Mariners notebook: Walker leaning toward having surgery

Published 4:00 pm Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Medical updates

Right-hander Taijuan Walker indicated he is leaning toward surgery as a permanent solution to the troublesome tendinitis in his right foot.

The problem limited Walker in several starts and caused him to spend a month on the disabled list. It stems from the stress that Walker puts on his arch as he pushes off the rubber and is aggravated by his flat feet.

While treatment appeared to correct the problem over the final month, Walker acknowledged concern over a recurrence in the future. Any decision on surgery must be made soon because the anticipated recovery period is three to four months.

Reliever Steve Cishek plans to undergo surgery to repair a small tear in the labrum of his left hip. He pitched the final six weeks with the injury after treatment lessened its impact during time on the disabled list.

Reliever Tony Zych appears headed for surgery to address the tendinitis in his rotator cuff, which limited him to 12 appearances. The anticipated recovery time for the procedure is a two to three months.

2017 Draft

As things now stand, the Mariners will have the 18th pick in the June MLB Draft, although they could move up if clubs ahead of them forfeit their first-round picks by signing free agents who receive qualifying offers from their former clubs.

The draft order is determined through a reverse order of the records for all 30 clubs, i.e., the club with the worst record, Minnesota, gets the first pick.

The first 10 picks are currently protected from the penalty of signing a free agent with a qualifying offer. Those clubs forfeit their second pick if they sign such a player.

There is further uncertainty at this point because the labor agreement is expiring. While a new agreement is generally anticipated shortly after the World Series ends, it could contain new provisions regarding the draft.

Minor details

While Lo-A Clinton posted the best record this season in the Midwest League, it landed only one player in Baseball America’s rankings of the league’s top 20 prospects.

Left-handed pitcher Luiz Gohara, 20, was No. 11 after going 5-2 with a 1.82 ERA following his June 30 promotion from Short-A Everett.

“Gohara appeared more athletic on the mound this season,” Baseball America reported, “making his delivery more repeatable and helping his control.

“He walked 3.3 batters per nine innings, which is a huge improvement from previous efforts, while striking out 60 in 54.1 innings.”

The Mariners signed Gohara, a Brazilian native, for $800,000 in 2012. He becomes Rule 5 eligible this winter, which means he is likely to placed on the 40-man roster in November.

Bob Dutton, The News Tribune