TORONTO (AP) — There's a sign on the Ladner Trunk Road outside Ladner, British Columbia, the hometown of Seattle Mariners pitcher James Paxton, welcoming visitors to the coastal community south of Vancouver.The sign's main feature is a heron, and locals occasionally dress the bird up for big events, such as Canada Day or a Canucks playoff game.Late Tuesday night, the heron was clad in a Seattle Mariners jersey with Paxton's name and number 65 on the back, honoring the lefty's no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays. A Canadian flag was stuck in the bird's mouth, and hand-lettered signs were taped up reading "Congrats James" and "Big Maple with a no-hitter," a reference to Paxton's nickname, and the large maple leaf tattoo on his right forearm."Some friends did it last night and they sent me a picture of it," Paxton said Wednesday. "That was really cool to see. The support I have back home is really special. It's just so great of them to think to do something like that."Paxton became the... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — The lingering question of whether Ichiro Suzuki would be ready for opening day was solved on Wednesday.Yes, he'll be on the Seattle Mariners 25-man roster, despite a lingering calf injury. And, yes, he'll be in left field on Thursday night when the Mariners open the season hosting the Cleveland Indians."It was a crazy spring for him getting in late and having a little setback with the calf injury but I think he showed us enough here the last couple of days that he can get out there, run around and help us out a little bit," Seattle manager Scott Servais said. "As I said when we brought him in he'll hit at the bottom of the lineup, he'll help in a number of different ways. But obviously he'll be in the lineup tomorrow night."This isn't turn back the clock night, although the nostalgia will be thick — let alone the challenge of facing Cleveland ace Corey Kluber and one of the powerhouse clubs in the American League. It'll be Suzuki's first regular season game in a Seattle uniform... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Whether it was intentional or not, Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto placed a heavy burden on Felix Hernandez on Thursday.If Hernandez can stay healthy and be a strong, serviceable arm for Seattle — not the ace he once was — then the Mariners' questionable pitching rotation may turn out to be just fine. If Hernandez is injury prone and unable to stay on the mound as was the case in 2017, the Mariners could again be scrambling with their pitching staff."Nuts and bolts it comes down to how Felix comes into spring training," Dipoto said during the Mariners' pre-spring training luncheon. "If Felix can give us the 25 starts or more than he gave us in 2016, we're going to be a good team. If Felix gives us 16 or less as was the case last year, we're going to have to answer a lot of questions."Putting that on Hernandez shows how tenuous the Mariners' pitching situation is going into the 2018 season. Seattle seems solid at the top of its rotation with lefty James Paxton... [More]

RHP Hisashi Iwakuma signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training, the Mariners announced Monday. Iwakuma posted an 0-2 mark with a 4.35 ERA in six starts with the Mariners last season. The 36-year-old Japanese pitcher was placed on the 10-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation on May 10 before being transferred to the 60-day DL on July 24. Iwakuma underwent arthroscopic right shoulder debridement surgery on Sept. 27. He led the Mariners in wins (16), starts (33), innings pitched (199) and strikeouts (147) during the 2016 season.

RHP Hisashi Iwakuma had surgery on his right shoulder on Wednesday after missing most of the season with shoulder inflammation. He is expected be able to start throwing against in five months, a couple of weeks after pitchers and catchers report to spring training. The Mariners have a club option for next season on Iwakuma, 36, who went 0-2 with a 4.35 ERA in six starts this year. They can re-sign him for $10 million or buy him out for $1 million.

RHP Hisashi Iwakuma told the Seattle Times he has structural damage in his right shoulder, and Servais said it was doubtful he can return this season. Iwakuma, who is 0-2 with a 4.35 ERA in 31 innings in 2017, has been on the DL with shoulder inflammation since May 10.

RHP Hisashi Iwakuma is seeking additional opinions on his ailing right shoulder, according to MLB.com. Iwakuma hasn't pitched since May 3 and is on the disabled list with inflammation of the shoulder. "He's exploring some other options, looking at his shoulder and what might be the best plan of action right now," manager Scott Servais said. "I don't have a ton of detail on it. He was talking to a couple different doctors and getting opinions on where he can go from here. That's the last I've heard."

RHP Hisashi Iwakuma also threw a simulated game Saturday, although he appears less likely to pitch for the Mariners this season. Because of inflammation in his shoulder, the 36-year-old Iwakuma has not pitched a major league game since May 8.

RHP Hisashi Iwakuma, on the disabled list since early May with right shoulder inflammation after just six starts, threw another bullpen session on Tuesday. "If his bullpen goes good today, he'll try to get a sim game, crank it up there and take one last shot and try to get back out there," manager Scott Servais said Tuesday. "He's really worked his tail off, but unfortunately for him, his arm hasn't responded real consistently. I hope we can get him out there, but it would be just a bonus right now." Iwakuma, 36, won 63 games in his first five seasons with Seattle, including 16 last year.

