Mariners Non-Roster Invitees

The Seattle Mariners have twenty-two non-roster invitees to spring training along with the forty man roster that will be in spring training beginning in just under a month.

Most likely most of these non-roster invitees won’t make the team and many of them will be starting the season in either AA or AAA unless they are released.

I will look at some of these non-roster invitees. The name we recognize the most is Iwakuma who the Mariners signed as a triple A however invited to spring training. He is the most likely one who would make the opening day roster however he is coming off shoulder surgery and may start the season on the disabled list. If so he will likely be sent to Tacoma when he comes healthy and will be available for the Mariners if they need to bring someone up to the Mariners if they need a fifth starter because of injury or lack of performance. The Mariners are looking go to a six man rotation possibly in the second half of the season so he could fit that spot or a long reliever. That is another position he could fit in is as a long reliever.

The Mariners have little room for anyone to make the opening day roster. The roster is set pretty much though a couple or three spots could be filled. Christian Bergman and Casey Lawrence are two pitchers besides Iwakuma could make the roster or be available during the season. They are competing for the fifth starter and long reliever spots though the chances are not good for them. They could be available during the season because of injury unless they decide to go elsewhere or are released.

Another pitcher that might have a good chance is Ryan Garton who the Mariners picked up from the Atlanta Braves in August. He actually did an excellent job in the bullpen coming in for an inning as the first pitcher out of the bullpen. The Mariners don’t have much room in the bullpen either so he might start the season in Tacoma but the Mariners may need him at some point in the season. The Mariners have five other non-invitee pitchers but they have a less chance to make it unless they surprise the Mariner staff.

The Mariners have two catchers on the forty man roster who have the best chance to make the roster as Mike Zunino’s backup. They are Mike Marjama who could have the best chance to be Zunino’s backup along with David Freitas. They have three non-roster invitees as well. Most notable is Tuffy Gosewisch who spent a little time with the Mariners  however spent most of the season in Tacoma but he didn’t even hit well as Zunino when he was sent down in May to Tacoma. Unless he hits better and none of the other catchers hit he likely will start the season in Tacoma as well. The Mariners picked up two rule 5 minor league catchers in Joe DeCarlo and Joe Odom who I don’t know anything about. They likely will start the season in double A though one could be at triple A.

The most notable infielder to be invited is veteran Gordon Beckham who spent most of the season in Tacoma could make the roster as the utility infielder though he likely will start the season in Tacoma. The Mariners will go with one utility player so he is third in line at this point. The only reason another spot could open up is if fourth outfielder Guillermo Heredia isn’t ready to open the season because of off-season surgery.

Speaking of the outfield the Mariners have five invitees to spring training. Two of them are known minor leaguers if you are familiar with the Mariners system in Ian Miller who has been with the Mariners for several years. He received the Ken Griffey Jr Award for the best hitter in the Mariner minor league system last season playing between AA and AAA. He has good favor because he has speed and plays good defense but likely will start in Tacoma. Another is Braden Bishop who the Mariners drafted out of the University Washington. He played last season in high AAA and Double A so he could start the season in triple A if he can make the jump. The other three outfielders I have no knowledge of them.

So you see the odds are pretty well against most of them however one of them could surprise us but they will give depth to the Mariners just in case of injury. Go M’s.