SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners are going with five outfielders for now after recalling Ben Gamel from Triple-A Tacoma and optioning left-handed pitcher Ariel Miranda back to the minors.Seattle's roster shuffling finally allowed a chance for Gamel to rejoin the club Wednesday. Gamel was sidelined by a strained oblique during spring training.He started his rehab assignment on April 5 and hit a combined .286 with five RBIs in 10 games at Single-A Modesto and Tacoma. Gamel was Seattle's projected starting left fielder but the injury ultimately led to the club signing Ichiro Suzuki during spring training. Suzuki has split time in left field with Guillermo Heredia through the first three weeks of the season.The decision to option Miranda will mean Seattle has five outfielders — Gamel, Heredia, Suzuki, Dee Gordon and Mitch Haniger — for now.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

SEATTLE (AP) — Robinson Cano has spent enough time now to understand the angst surrounding the Seattle Mariners.The Mariners have the longest playoff drought in the four major sports, meaning there is an urgency to finally end the skid. They also appear to be an average ballclub at a time when the American League is filled with mostly superpowers and rebuilders.It's an odd spot for a club with talent but scant optimism that this is the year the playoff drought ends."We've been close a couple of times. ... That's life, that's part of the game. But I know we have a bunch of great guys here, guys who know how to play this game," Cano said.The Mariners enter the 2018 season with an offense that could score a lot of runs and a pitching staff that could give up just as many. Cano and Nelson Cruz are the anchors of a batting order that with the additions of Dee Gordon and Ryon Healy could be potent enough to keep Seattle in a lot of games. But there's mostly skepticism about the pitching staff.James... [More]

Capsules of American League West teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Houston Astros2017: 101-61, first place, won World Series.Manager: A.J. Hinch (fourth season).He's Here: RHP Gerrit Cole, RHP Joe Smith, RHP Hector Rondon.He's Outta Here: DH Carlos Beltran, RHP Luke Gregerson, RHP Joe Musgrove, RHP Mike Fiers, RHP Michael Feliz, INF Colin Moran.Projected Lineup: CF George Springer (.283, 34 HRs, 85 RBIs), 3B Alex Bregman (.284, 19, 71, 39 2Bs), 2B Jose Altuve (MLB-best .346, 24, 81, 39 2Bs, 32 SBs, AL MVP), SS Carlos Correa (.315, 24, 84), 1B Yuli Gurriel (.299, 18, 75, 43 2Bs), LF Marwin Gonzalez (.303, 23, 90, 34 2Bs), DH Evan Gattis (.263, 12, 55), RF Josh Reddick (.314, 13, 82, 34 2Bs), C Brian McCann (.241, 18, 62).Rotation: LH Dallas Keuchel (14-5, 2.90 ERA, 251 Ks), RH Justin Verlander (15-8, 3.36, 219 Ks with Tigers and Astros), RH Gerrit Cole (12-12, 4.26, 196 Ks with Pirates), RH Lance McCullers Jr. (7-4, 4.25), RH Charlie Morton (14-7, 3.62).Key Relievers: RH Ken... [More]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — David Price made his delayed spring-training debut for Boston, allowing one hit over four scoreless innings in a 7-5 win over Toronto on Thursday.Price struck out five and walked one. An elbow injury limited to a career-low 11 starts last season."Felt good," Price said. "I had really good fastball command early. I made good pitches when I needed to. I stayed away from the big part of the plate with the exception of a couple of fastballs. I thought it was a good day."Price was 6-3 with a 3.38 ERA last year. The 32-year-old left-hander is entering the third season of a $217 million, seven-year contract."This is March 15 and I've never had a four-pitch mix this early in spring training," he said. "I've never been this far along even though I've only thrown in one game. I'm excited about it."Andrew Benintendi drove in two runs with a pair of doubles for the Red Sox, while Christian Vazquez hit his first home run — a two-run drive. Teoscar Hernandez had two hits and two... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — As general manager Jerry Dipoto accurately explained, the Seattle Mariners are a team stuck in the middle.They're not in the position of rebuilding. They have enough talent and enough veterans — with big contracts — to be competitive. But they're not among the elite of the American League, including the Houston Astros in their own division.So as the Mariners head to spring training next week, they'll do so in a very awkward position. Their everyday lineup is already established. Their pitching — led by lefty James Paxton — could be strong if key players perform up to expectations. Seattle very well could be in contention for a playoff spot in the American League and possibly end the longest playoff drought in baseball.But no one believes Seattle is in position to compete with the superpowers of the league."What gets me in an urgent position every day is understanding where our roster is, how to build this group into a playoff scenario, and let them do what they do," Dipoto... [More]