Bradley goes on restricted list; Saunders called up from Tacoma

Milton Bradley has been placed on baseball’s “restricted” list, which means he’ll be away from the team a minimum five days and a maximum of however long it takes to get him into a position mentally to play again.

Don’t count on Bradley’s issues to be solved anytime soon. It will take the collaborative efforts of Bradley, psychologists and the team to determine when he’ll be in a position to play again.

General manager Jack Zduriencik, while saying he hoped Bradley would return after spending the minimum five days on the restricted list, knows it’s foolish to put a timetable on someting as serious as this.

“The timeframe is yet to be determined,” Zduriencik said. “I don’t know the answer to this because I’m not a professional in this field. We will get recommendations as we go through this process. I will be in touch with Milton.”

Here’s a definition of the restricted list, according to Major League Baseball’s Rule 15:

Players on the restricted list do not count towards the Reserved List (40-man) or Active List (25-man) limits. Players on the restricted list do not receive pay, and may not sign with another team. A player may remain on this list for two consecutive years before he is removed — either activated or released. Often, placing a player on the Restricted List is akin to releasing him without fully relinquishing his rights. However, sometimes younger international signees can be placed on the Restricted List while they are finishing school.

That can be pretty heavy stuff, particularly the part where it’s “akin to releasing him.”

However, Zduriencik said the Mariners placed Bradley on the restricted list instead of the disabled list because the DL would prevent him from coming back for at least 15 days. The five-day minimum stay on the restricted list creates the possibility that Bradley could be playing again by early next week.

No way is that happening.

The Mariners have called up outfielder Michael Saunders from Class AAA Tacoma, and he’s expected to arrive on a flight from Portland within an hour of tonight’s game. Ryan Langerhans is starting in left field tonight, but manager Don Wakamatsu more than hinted that Saunders would get a reasonable amount of playing time.

Other notes before tonight’s game:

Shortstop Jack Wilson is considered day-to-day after leaving Wednesday night’s game because of a tight hamstring in his right leg. He’ll be available tonight only on an emergency basis, but the Mariners don’t believe he’ll miss much time.

Erik Bedard will pitch a simulated game Monday or Tuesday. It’ll depend on whether he can get the session in Monday before the team flies from Seattle to Baltimore. If not, he’ll do it before Tuesday’s game against the Orioles.

Tonight’s lineups:

RAYS

Jason Bartlett, shortstop

Carl Crawford, left field

Ben Zobrist, second base

Evan Longoria, third base

Carlos Pena, first base

B.J. Upton, center field

Willy Aybar, DH

John Jaso, catcher

Gabe Kapler, right field

Right-hander Jeff Niemann, starting pitcher