According to recent reports, Seattle Mariners utility player Brendan Donovan is nearing a return from an almost two-month stay on the injured list as a result of lingering impacts from a sports hernia. 

Reporting suggests that he'll begin a rehab assignment next week and return right after the All-Star break (July 17). He'll also play all over the field, assuming the super utility role he previously had for the St. Louis Cardinals. He's already been working out at second base, third base, left field and right field.

Of course, his return will create a roster complication for the Mariners, so how should they handle things?

We discussed that all on the most recent 'Refuse to Lose Territory' podcast.

"This is my opinion, this is not sourced, this is me talking about this, I believe the best lineup the Mariners can put out there when everybody is healthy is Cal Raleigh at catcher, Josh Naylor at first, Cole Young at second, Colt Emerson at short, JP Crawford at third, Randy Arozarena in left, Julio Rodriguez in center, and Brendan Donovan in right, with Dom Canzone as the DH.

I believe that that is the best lineup the Mariners can put out there, and the best defensive positioning, at least as it relates to keeping everybody in the lineup, right?

So Canzone the DH, Arozarena in left, Donovan in right.

Luke Raley, to me, is the guy who stands to lose the most playing time out of my scenario. But it does not mean that Luke Raley will never play. Again, Brendan Donovan will play everywhere.

So one day he'll play left field, and that means that Arozarena will be out and Raley will be in right. One day he will play second and Cole Young will be out, which means Luke Raley will get a chance to play right.

So I think that Luke Raley is the most affected by my 'A' lineup, but I think he's ultimately going to get a chance to still play and play a lot. But that is the best lineup I think the Mariners can put out there."

Acquired from the Cardinals this offseason, Donovan is hitting .274 with three homers and eight RBIs this season. He's played in just 25 of 88 games so far, though he has posted a 140 OPS+ when he's been healthy.

His return will be a welcome sign for a Mariners offense that rates near the bottom of the league in several categories.

Seattle is 45-43 and in a tie for first place in the American League West. They'll play the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night at 7:10 p.m. PT.

The most recent 'Refuse to Lose Territory' podcast is out. You can listen here, or you can watch in the YouTube player below.

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