Opening Day is a mere 11 days away, and Eric Wedge appears to have taken a page from Jack Zduriencik’s playbook. In other words, very little regarding definitive roster decisions has slipped from the skipper’s lips these days. Here’s the roster speculation floating around the blogosphere at the moment:

• The battle for rotation spots #3-5 is heating up, with Erasmo Ramirez, Blake Beavan, Brandon Maurer, Jeremy Bonderman, and Jon Garland in the mix. Although no names have been selected so far, Shannon Drayer believes Maurer is making a convincing case for his time in the sun. Following Tuesday’s win over the defending San Francisco Giants, she quoted Eric Wedge: “We feel strongly he is going to be able to get major league outs […] It’s just a matter as we prep everything out decisions we have to make and we have to take everything into consideration. The experience level, what the other guys have done and match that up to what he he done.”
• Seattle Times’ Geoff Baker seems to have other thoughts. In a nutshell, his opinions leave Maurer out in the cold: “If Garland makes it, Maurer has no chance. The team would give the final spot to either Blake Beavan or Erasmo Ramirez. In fact, even if Garland doesn’t make it, I think the team would give the final two remaining spots to Beavan and Ramirez. Not to Maurer.”
• On Tuesday, Dustin Ackley batted eighth. Is this a sign of things to come? According to Greg Johns and Eric Wedge, it very well might be. “Wedge said afterward that Ackley could well wind up down in that area during the regular season given the addition of the middle-of-the-order veterans and improvement of some of the young core players,” Johns writes. He added that Franklin Gutierrez is likely for the leadoff spot, while Kyle Seager could take his place if Guti fails to stay healthy.
• The Mariners roster has been pruned to 37 after another round of cuts.

Players reassigned to minor league camp:
Logan Bawcom
Andrew Carraway
John Hicks
Jhonny Nunez
Ronny Paulino
James Paxton
Stefen Romero
Taijuan Walker
Mike Zunino

Players sent to Triple-A:
Vinnie Catricala
Bobby LaFromboise
Alex Liddi
Danny Hultzen
Yoervis Medina
Hector Noesi
Eric Thames
Carlos Triunfel

Players optioned to Double-A:
Francisco Martinez
Julio Morban

Next game: @ Rockies | March 16 | 1:10pm

No home run hoarders here: To date, 21 different Mariners have rung up a home run in Cactus League play. Of those 21, 12 players have logged multiple homers, with Michael Morse (5), Franklin Gutierrez (3), Carlos Peguero (3), and Justin Smoak (3) leading the pack.

Guti back under scrutiny: Franklin Gutierrez has been sidelined for six days of Cactus League games with tightness in his legs. According to Greg Johns’ report, the center fielder appears unconcerned, and believes he will be back on the field soon.

Opening (Day) acts: When April 8th rolls around, here’s one Safeco Field debut you can count on—that of Pickwick, a Seattle-bred folk band. Their first self-released record, Can’t Talk Medicine, can be heard on iTunes or at the band’s official website.

If you need even more incentive to attend the Opening Day festivities, single-game tickets will be available for purchase through Mariners.com beginning at 10am tomorrow morning.

40-man roster gets trimmed again: Four more cuts were made from Seattle’s major league camp this afternoon. Here’s the current list of players who have been sent down or reassigned so far:

Reassigned to minor league camp:

• John Hicks
• Jhonny Nunez
• Ronny Paulino
• James Paxton
• Stefen Romero
• Taijuan Walker

Sent to Triple-A:

• Alex Liddi
• Danny Hultzen
• Hector Noesi

Currently, the roster stands at 47 players.

According to online reports from Greg Johns, the Mariners have moved five players from their spring training camp today.

Hector Noesi and Danny Hultzen have been reassigned to Tacoma, while Jhonny Nunez, Taijuan Walker, and James Paxton have been sent to minor league camp.

Of the Big Four—LHPs Hultzen and Paxton and RHPs Walker and Maurer—only one will remain in the major league camp with a legitimate shot at the rotation. From Shannon Drayer’s blog post:

“So the one remaining pitcher from the group of four is Maurer and this is not a surprise. I have said for some time now that he was my pick to be the first up because he is more polished. I assumed this before I saw him in person from things I had heard, the numbers I saw and his history. He has come up through the organization. He has pitched professionally for over four years. What I have learned since I have seen him is his stuff is better than I imagined it to be. He’s not just a guy who knows how to pitch. He’s got weapons.”

