MLB notebook: Mariners' Hernandez (forearm) is day-to-day

[February 28, 2018]  Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez appears to have dodged a major injury after being struck by a line drive in the upper right forearm on Monday during a spring training game.

Chicago Cubs catcher Victor Caratini ripped a pitch back up the middle in the second inning at Mesa, Ariz., and it struck Hernandez on his pitching arm near the elbow. The 31-year-old flinched but was unable to raise his glove in time to stop the hard-hit ball.

The Mariners announced X-rays on Hernandez's forearm came back negative and that he is day-to-day.

"The report I got back is that it's a contusion," manager Scott Servais said. "Nothing's broken, but he's going to be out for a little while."

--Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman underwent an MRI that discovered inflammation in his throwing shoulder.

The scan showed Stroman's shoulder is structurally fine, and he is expected to resume throwing within five days.

Stroman told reporters he first experienced shoulder discomfort in January as he ramped his activities up. He attempted to pitch through it before deciding to get it checked out following a bullpen session Sunday.

--Two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum agreed to a contract with the Texas Rangers.

According to multiple reports, Lincecum will join the Rangers on a one-year deal. Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reported Tuesday that Lincecum could be the favorite to become the team's closer. Lincecum was deciding between two or three teams, per the report, including the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The right-hander impressed at a showcase earlier this month, with his fastball reportedly clocking between 90-92 mph after he averaged 88.4 mph on his heater with the Los Angeles Angels in 2016. Lincecum didn't pitch professionally in 2017 after a disastrous run with the Angels in 2016.

--New York Yankees star outfielder Aaron Judge is still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and doesn't expect to feel 100 percent until Opening Day.

Judge is set to make his spring debut in right field Wednesday.

The Yankees announced in November that the 25-year-old underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder that "involved a loose-body removal and cartilage clean-up." At the time, the team anticipated Judge's recovery would be completed prior to the start of spring training.

--Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel left the club's spring training facility in Florida and returned to Houston to have his left hand checked out by the team doctor.

 

Gurriel was scratched from the Astros' game Monday as a precaution for what the team called "wrist discomfort." Manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday that the injury is actually in the hand and that the team is "concerned enough to send him back to Houston."

Hinch said he is unsure what caused the injury.

--Veteran first baseman Mike Napoli agreed to a minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians and received an invitation to spring training pending a physical, according to multiple reports.

Napoli, 36, hit .239 with 34 home runs and 101 RBIs in his one season with the Indians in 2016. He was a fan favorite in that time, with "Party at Napoli's" becoming a rally cry for the club as it secured the American League pennant.

Following his successful campaign in Cleveland, Napoli rejoined the Rangers, with whom he played from 2011-12 and in 2015, on a one-year deal. The Rangers declined their option for 2018 after Napoli hit .193 with 29 home runs and 66 RBIs last season.

--The Major League Baseball Players Association has filed a grievance against the Miami Marlins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays over concerns regarding revenue-sharing spending.

Union spokesman Chris Dahl confirmed Tuesday morning that a grievance was filed Friday. When reached for comment by the Tampa Bay Times, which first reported the story, MLB responded with the following statement: "We have received the grievance and believe it has no merit."

The complaint covers the 2017 season and current offseason and claims the four teams singled out have failed to comply with the rules of spending revenue-sharing money.

--Andrew Bailey, the 2009 American League Rookie of the Year as a member of the Oakland Athletics, announced his retirement from Major League Baseball in a post on his Instagram account Monday.

The 33-year-old said he would be joining the Los Angeles Angels in a staff role. Pedro Moura of The Athletic reports he will be the team's instant replay coordinator and a coaching assistant.

--Chicago White Sox third base prospect Jake Burger, the No. 11 pick in last year's draft, will undergo season-ending surgery on Thursday in Chicago after rupturing his left Achilles tendon.

Burger sustained the injury running out a ground ball against the Athletics on Monday.

--Field Level Media

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