Russell Branyan wants to return to the Mariners next season but also this season as he is recovering from a back injury. 33-year old lefty swinging 1B Russell Branyan has played in 116 games for the Mariners this season and he is 108 for 431 (.251 avg, .867 OPS) with 64 runs scored, 31 homers and 76 RBIs. His weakness is whiffing as he has K’d 149 times this season. But for the power he produces you can live with the strikeouts. The Mariners would be smart to bring back Branyan next season.

The Mariners will be without starting catcher Kenji Johjima due to a broken toe that will cause him to miss the next 6-8 weeks. He has played in 25 games this season for the Mariners and he is 22 for 88 (.250 avg, .661 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 3 homers and 10 RBIs. Rob Johnson will take over as the starting catcher while Johjima is out of action. Johnson has played in 25 games this season for the Mariners and he is 16 for 76 (.211 avg, .563 OPS) with 6 runs scored and 8 RBIs. The Mariners have recalled 27-year old righty swinging catcher Guillermo Quiroz to replace Johjima on the active roster. He has played in 21 games in AA+AAA ball this season and he is 19 for 74 (.257 avg, .660 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 2 homers and 7 RBIs. Quiroz has also played in 95 games in his major league career in which he is 47 for 234 (.201 avg, .535 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 2 homers and 26 RBIs.

The Mariners have placed 25-year old righty reliever Shawn Kelley on the 15-day disabled list with a strained oblique muscle. This is a shame as Kelley was off to a outstanding start of the season. Kelley has pitched in 10 games (0 starts) for the Mariners this season and he is 1-1 with a 1.54 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. He has whiffed 11 batters in only 11 2/3 innings showing what kind of stuff he has. The Mariners have recalled 25-year old lefty reliever/starter Garrett Olson from AAA to replace Kelley on the pitching staff. Olson started 5 games in AAA-ball this season and he was 2-2 with a 3.08 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. He has pitched in 33 games (all starts) in his major league career so far and he is 10-13 with a 6.87 ERA and a 1.82 WHIP.

The Mariners have placed closer Brandon Morrow on the 15-day disabled list with right biceps tendinitis. Morrow has pitched in 7 games for the Mariners this season and he is 0-1 with 5 saves, a 4.05 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Veteran David Aardsma will replace Morrow as the closer while he is out. Aardsma has pitched in 9 games so far this season for the Mariners and he is 0-0 with 3 saves, a 1.93 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. He has the stuff to succeed as a stopper as long as he can throw strikes. The Mariners have recalled 34-year old righty reliever Denny Stark to replace Morrow in the bullpen. Stark hasn’t pitched in the majors since the 2004 season with the Colorado Rockies and he has had Tommy John Surgery twice in his career. Stark pitched in 7 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball this season and he is 0-0 with 1 save, a 3.97 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. Stark has pitched in 62 games (42 starts) in his major league career to date and he is 15-13 with 5 saves, a 5.78 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP.

The Mariners have placed starting catcher Kenji Johjima on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring. Johjima has played in 7 games this season for the Mariners and he is 6 for 24 (.250 avg, .500 OPS) with 1 run scored. Johjima will be replaced on in the starting lineup at catcher by rookie Rob Johnson. The 25-year old righty swinging Johnson is the Mariners’ #13 rated prospect according to Baseball America. Johnson has played in 4 games for the Mariners so far this season and he is 3 for 13 (.231 avg, .539 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 3 RBIs. Johnson should do a good job for the Mariners while Johjima is out of action. 37-year old righty swinging Jamie Burke has been brought up from AAA to back up Johnson. He has played in 98 games the last two seasons for the Mariners and he was 58 for 205 (.283 avg) with 29 runs scored, 2 homers and 20 RBIs. Burke should do a solid job when called upon by the Mariners while Johjima is out.