MINNEAPOLIS — Shed Long will eventually be the Mariners’ everyday second baseman. That’s why they acquired him this offseason as part of a plan to rebuild their lineup of the future.
There is no timetable for when he’ll take over that role. It could be next season; it could be next month if Dee Gordon is traded to a contender. Until then, Long has to do other things to get at-bats, including starting in left field on Wednesday in Minnesota — his first start at a position other than second base at the major-league level. He did make a handful of appearances in left field during spring training and started nine games in left field for Tacoma.