Paxton, Lomo close to rehab stints

ARLINGTON -- Outfielder/first baseman Logan Morrison and left-handed starter James Paxton are both on line to begin Minor League rehab assignments this weekend, Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said Wednesday.

Morrison has been on the 15-day disabled list since April 15 with a strained right hamstring and re-injured his leg while running the bases on April 29, but he's been working out with the team and hitting on the current road trip and is ready to start playing games.

"He ran well today," McClendon said prior to Wednesday's series finale with the Rangers. "If all goes well tomorrow, he'll go out on a rehab Friday in Tacoma."

Paxton, on the DL since April 8 with a strained left lat muscle, threw a three-inning simulated game on Tuesday and will throw in the bullpen on Thursday when the team returns to Safeco Field to open an 11-game homestand. If there are no problems Thursday, the 25-year-old southpaw will likely start his own rehab stint in Tacoma on Sunday.

The Mariners aren't setting any firm timeline, but if Paxton throws two Minor League rehab games, he'd then be ready to rejoin the Mariners the first week of June.

Right-hander Taijuan Walker is about a week behind Paxton in his own throwing schedule as he returns from a shoulder impingement that shut him down in mid-April. He'll throw another simulated game at Safeco Field sometime this weekend before a decision is made on when to send him on his own Minor League rehab.