As both Drayer and Johns point out, all four are expected to make their major league debuts fairly soon, and all have shown progress and varying levels of readiness this spring. With 51 players left in the Mariners camp, more cuts will follow shortly.

Only two days remain before the Mariners take the field for their first spring training face-off with the Padres. Here are some of the latest developments from camp:

Taijuan Walker throws first live batting practice, unveils new curve — Larry Stone provides some insights on the 20-year-old prospect’s new pitch, something called a “spike curve.” While none of his BP pitches were tossed into the Peoria parking lot, Walker will be honing in on his command as the year wears on.

Shawn Kelley Traded to Yankees for OF Abe Almonte — U.S.S. Mariner delves into the Mariners’ latest acquisition, providing us a little backstory and analysis for Abe Almonte.

Mariners’ Kyle Seager ready for increased expectations — Seager explains the difficulties many Mariners players had with Safeco Field last year, as well as necessary adjustments he’s making to improve before Opening Day. Although he led the team in home runs last year, Shannon Drayer relayed the following quote: “Seager sees himself as more of a average/doubles type of player.”

A closer look at the off-season training done by Mariners first baseman Justin Smoak — On Monday, Eric Wedge told Geoff Baker that Justin Smoak would be the starting first baseman for the Mariners, barring “something drastic.” To prepare for the role—and keep the level of production he sustained in September 2012—Smoak is working closely with his agent, Hunter Bledsoe. While part of his training is devoted to making minute changes in his mechanics, a big part of the adjustments will be mental.

Risky Business – In light of Felix’s contract, Marc Normandin lists the pros and cons of signing the King to such a lengthy, expensive extension. Don’t be fooled by the title: there’s much to be excited about here.

Felix Hernandez’s Velocity — Fangraphs’ Bill Petti runs through the warning signs of injury and velocity loss in light of Felix’s new deal with the Mariners. Historically speaking, the chance of Hernandez handing Seattle 28 WAR over his seven-year contract does not seem likely.

What have you read this week? Share it with us on Twitter or in the comments below!

I really hate pushing the news of an imminent(?) Felix extension down by one post, and feel more than welcome to completely skip this and scroll down a bit, but there was another little tidbit of information passed on by one Ken Rosenthal today via Twitter, who tweeted that the “Mariners are in agreement with [Joe] Saunders on one-year contract, pending a physical.”

Many Mariners fans were pleading for the club to add to the pitching rotation before Spring Training got under way, and though nothing is official yet, it looks as if Jack Z. will do just that by bringing in Joe Saunders. Before I proceed, remember that Saunders was the main piece the Anaheim Angels sent to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Dan Haren, so Saunders must be pretty awesome.

Just kidding. He’s not awesome, but I wouldn’t call him atrocious. Saunders should basically fill the void created in the rotation when Jason Vargas was traded for Kendrys Morales. Matthew over at Lookout Landing wrote a great piece about the similiarities between Jason Vargas and Joe Saunders. He’s a lefty who throws mostly fastballs and changeups and who will probably pitch 180+ not-horrible innings. I would imagine Eric Wedge will slot him into the #3 spot in the rotation behind Hisashi Iwakuma and the probably RECENTLY EXTENDED KING FELIX HERNANDEZ! YEAH!

Sorry.

But the best thing about the possibility of bringing in Joe Saunders: he’s not Hector Noesi. Noesi WAS atrocious last year, and it looked as if he was going to see some time in the rotation this season short of one of the three heads of Cerberus breaking camp with the big club. With Saunders in the fold, the rotation might look like this:

Felix, Iwakuma, Saunders, Ramirez, Beavan

That rotation is probably lacking a legitimate #2 starter that pushes one of Beavan or Ramirez out, but it would look a whole lot worse with Noesi anywhere near it. It lacks something, but also leaves room for growth, which could be another signing, a trade, or one of Danny Hultzen, Taijuan Walker, or James Paxton proving they’re ready.

No, Joe Saunders on a one-year deal certainly shouldn’t hurt.*

*Edit: Especially at the reported $6.5MM price tag. Apparently incentives can make it $7.5MM, but that’s still pretty darn cheap. I like this move.

