SEATTLE — Veteran right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma’s career with the Seattle Mariners appears over.
“We’ve got 12 games left,” manager Scott Servais said prior to Tuesday’s series opener against Texas at Safeco Field. “I can’t imagine he’ll make it (back). He would have to start a game, and I just don’t see that happening at this point.
“It’s disappointing for him, myself and our team.”
If this is it for Iwakuma — and it’s still not official —it’s no surprise.
Iwakuma, 36, endured repeated setbacks in his efforts to recover from a sore shoulder that forced him to the disabled list after a May 3 start against the Los Angeles Angels at Safeco Field.
The injury prevented Iwakuma from reaching the necessary 125 innings to trigger a $15 million vesting option for 2018. The Mariners are now expected to exercise a $1 million buyout clause, which will make him a free agent.
Iwakuma was 63-39 with a 3.42 ERA in 150 games over six seasons for the Mariners after arriving in 2012 following an 11-year career in Japan’s Pacific League with Kintetsu and Rakuten.
After winning a career-high 16 games last season, Iwakuma was just 0-2 with a 4.35 ERA in six starts this season prior to his injury. He continues to seek a medical solution to his slow recovery, which could include surgery.
Iwakuma was an All-Star in 2013 and pitched a no-hitter in 2015 against Baltimore, which also marks the only complete game in his big-league career.
“He had a tremendous season last year,” Servais said. “Unfortunately, things happen, and he just couldn’t get over the hump with the injury. He has worked his tail off. Nobody has worked harder. He’s tried everything he could to get back.
“It’s just not happening.”
Iwakuma became a free agent after the 2015 season and signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but that three-year deal fell apart after a standard physical examination raised concerns.
That led Iwakuma back to the Mariners on a one-year deal that included two vesting options.
Pitching plans
Felix Hernandez and James Paxton are scheduled to make their second starts since returning from the disabled list Wednesday and Thursday in the final two games against the Rangers.
Both are loosely ticketed for 70-to-80 pitches, which should enable the Mariners to avoid having a second starting pitcher lined up in a piggyback arrangement.
“Hopefully, we can get to the bullpen (in a regular fashion),” Servais said. “We might need someone to come in earlier. We do have guys who can give us a little length to help us get to the back end.
“I’m not as concerned about (having a piggyback starter) as I was last time.”
Even so, the uncertainty surrounding Hernandez and Paxton prevents the Mariners from lining up their rotation through the rest of the season.
While Erasmo Ramirez will start Friday’s series opener against Cleveland, Servais said Andrew Albers, Marco Gonzales and Andrew Moore are candidates to start Saturday against the Indians.
Albers, Gonzales and Moore are also candidates the next two nights to pitch long relief behind Hernandez and Paxton.
Mike Leake will start Sunday against the Indians in the final home game of the regular season. Leake started Tuesday in the series opener against Texas.
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