Stephen Brashear/Getty ImagesThe Seattle Mariners and managerScott Servais have reached an agreement on a multiyear extension.The team announced the move Friday as the second half of the MLB season gets underway. General managerJerry Dipoto issued a statement:Seattle Mariners MarinersJerry Dipoto on the extension for Scott Servais: NAsECZX5gUServais has become the franchise's fourth-winningest manager since taking over ahead of the 2016 season. He has gone 222-199 (.527) in two-plus seasons on the job http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-ozzie-smith-jersey , and while he hasn't yet been able to snap the organization's long playoff drought, he has had his team in contention.The Mariners battled for a playoff spot until the eve of the regular-season finale in 2016. They finished in third place in the American League West last year with a record of 78-84.This year, though Albert Pujols Jersey , the 51-year-old skipper has his club in position to make the postseason for the first time since 2001.Seattle enters the second half at 58-39. While they trail the Houston Astros by five games in the AL West, the Mariners hold a three-game lead in the race for the second wild-card spot. Servais deserves some credit for the success.The Mariners have continued to pile up wins even without key players. All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano wassuspendedfor 80 games in May, while pitchers Felix Hernandez (the 2010AL Cy Young winner)and James Paxton (who threw a no-hitter in May) are both on the disabled list.Seattle still has to battle for a playoff spot http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-stan-musial-jersey , but Servais can now do so without feeling as though he's managing for his job down the stretch. NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees slugger Aaron Judge had 11 at-bats in a simulated game and New York closer Aroldis Chapman threw 22 pitches, perhaps the last steps before both are cleared to return to full action.The team said Judge faced right-handers A.J. Cole and Chance Adams along with minor league left-hander Phillip Diehl at Yankee Stadium on Monday. Judge is recovering from a broken right wrist, sustained when he was hit by a pitch from Kansas City’s Jakob Junis on July 26.Judge’s only major league action since then was two innings in right field on Friday night.Chapman threw to Tyler Wade and Kyle Higashioka. He has not pitched in a game since Aug. 21 because of left knee tendinitis.The team said Judge and Chapman did not have any issues. Manager Aaron Boone said last weekend that Judge and Chapman could return during the three-game series against Boston scheduled to start Tuesday. The Red Sox can clinch the AL East by winning any of the games in New York Roger Maris Jersey , while the Yankees hold the top AL wild-card spot.
