Morrison working at first base as precaution

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said Justin Smoak is the team's first baseman. But that is the only position at which Logan Morrison is working early in camp.

Morrison, of course, was acquired from the Marlins in an offseason trade to bring a left-handed power bat to the Seattle lineup. Morrison was primarily an outfielder until last year, and that eventually may be where he is listed most often on the Mariners' lineup card -- if not designated hitter -- but for now, Morrison is a first baseman in McClendon's eyes.

"As spring progresses, he'll get some work in the outfield," McClendon said during his Monday morning media briefing. "Right now, I chose to leave him in the infield to make sure he's moving forward and staying healthy. The same with [Corey] Hart. He'll stay in the outfield for now, but he'll get some work at first, too."

Morrison played as an outfielder in 181 of 185 games over 2010-11 and 59 of 93 games in 2012. But injuries relegated him to first base in 79 of the 85 games he played last season.

Morrison was a highly touted prospect coming up through the Marlins' system and delivered on that promise in 2010, when he hit .283, and the early portion of 2011, when he clubbed 23 home runs.

"It's just a matter of health with LoMo. When he's healthy, he can do some damage," McClendon said. "My job is to do everything we possibly can to keep him healthy. And right now, moving him back and forth in the early spring is something I don't want to do."