Kuzul

In light of Nelson Cruz not only having led Major League Baseball with 40 home runs in 2014 but also having gotten off to a fast start in which he’s already mashed a league-leading eight more this season, could the Seattle Mariners slugger dare to go where so few have gone in recent years?

Could Cruz, who many expected would drop off in the power department now that he has to hit at pitcher friendly Safeco Field half the time, reach 50 homers?

Let’s start with this: With eight home runs in the first 15 games entering play Friday, the 34-year-old Cruz is on pace for—get this—86 long balls. Obviously, we know that’s not happening, but it at least provides some context (albeit of the rather ridiculous variety).

Keeping with the context idea, there’s also the simple fact that, as pitching has taken over baseball and power has declined across the game recently, hitting 50 home runs in a season has proved to be both extremely difficult and incredibly rare. How much so?

Well, in MLB history—that is, going back to 1901—there have been 43 50-homer campaigns. Or about one every two-and-a-half years.

Even more context? The big five-oh has been achieved by only 27 different players. So, yes, extremely difficult and incredibly rare.

If we limit the sample to the past decade (2005-14), however, then it’s happened seven times with no repeat performers. In other words, about once every one-and-a-half years.

That at least bodes slightly better for Cruz—or any other power hitter—that 2015 could bring another 50, particularly since Chris Davis was the last to get there with 53 in 2013.

Of course, that no hitter broke the barrier last year has exactly zero impact on improving Cruz’s chances in 2015. It’s not as if the “we’re due” argument applies here.

Remember, Cruz’s career high came in 2014—and even then, he was 10 homers away. And that was when he brought his boomstick to Camden Yards, a notorious launching pad, as a Baltimore Oriole.

Prior to that, Cruz spent eight seasons enjoying the warm weather and homer-happy park in Arlington, where the Texas Rangers play, and he reached 30 homers but once, with 33 in 2009.

This is the first season of Cruz’s decade-long career that he isn’t calling a hitter’s park home. That’s going to make things a lot tougher.

Plus, Safeco Field is not only one of the hardest parks to hit ’em out of, it’s particularly deadly for right-handed hitters, like Cruz.

According to StatCorner—a site that pulls three-year park factor splits for various outcomes, including home runs—Safeco sports a righty home run park factor of 87 (league average is 100). Translation? It’s about 13 percent harder for right-handed swingers to reach the seats at Safeco Field.

That jibes with the revelation that the most balls ever hit over Safeco’s walls by a right-hander since the park opened full time in 2000 is…21, by Richie Sexson in 2005.

What’s more, no other hitter—lefty or righty—has managed even 20 at Safeco in a single season. The most by a righty since ’05? Sexson’s 17 and Adrian Beltre’s 16, both in 2006.

Put a different way, if Cruz is going to have a shot at 50, he’s likely going to have to smash at least 30-32 on the road. Again, we remind you: He has hit more than 30 in a season, total, just twice. 

Another pertinent factor here is how Cruz has fared in his career at Safeco, where he played often while with the AL West-rival Rangers.

Here are Cruz’s stats at Safeco for his career before this season: .234/.309/.440 with nine home runs in 204 plate appearances across 52 games.

And here are his numbers there so far in 2015: .289/.289/.474 with just two of his eight homers in 38 plate appearances over nine games.

Neither of those stat lines—nor any of the other aspects covered above—inspires much, if any, confidence that Cruz can approach 50 homers this year, much less last season’s 40.

Even with an impressive eight-homer head start.

Statistics are accurate through Thursday, April 23, and courtesy of MLB.com, Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs, unless otherwise noted.

To talk baseball or fantasy baseball, check in with me on Twitter: @JayCat11.  

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When an opponent hits a home run, sometimes the fan who catches the ball will throw it back onto the field. 

It looks like this young fan had no idea what was happening and just wanted to throw a baseball.

