Brewers' Jesse Winker: Making spring debut Tuesday
Rotowire
Winker (neck, knee) is making his Cactus League debut Tuesday.
Winker will DH and bat second in what is also his unofficial Brewers debut. He had a rough go of it in Seattle last season, due in part to neck and knee injuries, but there is bounce-back potential ahead for the 2021 NL All-Star.
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Brewers' Jesse Winker: No limitations in camp
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Winker (neck, knee) has been working out at the Brewers' spring training complex in Arizona and will not face any restrictions at the start of spring training.
Winker is coming back from a minor knee surgery and also an operation on his neck in which he had a herniated disc replaced. The neck injury in particular seemed debilitating, as Winker sunk to a .688 OPS in 2022, but it sounds like he'll head into 2023 with a clean bill of health. The 29-year-old also had a major ballpark upgrade when he was traded from Seattle to Milwaukee over the offseason, giving him a good shot to bounce back this year.
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Brewers' Jesse Winker: Sent to Milwaukee
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Winker (neck, knee) and Abraham Toro were traded from the Mariners to the Brewers on Friday in exchange for Kolten Wong and cash considerations, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Winker endured a rough 2022 campaign after he was acquired by Seattle and had a .688 OPS in 136 games, and he then required knee and neck surgeries after the season. Winker will earn $8.25 million in 2023, which is the final year of his contract. He should see action in the corner outfield and at designated hitter with the Brewers.
GM Jerry Dipoto announced Wednesday that Winker underwent knee surgery last week and is also scheduled for neck surgery, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports.
The 29-year-old landed on the injured list with a neck injury in early October, and he's apparently also dealing with a knee issue. The injuries capped a season to forget for Winker, who posted a career-worst .219/.344/.344 slash line in 136 games after being acquired from the Reds in March. Assuming he's healthy, Winker is likely to open spring training as the favorite to start in left field to open 2023, but his disappointing first season in Seattle could leave him with a short leash.
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Mariners' Jesse Winker: Likely done for 2022
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Mariners manager Scott Servais said Wednesday that Winker (neck) has been placed on the 10-day injured list and is unlikely to return for the postseason, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports.
Seattle made the decision to deactivate Winker after reviewing the results of the MRI he underwent earlier Wednesday. The 29-year-old is on the Mariners' books for 2023 after inking a two-year, $14.5 million deal in June, but he may be on a short leash for an everyday role after struggling in his first season in Seattle. Winker will finish the 2022 campaign with a .219/.344/.344 slash line to go with 14 home runs, 53 RBI and 51 runs in 136 games.
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Mariners' Jesse Winker: Still sitting for Game 2
Rotowire
Winker (neck) is not in the lineup for Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Tigers, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports.
Winker was scratched from Monday's lineup with the neck issue and won't start either game of Tuesday's twin bill. Jarred Kelenic will start in left field and bat second in the nightcap.
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Mariners' Jesse Winker: Out with neck issue
Rotowire
Winker (neck) is not in the lineup for Game 1 of Tueday's doubleheader against the Tigers.
Winker is day-to-day with a neck issue. Adam Frazier is starting in left field and batting eighth.
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Mariners' Jesse Winker: Tending to neck issue
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Mariners manager Scott Servais said Winker was scratched from the lineup ahead of Monday's 4-3 loss to the Tigers due to a neck issue, Curtis Crabtree of Fox 13 Seattle reports.
The injury looks to be a day-to-day concern, but it could be enough to keep Winker on the bench for both ends of Tuesday's doubleheader with Detroit. Sam Haggerty also departed Monday's game with a groin injury and is also iffy for the twin bill, potentially leaving the Mariners shorthanded in the outfield.
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Mariners' Jesse Winker: Late scratch Monday
Rotowire
Winker has been scratched from Monday's starting lineup against the Tigers.
It's unclear if Winker was removed from the starting nine due to an injury, or whether skipper Scott Servais simply had a change of heart. Sam Haggerty will start the contest in left field and bat eighth.
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Mariners' Jesse Winker: Prevents shutout Sunday
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Winker went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a walk in Sunday's 10-3 loss to the Athletics.