Looking for something to do between now and February 12? Not only do the Mariners broadcast highlights from the 2012 season on ROOT Sports every Monday night, but the 710 ESPN Seattle crew hosts their Hot Stove League show throughout the offseason. Tune in from 7-9pm tonight to hear interviews with Shawn Kelley, Mike Zunino, Mike Brumley, Dave Hansen, and Larry LaRue.

• Kevin Millwood has announced his intention to retire from Major League Baseball. MLB.com’s Zack Meisel reported the following:

“Millwood reportedly told his agent, Scott Boras, that he only wanted to pitch if he could do so for the Braves or Rays, two teams closest to his home in Gainesville, Ga. Neither team expressed interest.

“I feel like I can still throw it well, and going out on a high note is a big deal,” Millwood told the newspaper. “I just felt it was time to be closer to home and be around the kids more often.”

Millwood finished his career with the Mariners, posting a 4.25 ERA and 4.42 xFIP in 28 starts and 161 IP. He made two especially memorable appearances during his time in Seattle, kickstarting a 6-man no-hitter in June and commanding a 2-hit complete game shutout in Colorado just a month prior.

• This week, ESPN’s Keith Law ranked the top 100 prospects in MLB, as well as the farm systems of each team. Here’s how things shook out for the Mariners:

Top prospects: Taijuan Walker (#4), Mike Zunino (#15), Danny Hultzen (#66), Nick Franklin (#69).

Organizational ranking: #8. With their promising band of starting pitchers, the Mariners fell just behind the Cardinals, Twins, Rays, Astros, Cubs, Padres, and Pirates.

Honorable top prospect mention was given to RHP Brandon Maurer.

• According to Corey Brock, the Mariners are making progress with their 40-man roster, having signed over half to contracts for the upcoming season. Last week, ten players signed deals: Blake Beavan, Lucas Luetge, Francisco Martinez, Julio Morban, Carlos Peguero, Chance Ruffin, Kyle Seager, Justin Smoak, Eric Thames, and Casper Wells.
• Interested in working with the Mariners? The club has opened up several job openings for the 2013 season. You can find descriptions and applications for their full-time and part-time positions by clicking on the links below:

Game Day Staff
Navigators Team Member
Team Store Sales Associate
Sales Account Manager
Finance Intern
Aramark Cleaning Crew

Baseball season is coming. If, like me, you’re anxiously counting down the days till the gates swing open on Opening Day, you can catch a glimpse of the Mariners’ 2013 season at Safeco Field this weekend. No, there won’t be any actual baseball played, but there will be autograph opportunities, clubhouse tours, and a sneak peek at the changes the Mariners have been working on all offseason.

Here are four tips to make sure you get the most out of your visit:

1. If you’re angling for an autograph, make that your first priority.
The line you’ll see outside Safeco Field isn’t just for the baseball-starved—it’s for those who want to grab an autograph voucher handed out at Home Plate Gate. A voucher is good for two autographs, and the names you get depend on the line you choose. Wait time varies, but it’s safe to say that you’ll be hanging out anywhere from twenty minutes to an hour and a half. A handy guide for autograph procurement can be found here. » Continue reading “Four Ways To Enjoy Mariners FanFest”

News is scarce with FanFest still a week and a half out, and spring training a good four weeks away. In lieu of actual news, here are some ruminations on failed trade proposals and reflections on past Mariners.

The Mariners Still Need a Starting Pitcher — While Taijuan Walker, James Paxton, Danny Hultzen, and Brandon Maurer’s arrivals in Seattle are greatly anticipated, they may not be ready to tackle a full major league season just yet. Brendan Gawlowski suggests a list of pitchers who can fill out the rotation while the Mariners wait on their prospects’ development.

Mariners Sign Jhonny Nunez: Scouting Report — Clint Hulsey profiles the Mariners’ latest acquisition, a 27-year-old RHP who spent 2012 with Tampa Bay’s Triple-A club.

Justin Upton’s Trade Value — After last week’s hit and miss on Justin Upton, I consoled myself with the fact that the Mariners still got to hang onto top prospects Taijuan Walker and Nick Franklin. What looked like overpay, however, may have been closer to a sensible deal for both sides. Dave Cameron weighs Upton’s value against Walker and Franklin’s upside, using prospect valuation tools developed by Victor Wang, Kevin Creagh, and Michael Valencius.

