Early Spring Training Woes: Guti out, Walker ailing

Sep 6, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners right fielder

(21) scores a run off a RBI single hit by Seattle Mariners third baseman

(15) (not pictured) during the 3rd inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

So much for the Franklin Gutierrez reclamation project in 2014.

When the Mariners finalized and publicized their signing of closer Fernando Rodney, the corresponding 40-man roster move was placing Guti on the restricted list. The gastrointestinal problems that plagued him last offseason are back, and he will have to sit out all of 2014. At least there won’t be any speculation as to whether he can help this team win. Because he can’t anymore.

And only to make matters worse, it appears that Taijuan Walker has been experiencing shoulder soreness, something that will limit him early in Spring Training camp.

As was revealed yesterday, Hisashi Iwakuma will be missing 4-6 weeks with a strained tendon in one of the fingers on his throwing hand.

So far Spring Training drills haven’t even started and the M’s are already down three guys that could potentially play major roles in 2014.

Oh, and Jesus Montero let everyone know that he has done nothing this offseason but sit around and eat. And he apologized for steroids.

We can only hope this is the M’s getting all the bad ju-ju and karma out-of-the-way now. This current state makes it seem all the more likely we will make a push for Ervin Santana, and also for Nelson Cruz, seeing as the rotation is looking slimmer and slimmer and we just lost one of the guys we were hoping could contribute on a part-time basis in the outfield.

Go M’s! But damn, this sure is a rough start.