During Monday’s game between the Seattle Mariners and the Houston Astros, the ball girl gave a young Seattle fan a foul ball off a Robinson Cano hit. The youngster immediately tossed the ball back onto the field.

You can see the people he’s with react in awe and shock.

The ball girl gave him another chance, and this time, he kept it. 

[MLB]

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Seattle Mariners relief pitcher David Rollins has been suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball for violating the league’s drug policy.  

MLB Communications confirmed the ban, which will cover essentially the entire first half of the 2015 regular season:

Buster Olney of ESPN provided some insight into the situation:

The Mariners selected Rollins away from the Houston Astros in the Rule 5 draft during the offseason. He was considered a contender to earn a spot in the team’s bullpen to open the season, likely filling the role of a lefty specialist.

He bolstered his case with a strong spring training. The left-hander had given up just one run in eight innings while allowing just five hits and no walks. He also struck out seven batters.

Bob Dutton of The News Tribune passed along comments from the reliever, who admitted his mistake and said he won’t appeal the suspension: “Just accepting it and trying to move forward from it. It’s been heavy on my heart. It hasn’t been easy for me the past couple of days. I’m just glad I’ve gotten an opportunity to show what I can be. I just made one bad decision. It’s costing me.”

Rollins also released a statement through the Players Association, per Evan Drellich of The Houston Chronicle:

Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik is quoted in The News Tribune report as saying the organization plans to keep him despite the setback.

“He’s our property during the 80-game suspension,” Seattle’s GM said. “He will be allowed to stay here in Arizona. He will be under our supervision, and he can pitch and continue to work with the extended team.”

Rollins can get placed on the restricted list until the suspension comes to an end, but then, the team will have to decide how to move forward.

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With just over three weeks until Opening Day, the Seattle Mariners are beginning to get a clear idea of who will come out victorious in their most intense position battles.

The Mariners entered spring training with only a couple of spots up for grabs on the 25-man roster. After Seattle shored up its weaknesses from last year’s roster with offseason acquisitions, only shortstop, the No. 5 rotation spot, one position in the bullpen and one on the bench were available at the start of camp.

Clear favorites have emerged in each of those battles, whether it be due to performance or injury. While spring stats shouldn’t mean everything (or even much) when deciding roster spots, Seattle’s position battles feel decided barring something out of the ordinary or further injury.

Shortstop

The fight between Brad Miller and Chris Taylor for the starting shortstop job was the most interesting thing to watch in Mariners camp up until Saturday. Both potential candidates were playing well, and it appeared the Mariners would have to wait until the final days of spring training to make a sure decision.

Unfortunately, an examination revealed Taylor suffered a fractured bone in his right wrist and will be sidelined for four to six weeks, according to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times. That means Miller is guaranteed the job for the first month or so of the season unless he gets hurt himself.

Miller likely had the advantage based on this spring alone, as he has collected seven hits in 17 spring at-bats, including two doubles and two home runs. Of course, Miller had an outstanding spring in 2014 before a terrible first two months of the regular season, but his flashes of upside at the plate may have made him the preferred option to Taylor anyway.

However, Taylor was also hitting well in the spring, with eight hits in 19 at-bats, including a home run, a double and two triples. That power is particularly interesting, as Taylor showed little ability to hit anything but singles during his stint in the big leagues last season.

It’s an unlucky injury for Taylor, who also broke a pinkie last May when he was on the cusp of being called up to the majors. While Miller had the advantage for the starting job, Taylor was certainly making the case that he deserved a 25-man roster spot.

Winner: Miller by default

No. 5 Rotation Spot

Although there are a few other candidates, the final rotation spot always felt like it would come down to Taijuan Walker and Roenis Elias. With a dominant spring so far, Walker has emerged as the clear front-runner.

In three spring starts, Walker has pitched eight shutout innings while allowing just two hits and one walk and striking out eight. Even if it’s just spring training, Walker is throwing strikes, his fastball is lively and he’s mixing in a changeup better than we’ve seen before.

