SEATTLE — St. Louis pitcher Adam Wainwright is this year’s recipient of the Hutch Award and will be honored Jan. 27 at a luncheon at Safeco Field, where proceeds will benefit the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
The award dates to 1965 and seeks to recognize a player who “best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire” of Fred Hutchinson, by persevering through adversity.”
Hutchinson was a Seattle native who was 95-71 in 1939-53 with Detroit and later served 12 years as a manager for Detroit, St. Louis and Cincinnati. He died in 1964 from lung cancer.
The Hutch Award luncheon raised more than $4.8 million over the last 16 years. Kansas City outfielder Alex Gordon was last year’s recipient.
Previous winners include two Mariners: Jamie Moyer in 2003, and Raul Ibanez in 2013.
Martin, Sardinas surging
Two of the Seattle Mariners’ off-season acquisitions are on a postseason tear in the Caribbean.
Center fielder Leonys Martin is batting .341 (14-for-41) with a .481 on-base percentage through 12 postseason games for Licey in the Dominican Winter League. He joined Licey just one game prior to the playoffs.
Infielder Luis Sardinas is batting .571 (16-for-28) with a .613 on-base percentage in six postseason games for La Guaira in the Venezuelan Winter League. He batted .314 for the Tiburones (Sharks) in the regular season.
Martin projects as the Mariners’ regular center fielder, while Sardinas will compete for duty as a utility infielder.
The Mariners acquired Martin from Texas with pitcher Anthony Bass in a Nov. 16 trade for reliever Tom Wilhelmsen, outfielder James Jones and utilityman Pat Kivlehan.
Martin, 27, lost his starting job last season with the Rangers when he slumped last season to .219 with a .264 on-base percentage in 95 games. He batted .264 with a .316 OBP over the four previous years.
The Mariners recently released Bass, at his request, in order to allow him to pursue an opportunity to pitch in Japan.
Sardinas, 22, came to the Mariners from Milwaukee in a Nov. 20 trade for outfielder Ramon Flores after batting .196 for the Brewers in 36 games.
Multiple services rates Sardinas among the top 100 prospects prior to the 2013 and 2014 seasons while he was in the Texas organization.
Arbitration filings
Barring any late (and unexpected) agreements, three Mariners will file Tuesday for salary arbitration: Martin and relievers Charlie Furbush and Evan Scribner.
The players will exchange salary figures Friday with the club. Hearings will be held Feb. 1-21 in Phoenix where, if the two sides fail to reach agreement, an arbitration panel will choose one of the two submitted figures.
Martin made $3.75 million last year at Texas, but he isn’t expected to get much of a raise after a poor season. MLBTradeRumors.com projects Martin will make $3.75 million again.
Furbush, 29, made $1.3 million last season and projects for a raise to $1.7 million after compiling a 2.08 ERA in 33 appearances before suffering a season-ending biceps and rotator-cuff injury in July.
Scribner, 30, is eligible for arbitration for the first time. Acquired Dec. 8 from Oakland, he made $512,500 last season and projects for a raise to $700,000.
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