Critical Week in Spring Training

Now with less than two weeks until regular season begins in major league baseball it is a critical week for both some players and teams. This week it is important for some players to perform at their best. Teams have to decide before the season begins what their final twenty-five man roster will be. At this point most teams have only a few spots to decide what player will make the team to fill out the remaining roster.

The Seattle Mariners came into spring training with only a few spots actually available. Most of the roster was already filled. The Mariners general manager and manager say they likely will make the final decisions this weekend so players that do not make the team can either get ready for minor league baseball or hook up with another team. For a veteran player who does not make the roster it could be the end of the line unless they can hook up with another team. They have to decide to keep going or retire.

The positions that are still waiting to be decided on the Mariners is the fifth starting pitcher, second left handed reliever, a fifth right handed relief pitcher, and backup catcher.

The fifth starting pitcher on the Mariner staff right now comes down to Tijuan Walker and Roenis Elias. Right now the edge seems to go with Walker. It is likely the loser will start the season in Triple A though Elias could end up the second left handed reliever. His advantage is that the Mariners know what he can do since he pitched almost the whole season last year for them. Also, he is on the Mariners forty man roster which is a whole another story I may get into some other time.

The three main candidates remaining in spring training to fill the spot of the left handed reliever are rookies David Rollins, Tyler Olson, and veteran Joe Saunders. Rollins at this time has the advantage because he is rule 5 player the Mariners picked up during the off season. The rule 5 players has to be offered back to his original team or put on waivers for the other major league teams to pick up before going back to the minor leagues. I may get into that at another time as well. Tyler Olson has had very good spring training; however, the Mariners have the option of sending him back to the minor leagues which is likely will happen. The Mariners do know what he can do so if a relief pitcher gets injured or does not perform very well they can bring him up at any time. Joe Saunders advantage is that he is a veteran that the Mariners already know what he can do; however, they have to decide in his case by March 31. At that point he has to be told either he has made the team or not. If he does not make the team he can either go to the minor leagues or try to hook up with another Major League team. The Mariners if they decide to keep any of the three left handed relievers they have to add them to the forty man roster as well as the twenty-five man roster. So it would affect another player who currently is on the forty man roster. They would have to release a player or put them on waivers.

The backup catcher has two candidates for the position. Jesus Sucre ended last season as the backup catcher and he is very good defensively. He has the advantage at this time. The other candidate is John Baker; however, his odds of making the team are not very good. Also, he would have to be added to the forty man roster as well. He is a veteran so he could decide not to go to the minor leagues as well. I am sure the Mariners hope he does because they would love to have a veteran catcher available because of injuries.

Anyway, I have to say good luck to those players, and I do not envy the Mariners on having to make those final decisions. One thing we do know for sure is that Mariners should have a very good year. We just hope that not too many injuries happen.