It took until the ninth inning, but Winker helped the Mariners avoid a shutout with his three-run blast. It was his first extra-base hit in 15 games, and his first homer since Aug. 17, as the outfielder has endured a rough second half of the campaign. The extended slump has dropped his slash line to .219/.344/.344 with 14 homers, 53 RBI, 51 runs scored and 15 doubles through 136 contests. On the bright side, he's hit safely in four of his last five games.
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Mariners' Jesse Winker: Out against lefty
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Winker isn't starting Friday against the Athletics, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Winker will begin Friday's game in the dugout with southpaw Ken Waldichuk set to start for Oakland. While he rests, Sam Haggerty will start in left field and bat eighth.
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Mariners' Jesse Winker: Scores once in return
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Winker went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored in Thursday's 10-9 extra-innings win over the Rangers.
The 29-year-old drew a walk in the fourth inning and scored on a Jarred Kelenic home run. Later in the contest, Carlos Santana pinch hit for Winker. It's been a rough September for Winker, as he's gone just 8-for-47 (.170) with a 12:13 BB:K through 18 contests. He's at a .218/.343/.339 slash line with 13 homers, 50 RBI, 49 runs scored and 15 doubles through 134 games overall.
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Mariners' Jesse Winker: Returns to lineup Thursday
Rotowire
Winker (wrist) is starting Thursday against the Rangers.
Winker sat out the last two games due to a bruised left wrist, but he'll serve as the designated hitter and bat sixth Thursday. Over his last five games, he's gone 3-for-11 with two runs, two RBI, two walks and four strikeouts.
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Mariners' Jesse Winker: Sitting again Wednesday
Rotowire
Winker (wrist) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers.
The 29-year-old will sit for the second straight game after he suffered a left wrist bruise on a hit-by-pitch Sunday. Winker should be considered day-to-day while Sam Haggerty starts in left field and bats sixth Wednesday.
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Mariners' Jesse Winker: Not in Tuesday's lineup
Rotowire
Winker (wrist) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Rangers.
The veteran outfielder exited Sunday's contest with a bruised left wrist and will be sidelined for at least one game. Winker had X-rays come back negative and should be considered day-to-day until his status is updated.
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Mariners' Jesse Winker: X-rays negative
Rotowire
Winker, who left Sunday's game against the Royals with a bruised left wrist, underwent X-rays that came back negative, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports.
Winker was replaced by a pinch runner in the fifth inning after being hit by a pitch, and he should be considered day-to-day for now. He'll be able to rest since the Mariners have a scheduled day off ahead of Tuesday's series opener against Texas.
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Mariners' Jesse Winker: Dealing with wrist bruise
Rotowire
Winker was removed from Sunday's game in Kansas City with a bruised left wrist, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports.
Winker was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded during the fifth inning and was replaced by a pinch runner. The 28-year-old should be considered day-to-day and will have Seattle's scheduled day off Monday to aid in his recovery before Tuesday's series opener versus Texas.
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Mariners' Jesse Winker: Productive as in-game replacement
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Winker entered Saturday's win over the Royals as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning and remained in the game as the designated hitter, going 2-for-3 with a run.
Winker delivered the first of two singles upon being called on to hit for Luis Torrens, coming around to score on Cal Raleigh's 444-foot shot to right a batter later. The veteran outfielder had originally been out of the lineup due to the presence of a southpaw, Kris Bubic, on the mound for the Royals, but his insertion into the game led to Winker snapping a stretch of 14 plate appearances without a hit.
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Mariners' Jesse Winker: Sits against lefty
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Winker will sit against lefty Kris Bubic and the Royals on Saturday.
Winker had more than a platoon role for much of the year, but he's been on the bench against the last eight lefties the Mariners have faced. He actually has reverse splits this season, posting a 126 wRC+ against lefties and a 97 wRC+ against righties, though those numbers sit at 83 and 136, respectively, for his career. Sam Haggerty will get the start in left field.
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Mariners' Jesse Winker: Sitting against southpaw
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Winker is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game at Oakland.
Winker is 5-for-34 through 11 games in September and will take a seat Tuesday with lefty JP Sears on the mound for the A's. Sam Haggerty will start in left field and bat ninth.
