Garcia (shoulder) has begun throwing at extended spring training in Arizona, MLB.com reports.
General manager Justin Hollander notes Garcia remains without a timeline for return, but there's still hope the right-hander will be able to pitch again at some point in September. Garcia was in the early stages of his Mariners tenure when the shoulder issue popped up, as he'd been acquired via trade from the Blue Jays on July 26 and had logged a total of nine innings across 10 appearances.
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Mariners' Yimi Garcia: Placed on injured list
Rotowire
The Mariners placed Garcia on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to Tuesday, due to right elbow inflammation.
Garcia will go on the IL with elbow trouble for the second time this season. As a member of the Blue Jays, he landed on the shelf in June due to right elbow neuritis, and his return was delayed due to neck stiffness. He has struggled since joining the Mariners in late July, posting a 6.00 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across nine innings, and he has given up at least one earned run in each of his last three outings. Given his prior injury history, Garcia could be sidelined beyond the 15-day window, putting his availability for Seattle's playoff push in jeopardy. The Mariners recalled southpaw Gabe Speier from Triple-A Tacoma in a corresponding move.
Garcia recorded his 13th hold of the season in a loss to the Tigers on Thursday, allowing an earned run on a walk over two-thirds of an inning.
Garcia issued an inning-opening walk to Austin Meadows in the eighth inning before retiring the next two batters, but Andres Munoz then surrendered a two-run home run to Javier Baez that allowed Meadows to cross the plate. Garcia has been charged with a combined three earned runs over the last two days and five overall in his last five appearances, a stark contrast to the four straight scoreless one-inning outings with which he opened his Mariners tenure.
Garcia recorded his 12th hold in a win over the White Sox on Sunday, firing a perfect eighth inning.
Garcia was just acquired via trade with the Blue Jays on Friday, and he's been put right to work with the Mariners. Sunday's stellar seven-pitch outing was preceded by Garcia's Saturday debut, when he earned his 11th hold with a pair of strikeouts over one clear inning. Garcia figures to see plenty of seventh- and eighth-inning work now that Ryne Stanek has been traded to the Mets, and he should also be in line for an occasional save opportunity on days Andres Munoz is unavailable.
The Mariners acquired Garcia from the Blue Jays on Friday in exchange for outfielder Jonatan Clase and catcher Jacob Sharp, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Garcia has been one of the better relievers in baseball this season, posting a 2.70 ERA and 42:8 K:BB K:BB over 30 innings while recording five saves. He will be part of the late-inning picture in Seattle but will likely be behind Andres Munoz in the pecking order for saves.
