10 and 20.
A veteran of nine major league seasons, LeBlanc was 3-0 with a 4.50 ERA in eight starts and three relief appearances for the Mariners in 2016.
