Mariners' Sucre suffers broken leg during winter ball

Seattle Mariners manager Jerry Dipoto made it a priority to beef up his team's catching depth over the winter, and those moves are paying early dividends after Jesus Sucre suffered a broken leg during winter ball in Venezuela over the weekend.

The Mariners confirmed the 27-year-old is set to undergo an exam on Monday to determine the extent of the injury, though Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times reports it's believed Sucre suffered a broken fibula. No timetable for his recovery has been confirmed, but initial reports estimate six weeks.

Offseason acquisitions Steve Clevenger and Chris Iannetta are expected to handle the Mariners' catching duties at the major league level, while Sucre and Mike Zunino are projected to begin the year in Triple-A.

The defensive-minded Sucre hit .157/.195/.228 with one home run and six doubles in 52 games with the Mariners last season.