Breaking News: Seattle Mariners Franklin Gutierrez Injured, Season Could Be Over

I'm not one to throw in the towel too early, but I am a realist.

In the bottom of the second during a 9-7 loss to Detroit, the Mariners have lost a key contributor to their amazing turnaround in center field.

Franklin Gutierrez looks to have been hurt badly.

He was attempting a run-saving diving catch, which he had no chance of accomplishing. He hit the wall with his arm fully extended, and his wrist snapped backward to a noticeable degree.

To add to things, on the way down, he hyperextended his knee almost a full 90 degrees—double whammy.

From the looks of it, it could be a season-ending injury.

Based on batting average, he was among the Mariners' top-three hitters, and he compiled 12 home runs and 42 RBI.

His defense is tops in the Major Leagues for OFs; that's irreplaceable, even if they make a trade.

On a meager offensive team, his offense is also irreplaceable.

With injuries already sustained to starting LF Endy Chavez, 3B Adrian Beltre, and the trade of starting SS Yuniesky Betancourt, the M's could now be down a fourth starter, which is half of the Opening Day lineup.

With Ryan Langerhans in LF, I guess that puts a Band-Aid on the issue, but, still, in order to contend for the playoffs, the Mariners must address three starting positions via trade.

That's not going to happen in the first season of a Bill Bavasi cleansing; they were an unlikely contender this year anyways, and they would have to sacrifice too many prospects in order to acquire their three needed starters.

However, there is one OF solution and that would be calling up top prospect Michael Saunders.

How much stock can you put in a fresh minor league face? I don't know, but if they were to move Ichiro to CF and Saunders to RF, then they could acquire the two starting INFs they need if he proved effective.

Nonetheless, losing Guti is a huge blow, and many Mariners fans likely have the same thoughts running through their heads as I do in regards to the situation.

Hopefully it's just a scratch, you know?