The Seattle Mariners pickup three
pitchers during the winter meetings and two of the pitchers will either start
in Tacoma or be in the backend of the bullpen. Right now the Mariners are expected to have thirteen
pitchers to fill the 25 man roster so
that means two bench players and backup catcher.
The first of the three pitchers
acquired was reliever Shawn Armstrong traded for international pool money with
the Cleveland Indians and then left handed starter Anthony Misiewicz from Tampa
Bay also for pool money. Misiewicz likely start the season in Tacoma and later
on Wednesday signed free agent reliever Juan Nicasio to a two year contract. Nicasio
will be in the mix with Nick Vincent and David Phelps as late inning setup men.
Nicasio can be used as a closer when Edwin Diaz is not available. This leaves
Armstrong to compete for remaining two right handed relievers in the bullpen.
Of course this may depend whether Ariel Miranda or Marco Gonzales is in the bullpen
as the long reliever or not. In this case there would only be a spot for one
right handed reliever. It will be quite the battle for that last right handed
reliever spot for sure.
On Thursday morning the Mariners
selected left handed hitting first baseman Mike Ford from the New York Yankees
in the rule 5 draft. Ford has to make the Mariner the opening day roster
according to the rules of the rule 5 or be asked to return to the Yankees and
be on the roster all season long. Ford has been listed now as the Mariners
twenty-second prospect so the likelihood of him making the opening roster is
slim however not impossible. With the acquisition of Ryon Healy to play first
base the Mariners won’t likely keep two first basemen. The Mariners will have
only room for three bench players going with thirteen pitchers. Guillermo
Heredia is expected to be the fourth outfielder who will platoon with Ben Gamel
and backup both Dee Gordon and Mitch Haniger. The other spot will be the
utility player who will play all the infield spots including first base and the
backup catcher.
It looks like right now the Mariners
are not going to go after another starting pitcher which in my mind is a
mistake however Dipoto might not be playing his whole cards though he says that
he is done. The reason I think it is a mistake that will cover if James Paxton,
Felix Hernandez or Mike Leake get hurt for extended period of time. None of the
other candidates who will fit the fourth and fifth spots come close except
possibly Erasmo Ramirez.
The importance of the starting
rotation is that all the starters can get through six innings at least. Anyway
I guess we will see won’t we. Go M’s.
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