The stuff appears to be there, but Walker said after Saturday’s outing that he is also improved with maturation, via Greg Johns of MLB.com.

“When I was younger I’d get men on base and I’d get frustrated and try to do so much so they wouldn’t score and it kind of got me in trouble. This year I’m keeping my composure when people get on and just work for ground balls and get the easy outs.”

Elias does have a chance as he as shown he can successfully pitch in the majors for a full season, but Walker’s upside and showing this spring may be too much to ignore. Walker’s potential is looking like it may start to produce some results this season.

Winner: Walker

Lefty Reliever

The Mariners assembled a pile of left-handed pitchers to compete for a bullpen spot to replace Joe Beimel. A couple of them emerged as front-runners to be the second lefty in the bullpen behind Charlie Furbush: Joe Saunders is one of the few candidates with major league experience and has only allowed a .628 OPS against lefties in his career, while the Mariners saw enough in David Rollins to select him in the Rule 5 Draft.

But it’s been unheralded Tyler Olson who has come out of nowhere to become a potential leading candidate. In six spring innings, Olson has allowed just one hit while striking out eight.

Of course, spring stats can be misleading, and Olson is coming off a decent but not great season as a 25-year-old starter at Double-A Jackson. Still, the upside Olson has shown might be enough to win him a roster spot, and he has looked dominant against batters from both sides of the plate.

Farm director Chris Gwynn offered his thoughts on Olson to Bob Dutton of The Tacoma News Tribune.

“He has a really good change-up, and he changes eye location. He knows what he’s doing.”

If the event of the Mariners carrying only one left-handed reliever, Carson Smith becomes the clear favorite for the spot.

Winner: Olson

Final Bench Spot

Taylor’s wrist injury also pretty much ends any competition for the final bench spot on Seattle’s roster. Rickie Weeks will make the roster and play some left field and first base, but the Mariners are probably going to want a backup middle infielder who can fill in at other positions in an emergency.

That means it’s going to be Willie Bloomquist, who looked like a prime candidate to be cut just a couple of weeks ago. Bloomquist has proven he has recovered enough from microfracture knee surgery to at least play, collecting three hits in 13 at-bats.

Taylor may have made the roster anyway even if he lost out to Miller. The Mariners could also give the spot to an unappealing outfielder (Stefen Romero, James Jones) or shortstop Ketel Marte, but Bloomquist appears most likely given current roster construction.

When Taylor gets healthy, the Mariners could make a change quickly.

Winner: Bloomquist (for now)

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The Seattle Mariners will take the field for the first time since September tomorrow when they play the San Diego Padres in their opening spring training game.

Over the next month, the Mariners will make some key decisions on starting jobs and final roster spots. Brad Miller versus Chris Taylor for the starting shortstop position and Taijuan Walker against Roenis Elias for the No. 5 spot in the rotation will be the two key battles to watch prior to Opening Day.

Win or lose, all four of those players will have a place in Seattle at some point down the line. For others, this spring training could be critical for their future with the club.

Most long-term members of the organization will be safe either in Seattle or the minors after spring training, but a few are potentially on the chopping block.

Willie Bloomquist, UTIL

Bloomquist was brought in last offseason on a two-year, $5.8 million contract to act as Seattle’s primary utility man. Last season, he hit .278/.297/.346 while playing six different positions in 47 games before undergoing microfracture knee surgery in August.

That knee surgery is why Bloomquist is in danger of being cut this spring. While he has indicated he’s ready to play, according to Bob Dutton of The Tacoma News Tribune, it’s reasonable to expect that a 37-year-old may not be able to completely recover from a major knee operation.

The Mariners were concerned enough about Bloomquist to add Rickie Weeks on a one-year deal last month. Weeks projects as the club’s primary utility man and has much more upside at the plate than Bloomquist.

