Nick Franklin is likely to be called up this week by the Mariners as soon as Tuesday.

That's assuming his back is OK, as he tweaked it recently at Triple-A Tacoma. Franklin was just 2-for-13 at the plate earlier this season for the Mariners. It's possible he could supplant the struggling Brad Miller at shortstop.

Mariners optioned INF Nick Franklin to Triple-A Tacoma.

Franklin's stay in Seattle lasted only a week, as he's headed to Las Vegas to meet the Triple-A team on their road trip. In his stay, Franklin was just 2-for-13 with a triple. The move is a little surprising, as the team's starting shortstop, Brad Miller, hasn't been playing terribly well of late either. No corresponding move was announced.

Nick Franklin is starting in right field for the Mariners on Wednesday.

Franklin played some in the outfield in spring training and played two innings there in Tuesday's game, but this is his first ever start in the outfield as a professional. It's the 23-year-old's fourth start in seven games since being promoted. Franklin has just one hit in his first 13 at-bats, but he certainly has the potential to hit his way into the lineup more often if he can prove to be adequate in the outfield.

Mariners recalled INF Nick Franklin from Triple-A Tacoma.

Franklin earned the promotion after batting .395/.469/.744 with four homers and 13 RBI over his first 11 Triple-A contests this season. While he has yet to play the outfield in any professional game, Franklin played there some in spring training and the rumor is that he could see some time there while up with the big club. He'd probably have to be used some in the outfield to have much fantasy value, as there's really no room for him to play anywhere else.

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports that the Mariners will call up Nick Franklin from Triple-A Tacoma.

Heyman also notes that Franklin could see some playing time in the outfield. The youngster earned the promotion after a .395/.469/.744 start with four homers and 13 RBI over his first 11 Triple-A contests this season. It's possible Logan Morrison (hamstring) could be headed to the DL.

Mariners optioned INF Nick Franklin, LHP Lucas Luetge and RHP Blake Beavan to Triple-A Tacoma.

The M's didn't officially announce anything until now, but Franklin never really had much of a chance to beat out Brad Miller for the starting shortstop job. He'll play mostly shortstop at Triple-A, but his best chance at playing time in the majors would probably come if he gets traded.

Nick Franklin played right field in Tuesday's Cactus League game versus the Royals.

Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon has refused to admit that Brad Miller has won the shortstop job, but him trying Franklin out at a new position certainly offers a tell. It could also mean that he might consider carrying Franklin as a utility player at the big league level rather than sending him to Triple-A to start.

Ollie Connolly of Outside Pitch MLB reports that the Tigers are going to make a "serious run" at acquiring Nick Franklin from the Mariners.

Most of the speculation for the Tigers revolves around signing Stephen Drew, but Franklin is another option on the market that could be a nice fit to fill in for the injured Jose Iglesias. The Tigers farm system is nothing special though, so it's difficult to envision them having the necessary pieces to make the deal work.

Mike Puma of the New York Post reports that the Mets haven't had any significant talks with the Mariners regarding Nick Franklin since the winter meetings.

While the 23-year-old shortstop seems like a perfect fit and obvious upgrade for the Mets, they somehow appear content with Ruben Tejada manning the position to begin the season.

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports that the Orioles, Rays, and Mets are all talking to the Mariners about a trade for infielder Nick Franklin.

Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said Saturday that the shortstop competition between Brad Miller and Nick Franklin was "quite equal" at this point.

It had been assumed that the M's would attempt to trade Franklin after signing Robinson Cano this winter, with Brad Miller remaining as the team's starting shortstop and leadoff hitter, but that doesn't appear to be a foregone conclusion just yet. The 23-year-old is hitting .357 (5-for-14) with a homer, four RBI and one steal in the early going this spring.

Nick Franklin went 2-for-3 with a solo homer, powering the Mariners to a 12-1 victory over the Padres in Cactus League play on Friday.

The talented 22-year-old infielder is the odd-man out in the Mariners infield after the big offseason acquisition of Robinson Cano. Unless he can displace Brad Miller as the team's starting shortstop, he's likely to be shopped around and could be donning a new uniform prior to Opening Day. His fantasy value hinges on whether he earns a starting role someplace and is in line for everyday at-bats.

John Harper of the New York Daily News reports that the Mets will scout Nick Franklin throughout the spring to decide if a trade makes sense.

Harper hears that the Mets like Franklin's pop, but are unsure about his defense at shortstop, so they'll continue to evaluate him during exhibition play. The Mariners are likely to move the 22-year-old by Opening Day, with the Rays among the other teams believed to have interest.

According to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, the Rays are interested in acquiring Nick Franklin from the Mariners.

The Mets have been talking to the Mariners about Franklin since December, but Heyman heard from a source Tuesday that the Rays actually match up much better for a trade. Franklin, 22, was a first-round pick in 2009 and got rated a Top 50 prospect last year by MLB.com. He's behind Robinson Cano at second base and Brad Miller at shortstop in Seattle.

According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, the Mets have talked to the Mariners about acquiring Nick Franklin.

Rubin says the two sides first started discussing a potential trade at December's Winter Meetings and are expected to get more serious about working something out next month. The M's want pitching and the Mets need good young infielders. Franklin, a 22-year-old former first-round pick, is currently behind both Robinson Cano (2B) and Brad Miller (SS) for playing time in Seattle.

Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com hears that the Mariners are likely to trade Nick Franklin or Brad Miller before Opening Day.

Rubin says that Franklin is the likelier of the two to be dealt. The Mets are looking for an upgrade at shortstop and Rubin thinks that Franklin could be a fit. However, many question the soon-to-be 23-year-old's ability to hack it defensively at the position. He played 96 games at second and three at shortstop last year for the Mariners but has more minor league experience at short (261 games) than second (122 games).

Nick Franklin is drawing "strong interest" from multiple teams, per Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

The Mariners have reason to listen on Franklin, as they signed Robinson Cano to play second base and are said to prefer fellow youngster Brad Miller at shortstop. Franklin failed to impress in his major league debut last season, but he's still just 22 and was ranked as the No. 79 prospect in baseball heading into the 2013 season by Baseball America. It wouldn't be surprising if he was on another roster come Opening Day.

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports that the Mariners are drawing significant trade interest on their younger players, with Nick Franklin the most likely to be traded.

With the signing of Robinson Cano, the M's are apparently playing to win now as opposed to building for the future. The 22-year-old struggled in his first taste of MLB action, slashing .225/.303/.382 with 12 homers, 45 RBI and six steals in 102 games while posting a 113/42 K/BB ratio. He's immensely talented however, and should be able to net a nice return package if he's indeed dealt.

Nick Franklin went 3-for-5 with a double in a losing cause against the Angels on Friday.

It's his first three-hit game since July 28. Franklin was looking like a ROY candidate back then, but he's slumped ever since, with his OPS dropping from .833 to .674 entering tonight's game. He could use a nice finish to bolster his chances of entering 2014 with a chance to win a starting job.

Nick Franklin is not in the Mariners starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Cardinals.

Dustin Ackley is getting the call at second base in Franklin's place. He has really struggled with the stick since the All-Star break, hitting just .171/.253/.329 with six homers, 24 RBI and a 19/62 BB/K rate in 46 games.