An MRI exam on Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Andres Munoz (shoulder) showed inflammation in his deltoid area. He received a platelet-rich plasma injection and has been shut down for a few days as a result. If all goes well, Munoz should be sent out on a minor-league rehab assignment in late May/early June. The 24-year-old could now end up missing close to two months with this injury, but fantasy managers should still try to keep him stashed in an injured-list spot. When he's healthy enough to return to Seattle's bullpen, he should eventually return to a high-leverage role with considerable upside. For now, Paul Sewald will continue to be the M's primary closer at the back end of the bullpen.

Seattle Mariners reliever Andres Munoz (shoulder) has not started his rehab assignment and currently has no timetable for his return. Mariners manager Scott Servais told reporters that he has no update on the 24-year-old's shoulder. Munoz was slated to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Tacoma this weekend but that's clearly not happening at the moment. Munoz has been out since early April with a right shoulder strain. It's possible he suffered some kind of a setback but we shouldn't speculate until we hear more from the team. Fantasy managers should expect an update by the end of the weekend or early next week.

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Andres Munoz (shoulder) will start throwing off a mound and is set to begin a rehab assignment soon. He was placed on the 15-day injured list on April 9 with a right deltoid strain. The 24-year-old is trending in the right direction and is eligible to come off the injured list on Sunday, April 23. He has yet to allow a run and owns a 1.50 WHIP and a 3:1 K: BB across 3 1/3 innings in 2023. Munoz converted his only save opportunity and will split closing duties with Paul Sewald once he returns to action.

The Seattle Mariners placed relief pitcher Andres Munoz (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list on Sunday and also optioned pitcher Matt Festa to Triple-A Tacoma. In corresponding moves, the team recalled pitchers Justin Topa and J.B. Bukauskas from Tacoma. Munoz is dealing with some right shoulder issues that will keep him sidelined for a while, but hopefully he'll be able to return when he's eligible. The 24-year-old right-hander already has one save on the season and should be held in most leagues while he recovers. Until then, Paul Sewald, who saved games on Friday and Saturday, will operate as Seattle's primary closer.

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Andres Munoz (foot) is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut on Friday, but he will first face the San Diego Padres in a B game on Thursday. Munoz has yet to pitch in a spring game after having surgery last October on his foot, but barring a setback once he gets into games, he should be ready to go in a high-leverage role in Seattle's bullpen on Opening Day later this month. Paul Sewald is set to enter the 2023 regular season as the M's primary close, but it wouldn't be a surprise if Munoz eventually took over the role. The 24-year-old Mexican had a 2.49 ERA (2.04 FIP), 0.89 WHIP, four saves and 96 strikeouts in 65 relief innings for Seattle in his second year with the team in 2022.

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Andres Munoz (ankle) will throw live batting practice on Monday and should make his Cactus League debut in a game on Thursday or Friday. Munoz is behind the other pitchers in camp this spring after having surgery on his foot in the offseason, but barring a setback, he's expected to open the year in a high-leverage role at the back of Seattle's bullpen. The 24-year-old right-hander won't open the year as the primary closer for the M's, but if he's as dominant as he was in 2022, he'll still have plenty of fantasy value, especially in leagues that reward points for holds. Munoz had a strong 2.49 ERA (2.04 FIP), 0.89 WHIP, four saves and 96 strikeouts in 65 relief innings last year.

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Andres Munoz (ankle) is likely within a week from making his Cactus League debut. He's tentatively scheduled to throw one more live batting practice before getting into a spring game. Munoz had surgery shortly after last seven to clean up a previously fractured ankle. The 24-year-old right-hander is throwing pain-free now and has added a two-seam fastball to his repertoire. It's still a work in progress, but it will give hitters something else to think about other than his four-seam fastball and slider. Munoz has time to get ready for Opening Day and could be even nastier as a setup man for Seattle. Even though he's not expected to open the year as the M's primary closer, Munoz has plenty of value for his strikeouts and holds.

Seattle Mariners right-handed reliever Andres Munoz (foot) is "ahead of schedule," according to manager Scott Servais, but he's still a week or longer away from making his Cactus League debut. The Mariners were concerned about how much volume the high-leverage reliever could handle early in the year, but the coaching staff is now more encouraged about the situation. Munoz had right foot surgery on Oct. 27 after pitching through pain in his first full big-league season. The 24-year-old Mexican had a strong 2.49 ERA with a 0.89 WHIP, four saves and 96 strikeouts in 65 relief innings in 2022. Barring a setback, Munoz should be ready for his normal workload to kick off the regular season.

