Update: Carlos Gonzalez NOT released by the Mariners

Jon Heyman getting something wrong about the Mariners? Color me shocked.

Yesterday, the infamous Jon Heyman of MLB Network and The Score reported that veteran outfielder Carlos Gonzalez was amongst the 50+ minor league players reportedly cut by the Seattle Mariners. Heyman has since corrected himself, claiming that his initial report is false, and that Gonzalez remains in Seattle’s organization for the time being.

We, of course, reported on the news once it went public. Heyman is regarded as one of the more prominent baseball informants on Twitter, although he’s most famous for “breaking” stories hours after they’ve been broken elsewhere; still, his status in the industry inclines us to believe him more often than not.

As for Gonzalez, this latest development is a bit surprising considering that the move to release him at this time made some sense. Gonzalez was unlikely to make the Mariners’ 26-man roster or any other sort of extended roster for that matter. It’s possible, however, that Seattle does see him as an asset on their “taxi squad” that each team is rumored to be afforded if the 2020 MLB season resumes. It would likely be Gonzalez’s best opportunity to see game action this year.

Releasing him would also give him the option to seek out another team who views him as a fit in a similar situation, as well as open another spot on the aforementioned “taxi squad” for a player with a more long-term path in the Mariners’ organization.

But, one has to wonder if you can even trust Heyman on his correction. Perhaps Gonzalez has been released. It shouldn’t be too long before we get official word on the abundance of names the Mariners have let go this week. Could another one of their noteworthy veteran minor league signings, Wei-Yin Chen, be on his way out, or will he survive this wave of cuts as well in hopes of serving as depth to a rotation that will likely go beyond five pitchers if the regular season happens?