OAKLAND -- Dee Gordon's bruised left shoulder is still sore and the broken big toe on his right foot still hasn't healed completely, but the Mariners speedster says this is no time to be sitting.
So after being out of the lineup the previous two games, Gordon was back at second base for Tuesday's game against the A's even as former second baseman Robinson Cano returned from his 80-game suspension and was installed at first base.
"The shoulder is better. I've just got to play," Gordon said. "From here on out, I'm playing. I'm going. I've been playing through a broken toe and all kinds of craziness all year, so I'm going."
Gordon said his biggest concern with the shoulder was injuring it worse if he dives for a ball in the field.
"You know I'm going to dive," he said. "Stealing bases, I didn't want to hit it hard again and further injure it. So they gave me a day or two."
Gordon will play primarily second base the remainder of the year, but manager Scott Servais said he would be moved to center field at times to keep him in the lineup and allow Cano time at second base. And he'll get no complaints from Gordon about that.
"It's kind of what it's been for me all year," he said. "If I told you that I wasn't going to do it for selfish reasons, then I'm not the guy that they brought in. My character is not going to waver."
Clearly Gordon is better defensively at second base, where he'd played the past five years and won a Gold Glove in 2015 with the Marlins. But he spent the first 40 games of this season in center field and will give it his best, as needed.
"I'll do what I've got to do," Gordon said. "It's plain and simple. There's no crying about it or anything. We've got to win ballgames. We're not in first, we're not anywhere we need to be. We've got to win ballgames, so whatever it takes is what I've got to do."
Servais appreciates the willingness to embrace that attitude from Gordon, Ryon Healy, Cano and everyone else who might see their roles change.
"At the end of the day, there's a common theme here," he said. "We just want to win and take this organization to the playoffs. We haven't been there in a long time and everybody understands. They're all willing to sacrifice a little bit and that's what it ultimately takes. Whether it's a day off here that may make you stronger in September or whatever, they're willing to trust and that says a lot."
Gordon said the fact that Cano -- an eight-time All-Star second baseman -- is open to changing positions sent a pretty clear message.
"We're trying to win," Gordon said. "That's been our goal and we're doing a really good job of it. We hit a bump in the road, but hopefully we're back on the right page now. Get him back, get me back and we'll be all right."