Originally published April 8, 2009 at 12:00 AM | Page modified April 8, 2009 at 1:30 PM
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Notebook | M's sign closer candidate
The Mariners have another bullpen candidate in the pipeline. Onetime major league closer Jeff Zimmerman signed a minor league deal with the team. Zimmerman is 36 and hasn't pitched in the majors since 2001.
Seattle Times staff reporter
Mariners next five games
Today | @ Minnesota, 5:10 p.m., FSN | Silva (0-0) vs. Slowey (0-0)
Thursday | @ Minnesota, 10:10 a.m., FSN | Washburn (0-0) vs. Perkins (0-0)
Friday | @ Oakland, 7:05 p.m., FSN | Rowland-Smith (0-0) vs. Outman (0-0)
Saturday | @ Oakland, 1:05 p.m., no TV | Hernandez (1-0, 1.12) vs. Braden (0-1, 4.50)
Sunday | @ Oakland, 1:05 p.m., FSN | Bedard (0-0, 5.40) vs. Cahill (0-0, 3.60)
The Mariners have another bullpen candidate in the pipeline. Right-hander Jeff Zimmerman, the former closer for the Texas Rangers, signed a minor-league deal with the team.
Zimmerman is 36 and hasn't pitched in the majors since 2001.
Top Mariners scout Carmen Fusco looked at him at the end of spring training and came away impressed. Zimmerman was throwing up to 90 mph, but what really impressed M's officials was how free and easy he was throwing.
Zimmerman will join a group of extended rehabbers at the team's facility in Peoria, Ariz., today.
"He will begin a program to get him ready to pitch for us this year," GM Jack Zduriencik said.
Zimmerman had 28 saves for the Rangers in 2001 and was selected to the All-Star team in 1999, but then endured a series of injuries, including two Tommy John surgeries. He has kicked around the minor leagues since, with a tryout or two the past couple of seasons.
Zduriencik could not offer a time frame for Zimmerman's use, other than some point in the next six months.
"Between Zimmerman, Tyler Johnson and Chad Cordero, this could be the best extended throwing group ever assembled by a major-league team," Zduriencik said.
Notes
• Kenji Johjima was behind the plate to catch for pitcher Erik Bedard Tuesday night. That hasn't happened in a regular season game since last May.
• Russell Branyan broke two bats in the season opener. Branyan uses both maple and ash bats, though it was the maple ones — noted for shattering the past few years — he broke against the Twins. One of the bat shards smacked catcher Mike Redmond in the mask, while another, later in the game, flew roughly 75 feet into the stands. A fan caught that one and nobody was hurt.
"I didn't know where the heck it was until the guy caught it," Branyan said. "Somebody told me the guy caught it. I was just glad everyone was OK. I don't think I could throw a bat that far."
Geoff Baker: 206-464-8286 or gbaker@seattletimes.com.
For the record
| W-L | W PCT | |||
| 1-1 | .500 |
Streak: L1
Home: 0-0
Road: 1-1
vs. AL West: 0-0
vs. L.A.: 0-0
vs. Oakland: 0-0
vs. Texas: 0-0
vs. AL East: 0-0
vs. AL Cent.: 1-1
vs. NL: 0-0
vs. LHP: 1-0
vs. RHP: 0-1
Day: 0-0
Night: 1-0
One-run: 0-0
Extra inn.: 0-0
Copyright © 2009 The Seattle Times Company
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