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Mariners welcome back Cano after 80-game suspension

Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Seattle Mariners reinstated infielder Robinson Cano from the restricted list Tuesday following the completion of his 80-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance in May.

With Dee Gordon now serving as the Mariners' second baseman, Cano isn't expected to return to his primary position, though Gordon is currently battling a shoulder issue that has caused him to miss back-to-back games. Over his minor-league rehab appearances, Cano's played first and third base while also slotting in as a designated hitter, so he could be used as a jack-of-all-trades.

"There is no great blueprint that says this is what is going to happen 33 percent of the time or 67 percent of the time," manager Scott Servais told Greg Johns of MLB.com. "We have to play it day by day and series by series. It's a great offensive player to add to our mix, and the fact he can move around the field and is willing to do it, it should really keep some guys fresh and hopefully it pays dividends."

Though the suspension makes Cano ineligible for the postseason, he rejoins a Mariners team clinging to its playoff hopes, trailing the division-rival Oakland Athletics by 2 1/2 games for the second wild-card spot. The teams play game two of a key three-game set Tuesday night in Oakland.

The 35-year-old tested positive for Furosemide, a diuretic, which is not a performance-enhancing drug, though it can be used as a masking agent. He accepted the suspension after saying he was prescribed the substance by a doctor to treat an injury.

"He’s a great player," Servais told The Athletic's Corey Brock. "He made a mistake. He wants to put it behind him as quick as he can."

Prior to the suspension - and suffering a fractured right hand - Cano was enjoying a fine season at the plate. In 39 games, he was hitting .287/.385/.441 with four home runs and 23 RBIs.

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