Out-Of-Character Season: American League West — Among the anomalies found in the 2001 Mariners, their 116 wins included, was second baseman Bret Boone. Jeff Sullivan attempts to explain just why Boone was so valuable to the club in his tenth career year, surpassing the recently-departed Alex Rodriguez and helping fuel the team’s MLB-best year.

What have you read this week? Share it with us on Twitter or in the comments below!

Credit: @RealKingFelix

This weekend, the Mariners are rocking College Navy and Action Green as the Seattle Seahawks battle the Atlanta Falcons for a berth in next week’s NFC Championship game. In case you were wondering, that’s Felix’s game face.

And now for some baseball news…

• The Baseball Writers’ Association of America failed to elect a single member of the 37-man ballot to the Hall of Fame this year. Edgar’s percentage of the vote jumped to 35.9% from 32.9% in 2011. While induction may be a few years away, he is still well above the cutoff mark (less than 5%) and eligible for entry again in 2014.
• Baseball Canada has reported that Michael Saunders will represent Canada in this year’s World Baseball Classic. The official roster will be released on January 17. From the announcement:

“Of the 23 players, 8 were part of the World Baseball Classic in 2009 which includes Phillippe Aumont, Crain, Chris Leroux, Martin, Lawrie, Morneau, Pete Orr and Saunders.”

• Jack Zduriencik struck out for the second time this season when Justin Upton turned up his nose at a trade proposition from the Mariners last week (h/t MLB Trade Rumors). The proposed trade involved noted Seattle prospects Taijuan Walker and Nick Franklin, as well as relievers Stephen Pryor and Charlie Furbush. While the trade is not entirely impossible to pull off, should Upton change his mind in the face of less appealing offers, such a move is deemed highly improbable at this point.
• The Mariners announced 18 non-roster invitees to their spring training camp, scheduled to open on February 12. The list, via Greg Johns:
  • RHP Jonathan Arias
  • RHP Logan Bawcom
  • RHP Jeremy Bonderman
  • RHP Andrew Carraway
  • RHP Danny Farquhar
  • LHP Danny Hultzen
  • RHP D.J. Mitchell
  • LHP Brian Moran
  • RHP Jhonny Nunez
  • LHP James Paxton
  • RHP Carson Smith
  • RHP Taijuan Walker
  • C Jesus Sucre
  • C Mike Zunino
  • SS Nick Franklin
  • 1B Mike Jacobs
  • IF Brad Miller
  • IF Stefen Romero

As 2012 winds down, here’s a look at the Mariners’ recent holiday gifts to the Seattle fanbase—and a few presents you may have neglected to leave under the tree for your Mariner-loving family and friends.

Awful Gifts For Mariners Fans You Hate — The only thing worse than giving someone a bad present is giving them a bad present one day too late.

Radio comments by Josh Hamilton on whether Mariners made strong play for him: ‘No, not really’ — Continuing the spirit of bad taste in gift giving, here’s another one the Mariners missed out on giving the fans this year: Josh Hamilton. Geoff Baker breaks down Hamilton’s recent interview on The Dan Patrick Show, shedding more light on the talks between the Rangers and Mariners this offseason.

Anatomy of a transaction: Morales trade was 36 years in the making — The Seattle Times‘ Larry Stone weighs in on the Morales-Vargas trade with a round of Six Degrees of former Mariner infielder Bill Stein (actually, it’s 38 degrees, but who’s counting?).

The End of Mike Carp — As we celebrate the arrival of a promising power hitter in Safeco Field, the increasingly crowded roster means that someone will be booted out of the first base/catcher/designated hitter platoon. According to U.S.S. Mariner, it won’t be Justin Smoak, Jesus Montero, or John Jaso.

Prospects Will Break Your Heart: Seattle Mariners Top 10 Prospects —- Finally, a small ray of sunshine in the middle of a long, now Christmas-less winter: the Mariners top ten prospects, as ranked by Baseball Prospectus’s Jason Parks. Note: This article comes at the price of $4.95, and it will be money well spent to find out just how soon Taijuan Walker and Mike Zunino are scheduled to arrive in Seattle.

What have you read this week? Share it with us on Twitter or in the comments below!