The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Seattle Mariners have both positioned themselves to be two of the best teams in baseball this upcoming season. The Dodgers secured a top pitching rotation while the Seattle Mariners added some fire power to their batting lineup which could help carry both teams to the postseason in 2014.
The Mariners have been playing well so far in spring training. The team is 5-1 overall and while that really means nothing when it comes to predicting the outcome of the regular seasons, it is certainly a nice start. The team might sitting on top of the Cactus League right now, but injuries have already started to make their way through the lineup. Starting pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma has injured his finger and could be out for some time, while top prospect Taijuan Walker has a hurt shoulder. Both players are not expected to be healthy at the start of the regular season which could hurt the team's start to the year.
Big offseason signing Robinson Cano is concerned that the Mariners still do not have enough on their roster to make it through the entire year. The right-hander told CBSSports.com that he believes the team needs to sign another big bat and suggested free agent hitter Kendry Morales might be the best option. He put up 23 home runs for Seattle last season. The team has been looking for another arm and bat as spring training continues.
The Dodgers are already dealing with injuries of their own. Starting pitcher Zach Greinke has already been ruled out for the team's season-opening series against the Arizona Diamondbacks after suffering a calf injury in one of his first spring starts. The Dodgers do not expect the injury to linger too long. There is also concern about Yasiel Puig after he reported to camp overweight. He is expected to bat lead-off and the Dodgers need the young star to step up.