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Andres Munoz (ankle) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and has been throwing for a while after having surgery to fuse two bones together in his right ankle two weeks after last season. Munoz wore a cast for six weeks and then a walking boot for six weeks. The Mariners might hold him back a bit in spring training, but barring any setbacks, he should be ready for Opening Day. The 24-year-old right-hander was very strong in relief for Seattle in his third big-league season in 2022, posting a 2.49 ERA (2.04 FIP), 0.89 WHIP, four saves, 22 holds and 96 strikeouts in 65 relief innings. Munoz has high-end strikeout upside and could see more save opportunities in 2023 if Paul Sewald struggles at all.

Seattle Mariners relief pitchers Paul Sewald (elbow, heel) and Andres Munoz (foot), who both had surgeries this offseason, might not see much action early in spring training. However, relievers don't usually need much work in the spring to get ready, and they should both be fine for Opening Day. Both pitchers are a big part of the back end of Seattle's bullpen heading into 2023, with Sewald currently slated to enter the year as the primary closer. Sewald was great in his second year with the M's, posting a career-best 2.67 ERA (3.88 FIP), career-high 20 saves, 0.77 WHIP and 72 strikeouts in 64 relief innings. Munoz was just as good with a 2.49 ERA (2.04 FIP), four saves, 0.89 WHIP and 96 K's in 65 innings out of the bullpen.

Seattle Mariners pitcher Andres Munoz struck out three over a perfect 1 1/3 innings to earn the save during Thursday's 3-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians. With two outs and runners on first and second base, he struck out Jose Ramirez to escape the jam in the eighth inning. The 23-year-old has been on fire recently and hasn't allowed a run over his last 10 appearances. He is three for five in save opportunities with a 2.47 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 82 strikeouts across 51 innings in 2022. Munoz will continue to be used in high-leverage situations and should be rostered in all league formats that reward the category holds.

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Andres Munoz didn't make things easy but did pick up his second save of the season in Tuesday's 8-6 win over the Yankees. Munoz entered to pitch the ninth inning up by two. He got the first two hitters out on strikeouts, but then allowed a single and back-to-back walks before striking out the final hitter with the bases loaded. Paul Sewald has served as the primary closer this season for the Mariners, but he pitched the seventh inning of this game, likely because of the close score. Munoz does have a 3.02 ERA with a 13.39 K/9 rate and 13 holds through 41 2/3 innings pitched this season, but Sewald is the clear arm to roster for fantasy purposes.

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Andres Munoz closed out the team's 4-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday to earn his first save of the year. He pitched a scoreless ninth inning, allowing one hit and one walk while also inducing a strikeout. It's hard to feel confident about how the bullpen is aligned in Seattle right now. Diego Castillo and Drew Steckenrider each earned a single save during Opening Weekend, but neither has had a save chance since then as the team hadn't provided a save opportunity until this Friday, when Munoz was called upon. Castillo pitched the ninth inning in a pair of games earlier this past week when the team had four-run leads, so he seems to be the favorite for saves. However, he didn't pitch on Thursday, so he technically should have been available when Munoz was called upon instead of him on Friday. Consider it a closer-by-committee for now, but if you have to take a shot with member of the committee, go with Castillo.

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Andres Munoz has agreed to a four-year contract extension that will guarantee him at least $7.5 million dollars. The deal also includes three club options. The initial four-year duration covers his final year before arbitration and all three arbitration years. The flame-throwing Munoz was acquired via trade from the San Diego Padres along with Ty France and others in 2020, and he has made just one appearance as a Mariner, recording two outs in the final game of the 2021 season. Munoz has long been considered a potential future dominant closer, with a fastball that averaged in the triple digits before his most recent injury. For now, with just 23 2/3 big-league innings to his name, he'll operate as a setup man in front of Paul Sewald.

The Seattle Mariners activated relief pitcher Andres Munoz (arm) on Saturday. Fellow reliever Joe Smith was placed on the injured list in a corresponding move without an injury distinction given. The 22-year-old Munoz has been working his way back from Tommy John surgery last year. He's made four appearances in rehab outings this year and over those appearances, he's posted a 4.91 ERA and 0.55 WHIP with seven strikeouts and just one walk.