The Seattle Mariners are already planning the time after the doping ban on Second Baseman Robinson Cano has expired. He will not necessarily return as a regular, as General Manager Jerry Dipoto explained on Monday.
Dipoto did not go into detail, but he said that Dee Gordon would continue to play on second base after son and heir Cano is back. His suspension ends on August 14, but according to the rules he is not allowed to participate in possible playoffs.
“We have a pretty good idea of what we want to do, but a lot depends on where we are in the table,” Dipoto told ESPN. “As versatile and athletic as Dee is, it’s not so easy to play center field for a month and a half and then say,’By the way, you’ll be playing second base in the biggest game of your career, even though you haven’t done that in a while.'”
Gordon is a trained infielder and had established himself as a second baseman with the Miami Marlins over the last few years. The Mariners traded for him in winter, with the intention of using him exclusively in Center Field, but the Cano barrier made his preferred position vacant. A trade for Center Fielder Denard Span finally consolidated Gordon’s job at second base.
“There could be some sort of time-share, so we can all keep it fresh. But we know that Dee must play second base towards the end of the season. Because if we want to get into the playoffs – and we do – then we know who our Second Baseman will be. And that will be Dee Gordon,” Dipoto continued his considerations.
The Seattle Mariners currently lead the American League West by half a game over the Houston Astros and have a good chance of winning a wildcard. For them, the goal is to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2001.
This article was published without previous view by the Major League Baseball.