Mariners scramble to fill outfield gap

PEORIA, Ariz. — Jeremy Reed's second season with the Mariners wasn't supposed to start this way, delayed by a broken wrist, departing early from spring training to see a hand specialist in Seattle.

It was supposed to start on time, on April 3, in center field and good health.

Not anymore. Not for at least the four to six weeks manager Mike Hargrove estimated Reed will miss. On Friday, X-rays confirmed the worst-case scenario for the pain Reed felt Thursday night, a broken bone, sending the Mariners scrambling for short-term options in center field with the possibility healing could take longer.

"You feel real bad for him," Hargrove said. "He's worked hard in the offseason, worked hard here in camp. We felt like his stroke was starting to come around. You feel bad for the kid — a freak thing."

Reed fractured the scaphoid bone in his right wrist chasing a fly ball into the center-field wall Thursday night in the fifth inning of the Mariners' win over Arizona. He left for Seattle on Friday morning to be examined by Dr. Carleton Keck at the Seattle Hand Group.

General manager Bill Bavasi said the Mariners will not rush Reed back.

"With guys like Jeremy who are good hitters, from here to here," Bavasi said, pointing from his elbow to his wrist, "means a lot.

"If we were to get lucky, and he's back in four or five weeks, that's great. If it's seven or eight weeks, that's OK, too. As long as that part of his body gets healed real well. We'll be real careful."

The Mariners still need to find a center fielder in the meantime. There are several options, but not one that stood out early. Bavasi and Hargrove said they needed to talk to each other before discussing any options with the media. They are expected to provide more information today, along with an update on Reed's condition.

Some possibilities:

• The Mariners move infielder Willie Bloomquist to center field. He's more than capable defensively, and already fills in there occasionally. With backup outfielder Matt Lawton serving a 10-game steroid suspension to start the season, the Mariners would likely need to keep an additional infielder on the roster if they moved Bloomquist to the outfield full-time.

• Move Ichiro from right field to center. Hargrove said he had not discussed a potential move with Ichiro — some speculated that the Mariners' silence Friday might have been because that had not been discussed — but when asked directly about Ichiro, Hargrove said he would consider it.

Ichiro has said in the past that he would play center field, and he has played that position in Japan.

"At some point in time, I would [consider it]," Hargrove said. "I don't know that we're there yet. But certainly that's one of the options."

• Use Joe Borchard in center field or in right field (if Ichiro moves to center). The Mariners recently acquired Borchard in a trade with the Chicago White Sox, and he played center field against the White Sox on Friday afternoon, making a couple plays defensively and going 0 for 3 at the plate.

Hargrove said he likes Borchard's speed but that he needs to shorten his swing. Hitting was Borchard's problem in the White Sox organization.

"It seems to be a good opportunity for me," said Borchard, who played center field for three years in the minors.

• Wait until Lawton comes back, and play him in center field (he said he would do it, but does not expect to) or in right field.

• Go outside the organization and acquire a center fielder.

Another byproduct to consider is changes in the batting order. Most believed Reed would hit second for the Mariners, although his replacement is by no means guaranteed to hit there. Likely candidates include shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt, Lawton, if he's playing, and second baseman Jose Lopez.

"I feel terrible for Jeremy," Lawton said. "He was playing really well this spring, really looking forward to having a big year. He's ready to make that next step. Coming off last season, he wanted to go out and really try and make a name for himself."

Greg Bishop: 206-464-3191 or gbishop@seattletimes.com