Seattle’s bench isn’t exactly set, and there’s certainly a possibility that both Weeks and Bloomquist could be on the final 25-man roster. But Bloomquist‘s role figures to be heavily reduced, and he could be gone if his recovery hits a setback or someone such as minor league utility man Shawn O’Malley flashes in the spring.

Erasmo Ramirez, SP

After a disastrous 5.26 ERA (5.38 FIP) performance last season, Ramirez’s future with the Mariners is in serious jeopardy.

He will compete for the final spot in the rotation in the spring. Given the upside of Walker and what Elias has already shown in the major leagues, it seems unlikely that Ramirez will win that battle.

Ramirez would work fine as minor league starting pitching depth in case of an emergency. However, the 24-year-old is out of options, meaning the Mariners would have to stick him in the bullpen or let him go.

Seattle could decide Ramirez is worth hanging onto and give him a relief role, as the projected bullpen dosen’t really have a long reliever. That would require the Mariners to go to an eight-man bullpen, in which case Carson Smith would be a much better candidate for a roster spot than Ramirez.

Manager Lloyd McClendon said that Ramirez isn’t even being considered for a bullpen position, via Greg Johns of MLB.com: “We’ve got some talented arms in that bullpen. The competition may be even stiffer down there.”

The best option would be to try and trade Ramirez near the end of the spring rather than cut him for nothing. Barring a monster spring training performance or some injuries, Ramirez doesn’t figure to be back in Seattle next season.

Jesus Sucre, C

In a somewhat controversial July, the Mariners released John Buck and committed to Sucre as the primary backup catcher. While Sucre posted a 26 wRC+ in 21 games, Seattle was pleased with his defense and receiving ability.

Still, Sucre will be challenged for his position this spring. His offense is going to be a liability over a full season and just about negates whatever defensive value he has, meaning the Mariners will likely look for an upgrade at some point.

Prospects John Hicks and Tyler Marlette will get looks this spring, but they are unlikely to break camp with the club over Sucre. Hicks in particular is a name to keep an eye on, as he appears to be on the cusp of the majors after an excellent performance at the plate in Double-A and the Arizona Fall League in 2014.

Sucre’s main challenger this spring will be veteran John Baker, who was brought in as a non-roster invitee. Baker has put together successful seasons at the plate in the past and is at least average defensively, although his 39 wRC+ in 68 games last year doesn’t inspire much confidence.

While Sucre would likely head to the minors rather than being cut, his role is in serious danger of being reduced. Either way, look for Hicks to take over a couple of months into the season.

All stats via FanGraphs.com unless otherwise noted. 

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Position players reported to the Seattle Mariners‘ team complex in Peoria, Arizona, on Tuesday, meaning the team is ready to begin organized workouts ahead of its first spring training game on March 4.

Significant news is already coming out of the Mariners camp after pitchers and catchers reported last Friday. Jesus Montero is apparently in the best shape of his life, Danny Hultzen has looked good in throwing sessions and James Paxton will miss a few days as a precaution after falling during an agility drill, all via Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times.

The most important things for the club in spring training are health and a couple of important roster battles. Seattle will be keeping a close eye on Chris Taylor and Brad Miller at shortstop and Taijuan Walker and Roenis Elias in the rotation as they vie for starting jobs.

Even if it doesn’t impact the 2015 team as much as those roster battles, one of the most entertaining things in spring training is getting a chance to watch prospects and non-roster invitees in game action. Top Mariners prospects such as D.J. Peterson and Patrick Kivlehan will be there, but a few under-the-radar players are also ready to impress.

John Hicks, C

Although Mike Zunino has the starting catcher job locked down in Seattle for the foreseeable future, Hicks will be worth keeping an eye on in spring training and the minors this season. He broke out with the bat in a major way in 2014 and appears to be on the cusp of making the majors this season.

