Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford begins rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma

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Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford begins rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma

2026-04-01 08:34 Last Updated At：08:40

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford, who began the season on the 10-day injured list with a right shoulder injury, will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma, the club announced on Tuesday.

Mariners manager Dan Wilson confirmed Crawford will play for the Rainiers in Tuesday’s game against the El Paso Chihuahuas, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres.

President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto anticipates Crawford will also play for Tacoma on Wednesday, and hopes he will then be able to join the Mariners on Friday when they face the Los Angeles Angels.

Crawford, 31, was Seattle’s starting shortstop for every opening day from 2019 to 2025. He was limited to seven spring training games due to his right shoulder injury and batted .143 with no extra-base hits.

Wilson said Crawford is progressing well in his return from injury.

“He’s been really on track,” Wilson said, “and in some ways ahead of where you would think because of spring training and getting opportunities to get as many at-bats as possible and that kind of thing. So, excited that he’s getting close.”

Top shortstop prospect Colt Emerson could also be close to joining the Mariners. Emerson agreed to a $95 million, eight-year deal with the team, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The contract, which starts this season and includes a team option for 2034, would be the largest ever for a player who has not made his major league debut. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been announced.

Emerson batted .357 with one home run and a double and a 1.000 on-base percentage plus slugging in three games for Triple-A Tacoma. He appeared in 18 spring training games for the Mariners and batted .268 with two homers and eight RBIs and an .828 OPS.

Emerson is believed to be Seattle’s shortstop of the future, and will one day replace Crawford, who is the longest tenured player on the Mariners roster.

Once Crawford is healthy and Emerson makes it to the big leagues, though, Dipoto suggested that Crawford will stay at shortstop and Emerson will mostly play at third base.

“That was always our plan," Dipoto said. "It’s why you saw Colt so frequently at third base in the spring is we were preparing for that, and third base came pretty easy for him.”

All-Star infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan and utility man Leo Rivas have started each Mariners game this season at third base and shortstop, respectively. Dipoto was not shy about saying he anticipates Emerson will join the Mariners sometime in the near future.

“I suspect he will be a big leaguer sooner than later, and will contribute heavily to this season," Dipoto said. "And, I thought that was the case before we signed him. This signing was more about the long term than it was this season.”

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JetBlue raises its checked bag fees by as much as $9 as the Iran war affects fuel costs

U.S. carrier JetBlue has raised its checked bag fees by as much as $9 as the war in the Middle East disrupts global oil supplies and increases fuel prices.

The new fees took effect Monday. For most domestic economy passengers, the first checked bag now costs $39, up from $35. During peak travel times such as April spring breaks, major holidays and the summer, passengers will have to pay $49 instead of $40, the airline said.

The airline, which has its flagship terminal at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, said in an emailed statement to The Associated Press on Tuesday that charging more for optional services “used by select customers” would allow it to keep its airfares competitive.

“While we recognize that fee increases are never ideal, we take careful consideration to ensure these changes are implemented only when necessary,” JetBlue said.

Airlines around the world are confronting soaring operating expenses due to jet fuel prices that have jumped more than 85% since the Iran war began on Feb. 28. The conflict has curtailed ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key passageway for a fifth of the world's oil. Airspace closures in parts of the Middle East have added to the price pressure by forcing some airlines to take longer routes that burn more fuel.

A number of non-U.S. carriers already have added fuel surcharges or raised ticket prices in response.

Jet fuel is one of the airline industry’s biggest expenses, typically accounting for about a quarter of operating costs. The average price for a gallon of jet fuel reached $4.64 on Tuesday, up from $2.50 the day before the conflict broke out, according to Argus Media. The energy market intelligence company's U.S. Jet Fuel Index tracks the average prices across major hubs, including Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and New York.

Industry analysts expect U.S. airlines to pass some of their higher fuel costs on to travelers through add-ons, such as checked bags and seat upgrades, since they don't typically have fuel surcharges. And once one airline raises fees, analysts say, others are likely to follow.

JetBlue also increased the charge to check a second bag from $50 to $59 for off-peak periods, and from $60 to $69 for periods of peak demand.

The carrier said some customers would still be able to check their first bag for free, including those who hold one of the airline's co-branded credit cards and loyalty program members who reach certain tiers. Most customers flying transatlantic routes will also continue to receive their first checked bag free.

Iran's determination to close off the Strait of Hormuz to ships from nations it considers unfriendly has caused crude oil prices to fluctuate wildly and in turn, driven up fuel prices. Earlier this month, the CEOs of Delta Airlines, American Airlines and United Airlines reported that higher jet fuel prices had already added about $400 million in operating costs.