Seattle Mariners Narrow Competition For Bench, Bullpen Jobs
It’s understood that most players in big league camp during MLB spring training will be cut. The players know, the coaches know, the fans know – you can only roster 25 guys, but most teams bring sixty-plus to camp. Today wasn’t the first day the Seattle Mariners re-assigned players to the minors, but it was the most significant group yet to be sent down.
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Lloyd McClendon got to channel his inner Homer Simpson this morning, shipping eleven players out of big league camp as the 25-man roster begins to take shape. Included in this group were several legit candidates to make the Mariners. As far as insight into the roster is concerned, today’s cuts tell us a lot.
Gone are Lucas Luetge and Rafael perez, two of the more prominent competitors to be the bullpen’s second lefty. The competition is basically down to David Rollins and Tyler Olson, who have combined to give up exactly one run this spring. There’s also Joe Saunders, but he’s struggled and isn’t worth losing Rollins for at this point. He’ll be reassigned soon enough, one would guess.
James Jones and Stefen Romero were absurdly prominent members of last year’s Mariners team, but now that the club has actual outfielders in the fold neither of these guys will be needed much. Or, perhaps, at all! Both Jones and Romero were optioned to Tacoma today, where they’ll hopefully work like crazy on their defense while trying to hone their approaches in hopes of someday being viable bench options.
Franklin Gutierrez is still hurt. He still entirely out of action, despite hopes that he’d have been ready to go on Tuesday. Surprise, surprise. He’s here on a minor league deal, and so off to the minors he goes.
Jesus Montero was a longshot to make the club, though perhaps he shouldn’t have been after showing up to camp in killer shape and smacking some balls around while playing stunningly competent defense. He’s on his way to AAA now after having been optioned today.
Patrick Kivlehan and Ketel Marte also seemed like possibilities to replace Willie Bloomquist on the bench, albeit in our dreams alone. The Mariners really, truly are going to give a roster spot to Gritty McHustlebustle, it appears, as the two young multiple-position options that remained in camp have both been sent down. Kivlehan, in particular, was impressive this spring. These guys will be fun to watch in Tacoma.
Speaking of impressive youngsters, D.J. Peterson‘s time in MLB camp is up, too. He’s been reassigned to minor league camp while the organization figures out where he fits. My guess would be AA, since there’s simply too many bodies clogging up Tacoma right now. Man, was he fun this spring. I’ve long been skeptical of Peterson as a prospect, even going as far as to sell high on him as the key to a Desmond Jennings trade in my offseason plan. Watching him mash this March changed my mind. He rules.
The M’s also sent away catcher John Hicks and RHP Justin Germano. They weren’t going to make the team, and now it’s official: they’re not going to make the team. If you’re surprised, you’re the only one.
With these moves, the Mariners have indicated that they’re still madly in love with Wee Willie Boom Boom all these years later, and that they’re probably going to give the Rule 5 kid the bullpen job while they keep looking at the dazzling Olson. Not unexpected moves, but moves nonetheless. Roenis Elias pitches today in Arizona, so watch baseball, if that’s what you’re into.