After a solid but unspectacular debut in Double-A during 2013, Hicks posted a .296/.362/.418 line with Jackson last season, which earned him a graduation to Triple-A for the final 28 games of the year. Hicks followed that up with a 153 wRC+ performance in 53 plate appearances in the Arizona Fall League.

Hicks has always been regarded as at least a decent defensive catcher who works well with young pitchers and is unusually athletic for his position. The Mariners added Hicks to their 40-man roster, indicating he could soon take over the backup job from Jesus Sucre, a good defensive catcher who can’t hit at all.

Mariners minor league coordinator Chris Gwynn said that Hicks needs to iron out some things on the mental side before he is ready for that and that this spring training will be very important, via Greg Johns of MLB.com:

“I think he probably still needs that grind of playing every day in Triple-A and mentally separating his hitting from his defense at a higher level. He needs to get some confidence in Spring Training that he can play with the guys he sees on TV. I don’t think he’s there yet, but he’s definitely on his way.”

If Hicks hits well in spring training and at least holds his own behind the plate, look for him to start getting more attention as Seattle’s best candidate for the backup catcher position later in the year.

Jordy Lara, 1B

Lara isn’t the prospect with the most upside at Mariners camp and is further away form the majors than someone such as Kivlehan or Hicks. Still, Lara put up impressive numbers at every level he reached in 2014 and will be interesting to watch at spring training.

The 23-year-old produced a .353/.413/.609 line with 22 home runs in 103 games of High-A in 2014. High Desert inflated those numbers a bit, but Lara’s park-adjusted 163 wRC+ ranked second in the California League.

That earned Lara a trip to Double-A for the final 33 games last year, where he backed up his High Desert performance with a .286/.326/.492 line. Gwynn said that Lara has some plus tools and could be figuring it out after a rough start to his professional career, via Danny Wild of MiLB.com:

“He could just be a late bloomer. He played two seasons at Pulaski and finally, when he got his opportunity, he was able to put together a really, really good year. His on-base ability was really good, he has right-handed power and has a really good arm.”

Despite all that, Lara went unprotected and unselected in this year’s Rule 5 draft, indicating what teams think of his value. If Lara performs well in spring training and keeps putting up those kinds of numbers, he will start to rise up Seattle’s prospect rankings.

Besides Lara’s bat, this spring could be critical in terms of his future position. It’s unclear if Lara can stick at first base, and the Mariners said they will give him time in the outfield, according to Bob Dutton of The Tacoma News Tribune:

Ketel Marte, SS

Marte is very young for his level, and he put up some strong numbers during his ascension from Single-A Clinton in the summer of 2013 to Triple-A last September. With a strong performance in spring training and Triple-A to begin the year, Marte can further establish himself as one of Seattle’s top prospects and get some more attention nationally.

After playing just 19 games in High Desert the year before, Marte started 2014 in Double-A and posted a .302/.319/.404 line with 23 stolen bases and plus defense at the shortstop position. Marte impressively moved to Triple-A at the end of the season at the age of 20.

This spring, he’ll get a chance to showcase the skills that make him an interesting prospect moving forward. Marte has two players between him and a starting shortstop job in the majors, but his ability to make contact (strikeout rate of 13.8 percent in Jackson last year) and his plus speed make him an ideal top-of-the-order hitter somewhere down the line.

All stats via FanGraphs.com unless otherwise indicated. 

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After an exciting winter, the Seattle Mariners are nearly ready to begin the 2015 season.

Pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 20 to officially start spring training. Coming off of an encouraging 87-75 season and bolstered by some key offseason acquisitions, Seattle appears to be in its best shape to compete for the postseason in a number of years.

The Mariners found out just how much of an impact spring training can make prior to last season. Both Hisashi Iwakuma and Taijuan Walker went down with injuries, leaving Seattle’s projected rotation in a bit of disarray.