RHP Hisashi Iwakuma, sidelined since May 7 with right shoulder issues, took a positive step toward returning with a 40-pitch bullpen session on Saturday. "From what I understand, it's probably the best he's felt since all the stuff's been going on," Servais said. "We're starting to run out of time. For (Hernandez, Paxton and Iwakuma), it's going to have to happen pretty quick or it's not going to happen at all." Iwakuma went 0-2 with a 4.35 ERA before hitting the disabled list.

RHP Hisashi Iwakuma told MLB.com he struggled with his mechanics during a 25-pitch bullpen session Friday. Iwakuma, who has been on the disabled list since May 10with inflammation in his right shoulder, is 0-2 with a 4.35 ERA in six starts this season. There is no timetable for his return to the Mariners' injury-riddled rotation.

RHP Hisashi Iwakuma, who has been on the disabled list since May 10 with inflammation in his right shoulder, has thrown three recent bullpen sessions and is expected to throw what manager Scott Servais called an "extended bullpen" of 35 pitches Friday. "It is tough, but it is what it is," Iwakuma said through a translator. "It's been a long period, but I've got to go through all the steps (in rehabilitation)."

RHP Hisashi Iwakuma, who has been on the disabled list since May 10 with inflammation in his right shoulder, was transferred to 60-day DL when the Mariners added IF Danny Espinosa to the roster. The move was procedural, as Iwakuma has already been out more than two months. Mariners manager Scott Servais said Iwakuma is "pain free" and has been doing some long toss from about 140 feet. "The next step is to get him on the mound," Servais said.

RHP Hisashi Iwakuma, who has been on the disabled list since May 10 with inflammation in his throwing shoulder, has been shut down for the next 7-10 days after experiencing a more discomfort after a bullpen session this past weekend in Anaheim, Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "It's not feeling well yet," Iwakuma said through an interpreter. Iwakuma said he has had a cortisone injection and platelet-rich plasma therapy in an effort to curb the inflammation and hasten his recovery. "It's a lot longer than I was expecting," Iwakuma said of his absence. "It's very disappointing and frustrating." Iwakuma is 0-2 with a 4.35 ERA in six starts this season.

RHP Hisashi Iwakuma was in Seattle's plan to return to the team and rotation last week, but a bad outing in a two-inning rehab assignment pushed plans back until after the All-Star break. He has been on the DL since early May with inflammation in his right shoulder. "He's going to pitch again at some point in 2017, we're just not entirely certain when it will be," Seattle GM Jerry Dipoto said.

RHP Hisashi Iwakuma will not be filling the empty spot in the Seattle rotation on Saturday, manager Scott Servais said. Iwakuma, on the disabled list since May 4 with inflammation in his throwing shoulder, struggled in a rehab start for Triple-A Tacoma on Monday night, giving up four runs on four hits in two innings. He was scheduled to throw approximately 70 pitches but lasted just 49. "Obviously it did not go the way we hoped it would," Servais said. "Health-wise it was OK, but the ball wasn't doing much." The manager said Iwakuma will make at least one more rehab start before being activated. "He needs a little more time," Servais said. "He's not ready to go out there at the major-league level and help us." RHP Christian Bergman (4-4, 5.44 ERA) and RHP Sam Gaviglio (3-1, 3.43) appear to be the leading candidates to face AL West-leading Houston this weekend. "We'll talk with Jerry (Dipoto, the Mariners' GM) and see what matchup fits best," Servais said.

RHP Hisashi Iwakuma struggled in a rehab start for Triple-A Tacoma on Monday night. Iwakuma, who has been on the 10-day disabled list since May 4 with inflammation in his pitching shoulder, went just two innings, giving up four runs on four hits, including a home run to take the loss. He walked two and struck out three.

RHP Hisashi Iwakuma pitched four scoreless innings in his first rehab start on Wednesday at Class A Modesto as he makes his way back from inflammation in his right shoulder. Iwakuma is scheduled for another rehab start next week with Triple-A Tacoma and could make his return afterward. Iwakuma has been out since May 7 with the injury.

RHP Hisashi Iwakuma is scheduled to throw three innings or 45 pitches Wednesday as he rehabs with Class-A Modesto. Iwakuma has been on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation and hasn't pitched for the Mariners since May 3.

RHP Hisashi Iwakuma threw a bullpen session Sunday and is scheduled to make a rehab start Wednesday for Single-A Modesto of the California League, Mariners manager Scott Servais said. Iwakuma has been on the 10-day disabled list since May 4 with inflammation in his pitching shoulder. Servais said Iwakuma would go three innings or 45-50 pitches Wednesday.