I am not sure exactly the day the Mariners leave for Japan, however, the last spring training game in Arizona for the Mariners will be March 13. They will likely leave on Thursday March 14 since they have exhibition game on Saturday March 16 in Tokyo.
Right now the Mariners have 57 players in camp. They will likely take 30 players with them to Tokyo though there will be 28 roster spots available when they play against the Oakland A's on March 20 and 21. I would have to think the Mariners will trim down this weekend.
The roster will likely look this way going to Japan. Position players we see the Mariners going with Omar Narvaez and David Freitas. Non-roster invitee Jose Lobaton will go along just in case of an injury.
At first base will likely be Edwin Encarnacion and Daniel Vogelbach. This means Ryon Healy will probably start in Tacoma unless Encarnacion is traded. Jay Bruce listed as an outfielder will play some first base as well. One of the guys will be at dh when the season begins in Seattle against Boston. Vogelbach is out of options and I am sure having a good spring training the Mariners want to see how he does. Dylan Moore or Kristopher Negron who is the utility player will likely come in to play first base late in games. Moore advantage of Negron is he can play shortstop.
Second base will be Dee Gordon with Kyle Seager at third base. Shortstop the season will start with Tim Beckham however he could end up being a super utility player if J.P. Crawford the long term shortstop starts out well in Tacoma.
The outfield Mallex Smith was expected to be the Mariners starting centerfield however he has been slowed by strained right elbow so he hasn't played in any games as of yet. He will go with the team to Japan however he probably won't play in the two games. If he isn't able to begin the season when the Mariners get back to Tacoma he will likely go on the disabled list. This becomes the case Mitch Haniger will start the season in center field with Domingo Santana in left and Jay Bruce in right. Rookie Braden Bishop out of University Washington will become the fourth outfielder. He can play all three outfield positions but will probably enter the game late as a defensive replacement. He could play the role that Guillermo Heredia had last year when the season began.
Ichiro Suzuki will go with the Mariners to Japan. He likely will be the dh while in Japan but will probably designate him for assignment when the Mariners return to Seattle unless Mallex Smith isn't ready to go.
Starting pitching rotation looks like what we thought when spring training began with Marco Gonzales, Yusei Kikuchi, Mike Leake, Felix Hernandez and Wade LeBlanc. Top prospect Justus Sheffield the Mariners received in the trade for James Paxton may enter the rotation in May or sooner depending how the other five guys are going. If he gets off to a great start Sheffield could be in the starting rotation and the Mariners could put Wade LeBlanc in the long relief role in the bullpen. Things could work to if one of the starters gets hurt as well.
The bullpen looks like it is coming down to right-handers Hunter Strickland (begin as the closer), Shawn Armstrong, Dan Altavilla (we hope can have the kind of season the Mariners have hoped for the last couple years), Cory Gearrin, Gerson Bautista, and Brandon Brennan (a rule 5 pickup). The Mariners will have one or two available like Chasen Bradford starting in Tacoma. Lefties will be Zac Rosscup and Roenis Elias.
When the season comes to Seattle hard to know whether the Mariners will go with seven or eight relievers.
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