Fortunately, the Mariners got a great season out of Chris Young and were able to discover a diamond in the rough in Roenis Elias due to the injuries. With less apparent depth this year, Seattle’s No. 1 priority in the spring is to have everyone healthy for Opening Day.

Seattle won’t have many roster battles to decide, with the majority of the starting lineup and rotation set. Still, those two or three spots up for grabs will be critical for a team on the fringe of contention.

All stats via FanGraphs.com unless otherwise indicated. 

Begin Slideshow

Rickie Weeks had a rough 2014 season. With a slew of injuries slowing him down and his production declining over the past two years, Weeks found himself behind youngster Scooter Gennett on the depth chart. He’ll have the opportunity to resurrect his career with the Seattle Mariners, however, after signing with the team. 

CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reported the details of the deal:

Weeks appeared in 121 games this past season, hitting .274 with eight home runs and 29 RBI. Because he failed to reach 600 plate appearances this season or a combined 1,200 plate appearances in the past two years, his $11.5 million option for this season didn’t vest and the Milwaukee Brewers declined to pick it up, clearly putting their eggs in Gennett‘s basket at second base.

It was a rough end to an excellent nine-year stretch in Milwaukee for Weeks, who made the All-Star team in 2011 and was a major part of the 2008 and 2011 playoff teams. It won’t be easy leaving the only club he’s played for, especially as a 32-year-old with a diminishing skill set. 

Weeks has the opportunity for a second chance in Seattle but may have to make certain concessions, like playing a new position from time to time in order to contribute. The fear for both Weeks and his new club will be that his best baseball is simply behind him. Weeks has plenty to prove, in other words.

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The Seattle Mariners enter the 2015 season with high hopes of making the postseason for the first time in 13 years.

By adding Nelson Cruz, Justin Ruggiano and Seth Smith, the Mariners addressed the biggest weaknesses of a team that fell one game short a year ago. None of those players are projected to be game-changers on their own, but they are worth a few wins over what Seattle had at those positions previously.

Even with these additions, Seattle is still led by a core of Robinson Cano, Felix Hernandez, Kyle Seager and Hisashi Iwakuma. Those players need to perform at an elite level for the Mariners to compete.

They very likely will. It’s the play of a few others that will determine exactly how far the Mariners can go.

Austin Jackson and Mike Zunino are among Seattle’s most important players for 2015 success.

Begin Slideshow

With the MLB offseason winding down, most teams around the league have a solid idea of what their 25-man rosters will look like come Opening Day.

The Seattle Mariners made some critical improvements over the offseason and look ready to compete for a playoff spot. With the additions of Nelson Cruz, Seth Smith and Justin Ruggiano, the Mariners have one of the strongest rosters in the American League on paper.

Only three starting positions remain up for grabs: shortstop, one spot in the rotation and one spot in the bullpen. The majority of roster battles in spring training will be for bench roles.

Seattle may not be done making moves, as it could use more depth at first base or the outfield. Bob Dutton of The News Tribune indicates that the Mariners might interested in re-signing Joe Beimel for that last bullpen spot.

As the roster currently stands, Seattle’s projected starting lineup looks strong while the bench looks weak.

Infielders

1B Logan Morrison

2B Robinson Cano

SS Brad Miller

3B Kyle Seager

UTIL Willie Bloomquist

Cano and Seager are obvious locks, while Morrison won the starting first base job by posting a 127 wRC+ in the second half of 2014. The other two infield roster spots are yet to be decided.

General manager Jack Zduriencik indicated there was “no favorite right now” between Miller and Chris Taylor for the starting shortstop position, via Dutton. 

Seattle could platoon the two, but Miller likely has the slight edge due to his higher ceiling and ability to hit for power. The Mariners must then decide if Taylor should have the final bench spot or if it should go to Bloomquist.

Taylor clearly has more upside and Bloomquist is a 37-year-old coming off of major knee surgery. Still, the Mariners will probably favor Bloomquist’s versatility and might be hesitant to cut the veteran.

