Mariners Coming Down to Decision Time

With about a week left in spring training the Mariners need to make a few decisions to the opening day roster.

One of the big decisions is who will be the right handed hitting first baseman. Tomorrow March 27 the Mariners have to decide whether to add Dae-Ho Lee to the 40 man roster. In this case he would be that player however   the Mariners will have to either trade Jesus Montero or hope that he goes through waivers and no one picks him up so he can be sent to Triple A. Also, the Mariners can send Stefan Romero to Tacoma because he still has options. In any case this is not an easy decision to make. The Mariners like all three players who have bot upside and downside. Lee could decide go to Triple A however the Mariners would have to make new promises like being brought up by a certain take and likely would have to pay him a major league salary.

Another decision the Mariners have to make as well is to add Joel Peralta to the 40 man roster as well.  Peralta is a veteran relief pitcher who has had a good training camp however we know from last year that does not guarantee you anything. Most likely if he is added to the 40 man roster then Charlie Furbush who looks not to start the season with the Mariners would be the choice to be put  on the disabled list otherwise the Mariners would have to remove someone else off the 40 man roster.

Another pitcher who is having fine spring training is Donn Roach however he is not on the 40 man roster either so he is another one that will be a tough decision. At this point the Mariners have two spots in the bullpen for right handed pitchers. The Mariners still have to decide between James Paxton and Nathan Karns to be the fifth starter. The one who loses out can either go to the bullpen or be sent to Triple A. This again is not an easy decision to be made. Both are on the 40 man roster so no problem there and they both have options as well. If Paxton is not the fifth starter then the Mariners would have to send him down or be the second lefty in the bullpen. In that case Vidal Nuno would likely be sent down because Mike Montgomery is out of options and it does not look like the Mariners want to lose him because they are pretty sure he would not make it through waivers. If the Mariners decide to put Karns into the  bullpen than it leaves one choice for the Mariners to make far as adding two remaining right handers relievers.

In the case of Lee being added to the 40 man roster he would likely take the spot of Jesus Montero who is currently on the roster. I like Lee, Montero and Romero for different reasons that I have mentioned before. It will be interesting to see how the Mariners actually do in this situation. Hopefully the Mariners will find a taker for Montero in a trade. We will see. Go Mariners!