Seattle Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu talked with bullpen coach John Wetteland Friday and said he believes that all the talk Thursday about suicide and mental health issues were highly premature.

"He's doing great," Wakamatsu said. "A lot of things got blown out of proportion. He had a domestic dispute -- an argument. His blood pressure raced, and obviously his wife called the police. The next thing you know, it's about suicide. It had nothing to do with that."

According to a report by the CBS affiliate in Dallas, officials in Denton County, Texas, said Wetteland was hospitalized for a mental health issue.

According to the report, the Denton County Sheriff's office said they took a call from the Argyle/Bartonville area around 12:30 p.m. Thursday on a possibly suicidal person. When officers arrived to the home, a man later identified as Wetteland came out with his hands in the air, saying he "needed help."

Wetteland said in a statement Thursday, "The circumstances leading to my elevated blood pressure and heart rate have been addressed. I am currently resting safely at home."

Milwaukee declined its $6.5 million mutual option on Braden Looper, electing to pay the pitcher a $1 million buyout. Looper, 35, a right-hander, filed for free agency later Friday. Milwaukee had until yesterday to decide whether to exercise the option.

After signing with the Brewers as a free agent Feb. 12, Looper went 14-7 with a 5.22 ERA. He made at least 30 starts for the third consecutive season and established a career high in wins, which led the team. He also set a franchise record with 39 homers allowed, which led the majors, while also topping big league pitchers in runs (123).

After five years in exile, Wally Backman is making a return to a Major League Baseball affiliate with New York, which will name him manager of the Brooklyn Cyclones, a Class A affiliate.

Backman will be working for a major league affiliate for the first time since 2004. In November that year, Backman was hired to manage the Arizona Diamondbacks, but he was fired four days later after the team discovered he had been charged with domestic violence and drunken driving and never informed them of it during the interview process.

Backman did not find a job in baseball again until he was hired to manage the South Georgia Peanuts of the independent South Coast League in 2007. A year later, he moved to the Joliet JackHammers of the independent Northern League; he was fired by July because of the team's on-field performance.

Newsday reports that the Mets intend to be among the serious bidders for Angels right-hander John Lackey when the free-agent signing period begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday. ... Along with the Yankees and the Angels, sources tell the Chicago Tribune that the Cubs plan an aggressive push to land Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson. ... The Baseball Writers' Association of America will announce the American and National League rookies of the year at 2 p.m. tomorrow.

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