If Bloomquist’s recovery hits any setbacks, look for Taylor or utility man Carlos Rivero to get the last bench spot.

There’s also the fact that Bloomquist is one of the few depth players on the 40-man roster with even minimal experience at first base. Jesus Montero is also a possibility and fits a need as a right-handed first baseman, but he has quite a lot to prove before the organization will be willing to call him up.

Outfielders

LF Dustin Ackley

CF Austin Jackson

RF Seth Smith

OF Justin Ruggiano

OF/DH Nelson Cruz

OF James Jones

The top four outfielders are set, including what figures to be a fairly strict platoon in right field. Cruz won’t play the outfield unless it’s an emergency, leaving one more outfield bench position.

None of the current options are exactly appealing. As it stands, the competition will likely come down to Stefen Romero and James Jones.

Romero got off to an unimpressive start in the big leagues last year with a .192/.234/.299 line and -1.2 WAR in 72 games. Jones wasn’t much more impressive at the plate but has the decisive advantage due to his speed and base-stealing ability.

Seattle could use some more depth in the outfield. There isn’t much left in free agency, although the Mariners recently brought back Endy Chavez on a minor-league deal, per Dutton. 

One in-house option could be converting Miller to the outfield, which in turn might open up a bench spot for Taylor.

Catchers

C Mike Zunino

C Jesus Sucre

The Mariners have put a lot on Zunino’s plate early in his career and could use an upgrade at backup catcher. Even so, Greg Johns of MLB.com reported last December that Seattle was happy with its current catching situation.

Sucre is regarded as a good defensive catcher, and his receiving ability was the reason the Mariners let go of John Buck last July. Defense is the most important trait for a backup catcher, so it’s not a pressing need, but Sucre is too much of a liability at the plate.

One more name to keep an eye on is intriguing prospect John Hicks. Hicks dominated the Arizona Fall League with a 153 wRC+ and shouldn’t need much more seasoning in Triple-A.

Starting Pitchers

SP Felix Hernandez

SP Hisashi Iwakuma

SP James Paxton

SP J.A. Happ

SP Taijuan Walker

The first three are locked in if healthy. Manager Lloyd McClendon all but guaranteed Happ a spot in the rotation at Seattle’s pre-spring training media conference, saying, “we didn’t acquire Happ to pitch out of the bullpen,” via Dutton. 

The fifth spot will be decided between Walker and Roenis Elias. Walker gets the edge due to his tremendous upside and Elias’ injury concerns, but the 26-year-old Cuban was impressive in his rookie year and has a place in the club’s future.

No team is going to make it through the year with only five starters, so Elias will get his shot eventually. The Mariners may also choose to keep him in the majors in a long-relief role.

Bullpen

CL Fernando Rodney

RHP Tom Wilhelmsen

LHP Charlie Furbush

RHP Yoervis Medina

RHP Danny Farquhar

RHP Dominic Leone

LHP David Rollins

Seattle will return the majority of what was an outstanding bullpen in 2014. Brandon Maurer was traded to the San Diego Padres and Beimel is still a free agent, but Seattle has the depth to replace those losses.

The biggest decision will be which left-hander makes the roster, as the Mariners will likely want one more lefty behind Furbush. Rollins, Edgar Olmos and Mike Kickham are among those who will battle for one spot in spring training.

Rollins has posted solid numbers in the minors and must stay on the active roster as a Rule 5 pick if Seattle wishes to retain him. Kickham was ranked by Baseball America as the San Francisco Giants‘ No.5 prospect just two years ago and could be a sneaky-good acquisition if he manages to reach his potential.

One more player with a chance to win a spot is Carson Smith, who looked a potentially dominant closer of the future in his September stint last year. It’s hard to see who Smith would beat out of spring training, but Medina’s job could be in jeopardy a little further down the line.

All stats via FanGraphs.com unless otherwise noted. 

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