Saturday, February 20, 2021

A Look At Some of the non-roster invitees

The Mariners are having a number of players
in camp during spring training who are not
on the 40-man roster. This is where the name
of non-rosters invitees comes in.

Three players on the list are outfielders Jarred
Kelenic, Julio Rodriguez along with pitcher
Logan Gilbert. Kelenic and Gilbert are both
players who could start the season with the
Mariners however will see them at some
point as well.

Besides James Paxton returning to the starting
rotations another former Mariner is returning
as a non-roster invitee. The Mariners have
Roenis Elias invited on a minor-league contract.
Elias will be competing for a spot as a long
reliever or short lefty reliever for that matter.
We wish him the best hoping he still has something 
left in the tank.

Among pitchers invited are Matt Magill who
got off to a good start before being on the
injured list missing the remaining of the 
season. Mariners took a gamble and took
him off the 40-man roster.  Signed him to
a minor league contract. I am  surprised
another team didn't take a chance on him.

Another is Gerson Batista reliever who had
been on the 40-man roster as well. Batista
missed the whole 2020 because of injury.
The Mariners acquired Batista in the Cano
trade. He is a hard throwing righthander
who can have a spot in the Mariners bullpen.
There aren't a lot spots available so might
start the season in triple-A.

The Mariners have five catchers in camp
besides Murphy and Torrens who should
be the two starting the season. One of the
five is top prospect Cal Raleigh who should
start the season in Tacoma. One of the other
four will be in Tacoma as well. Since there
are a lot of pitchers in camp need enough
catchers to be used for the pitchers to throw
too. 

The Mariners will have three additional 
infielders in camp in Jordan Cowan, Sam
Travis and Jantzen Witte. Cowan and Witte
are both listed as third baseman. Neither 
has played in the major leagues. Most
likely start in Tacoma but will compete
for the utility role. Witte is 31 years old
so this is likely his last chance. Sam
Travis is listed as a first baseman. He
is the only one of the three who has
played in the major leagues with the
Boston Red Sox. He is bringing depth
to first base in case of an injury happens
to Evan White or makes the ball club
at the dh spot as well. Likely start in
Tacoma unless another team finds 
interest in him if he has an outstanding
spring training.

In the outfield the Mariners have three
additional outfielders besides Kelenic
and Rodriguez. The three most likely
will begin the season in Tacoma. They
are Eric Filia, Luis Liberato and Dillon
Thomas. Filia has hit well throughout
his career in the Mariners system, however,
he doesn't hit with power. Most likely
makes the team being a backup, however,
since the left field spot is open he could
be starting there. Liberato has had a 
solid career in the Mariners system as 
well. His batting average isn't as good
as Filia but has hit with a little more 
power. His defense would give him a
better chance to make the team. He to
will likely start the season in Tacoma.
Thomas resume' looks like Liberato's. 
All three are left handed hitters so they
could have a spot though Jake Fraley 
at this point has the edge over all three,
however, you never know.

So that is the look at some of the invitees
to spring training. We might come back
to any of them who are having a good
camp along with any other outsiders
looking in. We wish the best to all of
them. We always root for someone
who might make the roster unexpectanly.
Go M's. 

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