10-day IL for James Paxton, Jake Fraley as Mariners promote Braden Bishop, Ljay Newsome

The Seattle Mariners announced two adjoined roster moves today after last night’s injuries, placing LHP James Paxton in the 10-day IL with a strained left forearm and OF Jake Fraley to the 10-day IL as well with a strained left hamstring. To replace them, Seattle promoted RHP Ljay Newsome and OF Braden Bishop, who were both at the club’s alternate training site, which in 2021 is... T-Mobile Park. Not the worst commute.

Injuries are always unfortunate, but both come at obviously inconvenient times for the players and the club. Paxton’s spring was promising, as was his first inning, but while Paxton noted less pain than he’d felt in 2020, any recurring pain at all in the forearm and elbow region is alarming for a pitcher. The club will slot in LHP Nick Margevicius to Paxton’s spot in the rotation for the moment, with Newsome moving into the long relief role Marge had held.

Fraley’s hamstring strain is yet another injury waylaying the career of the 25 year old outfielder, who was leading MLB in walks coming into last night’s game despite just a single hit. Fraley had to come out hot this spring, as he had a roughly 2-3 week window of full-time reps to establish himself before Seattle would get one extra year of contract control out of him suddenly realize Jarred Kelenic had enough time against minor league pitching. Kelenic will likely be promoted on or around April 16th, when Fraley should be eligible to return at the earliest. Braden Bishop has struggled to translate high minors offense into big league production, but should see reps as the best defensive CF on the club, and hopefully help balance a bench that has struggled massively against LHPs already this year as it did in 2020.