Saturday, March 27, 2021

Mariners Make A Few Moves

Friday the Mariners made some more moves
before their game against the San Diego in
which they lost 6-3.

The Mariners two top prospects Jarred Kelenic
and Julio Rodriguez were assigned to minor 
league camp along with relievers Brady Lail
and Paul Sewald. Lail was competing for a 
spot in the bullpen, however, at this point 
he down the list.

The Mariners assigned three players to the
alternate site in right hander Ljay Newsome,
lefty Aaron Fletcher, and outfielder Braden
Bishop. Newsome and Fletcher both had
good springs deserved to be on the roster
however had players in their spots ahead
of them. Bishop on the other hand wasn't
a big surprise since he didn't start to many
games and came in late most of the time
he was in games.

The Mariners now down to 33 players I
believe anyway so seven more players 
to cut before opening day on April 1.
The Mariners final spring training game
will be on Monday so expect the remaining
cuts happen by then. 

Ken Giles the Mariners signed before 
training camp started to a two year contract
will miss all of 2021 because of Tommy John
surgery is listed so he will go on the injured
list when the final cuts happen so that leaves
six other players.  

The Mariners right now have nine relievers 
in camp still. So this means the Mariners have
two relievers to cut. They are going with a
eight man bullpen, however, Justin Dunn or
Nick Margevicius competing for the sixth
man in the starting rotation, the loser of the
spot will go into the bullpen. Expect at some
point the one going to the bullpen will make
a start as well during the season. Also, we
should expect Logan Gilbert to be brought
up during the season.  When will depend on
how he is doing in the minors. The minor
league season doesn't start until May though
training camp starts as soon as the major 
leaguers go to Seattle. We may not see
Gilbert until June at the earliest depending
on what is happening in the rotation.

As far as the infield there are eight listed.
Five already have made the opening roster
in first baseman Evan White, second baseman
Dylan Moore, shortstop JP Crawford, third
baseman Kyle Seager, and dh/infielder Ty
France. This leaves three infielders. Shed
Long Jr. hasn't played in any game this
spring so likely he will go on the injured list
or sent to minor league camp. The final two
are Sam Haggerty and Jose Marmolejos.
Haggerty has the best chance of sticking 
because he can play all the infield spots
as well as outfield. The Mariners do need
to have someone to back up JP Crawford
at shortstop which means Haggerty unless
Dylan Moore plays instead and Ty France
is in at second base. Marmolejos can only
play first base and the outfield.

Now we come down to the outfield. The
Mariners have four with Mitch Haniger
and Kyle Lewis as the sure things. The 
other two are Taylor Trammell and Jake
Fraley. One of the two will end up being
the opening day left fielder. They both 
can play center and right field when Lewis
and Haniger need a day off. Also, Sam
Haggerty and Dylan Moore can play
either spot if necessary as well. Marmolejos
is really good in left field though could play
in right if necessary.  So I expect Marmolejos
will be the one not making the opening roster.
We may know the outcome over this weekend.

Friday night Marco Gonzales started; he didn't
have another good game for the second time
in a row. He is the opening day starter for the
Mariners; we hope he pitches better and I expect
he will.  Gonzales went five innings giving up
nine hits and six runs. 

The Mariners went with Joey Gerber and Erik
Swanson next. Gerber went two-thirds of an
an inning while Swanson finished off the inning.
Neither one yield a hit.  Rafael Montero expected
to be the closer and Kendall Graveman finished
off the game going an inning each without giving
up a hit. Gerber and Swanson are competing for
the last two spots in the bullpen. Best to both
of them. Go M's. 

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