SEATTLE MARINERS

Starting Lineup
LF Endy Chavez: speedy veteran should get plenty of AB's in LF but could share AB's with Balentien UPDATE 4/3 - could move to the top of the lineup with Ichiro out
2B Jose Lopez: had career highs in BA (.297), HR's (17), RBI's (89), runs (80), and doubles (41) in '08
3B Adrian Beltre: 29 year-old has won consecutive Gold Glove awards and has averaged 24 HR's and 88 RBI's in 4 seasons in Seattle
1B Russell Branyan: the 33 year-old has averaged a HR every 15 AB's in his career and a K every 2.5 AB's
DH Ken Griffey, Jr.: returns to the team he broke in with 20 years ago as a 19 year-old; 398 of his 611 career HR's have come as a Mariner
CF Franklin Gutierrez: acquired from the Indians this off season after hitting .248 with 8 HR's in 399 AB's in 2008; UPDATED 2/23: moves back to his natural position after a very good defensive season in RF
C Kenji Johjima: 32 year-old's third season with the Mariners was a disaster as he hit just .227 with 7 HR's but he did throw out 32% of attempted base stealers
SS Yuniesky Betancourt: Mariners have brought in competition for the 27 year-old SS with the acquisition of Cedeno after Betancourt produced just a .300 OBP and made 21 errors in 2008 UPDATE 3/18 - Wakamatsu would like to use Betancourt in the #2 hole but not with his current free-swinging approach
RF Wladimir Balentien: 24 year-old hit .266 with 18 HR's in 233 AB's in AAA but hit just .202 with 7 HR's in 243 ML AB's in 2008 UPDATE 4/3 - could get an opportunity to play everyday while Ichiro is out

Bench
C Rob Johnson: UPDATE 3/21 - emerging as the leading candidate to backup Johjima
1B/DH Mike Sweeney: career .299 hitter could make this team if he is healthy UPDATE 3/22 - appears to be healthy and with a strong chance at making the roster UPDATE 4/1 - officially beat out Chris Shelton for a roster spot
IF Ronnie Cedeno: 26 year-old will compete with Betancourt and could also play 2B if Lopez is shifted to 1B, which has been discussed UPDATE 3/4 - making his case for the starting lineup
IF Matt Tuiasosopo: UPDATE 4/4 - will take Ichiro's spot on the roster after a terrific camp (.404 BA, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 7 2B)

Starting Rotation
RHP Felix Hernandez: 9-11 record in 2008 doesn't match up with his nasty repertoire but he is only 22 years old and already has 104 ML starts under his belt
LHP Erik Bedard: aside from a rough May, he had some good numbers in 2008 (6-4, 3.67 ERA) but was limited to just 15 starts because of a shoulder injury
LHP Jarrod Washburn: 34 year-old is only 23-43 in three seasons with the Mariners
RHP Carlos Silva: went 4-15 with a 6.46 ERA in 28 starts in his first season of a 4 year-$48 million deal
LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith: proving to be a good option as a starter (3-2, 3.50 ERA in 12 starts in '08) or a reliever (3.30 ERA in 35 relief appearances) UPDATE 4/1 - looks like he'll be the #5 starter, meaning no LHP's in the 'pen to start the season

Bullpen
RHP Brandon Morrow: wants to start and will be given an opportunity to start but he could still end up as the closer if the M's do not find another answer in spring training; he had a 5.79 ERA in 5 starts in '08 and a 1.47 ERA and 10 saves in 40 relief appearances UPDATE 3/10 - might not be ready for opening day because of tightness in his right forearm UPDATE 3/28 - could start the season as a starter in AAA or as a reliever with the Mariners UPDATE 3/29 - plans on being a full-time closer from here on out
RHP Mark Lowe: posted a 5.37 ERA in 57 relief appearances with 55 K's in 63.2 IP in '08 has the most upside of the potential closers with a mid-to-90's fastball UPDATE 3/2 - ussmariner.com weighs in on the closer battle and conclude that Lowe looks to be the best choice
RHP Roy Corcoran: one of the few bright spots on the pitching staff in '08, posting a 3.22 ERA in 50 relief appearances although his BB/K ratio of 36/39 was not very impressive
RHP David Aardsma: acquired in a trade with Boston this off season, he walked 35 batters in 48.2 IP in 2008
RHP Chris Jakubauskas: 30 year-old went a combined 8-1 with a 1.94 ERA in 88.1 IP between AA and AAA in '08 UPDATE 3/21 - making a case for a bullpen job, allowing 3 ER in 11.2 IP this spring UPDATE 3/24 - another solid outing, another step closer to a spot on the 25-man roster UPDATE 3/31 - making a solid case to win a spot in the rotation after another good outing UPDATE 4/4 - has made the team
RHP Shawn Kelley: UPDATE 3/10 - has impressed Wakamatsu UPDATE 4/4 - has made the team
RHP Miguel Batista: was absolutely terrible in 2008, losing 14 games while posting a 6.26 ERA with 73 K's and 79 BB's UPDATE 2/28 - don't count him out of the closer's competition

Disabled List
LHP Cesar Jimenez: posted a 3.90 ERA in 29 relief appearances in '08 but he allowed a .317 BA vs lefties UPDATE 4/1 - will start the season on the DL
LHP Tyler Johnson: former Cardinal could contribute by mid-season after recovering from rotator cuff surgery UPDATE 3/17 - quick recovery makes him a candidate to make the opening day roster as a situational lefty UPDATE 3/27 - won't make the opening day roster
RF Ichiro Suzuki: 35 year-old should reach 2000 hits in just his 9th ML season in 2009 UPDATE 4/3 - headed to the DL with a bleeding ulcer

Returned to the New York Yankees (Rule V)
IF Reegie Corona: rule V pick is a career .264 hitter in the minors while playing mostly 2B and SS; he'll have a tough time making this team after the acquisition of Cedeno UPDATE 4/2 - placed on waivers; he must be offered back to the Yankees if he goes unclaimed UPDATE 4/3 - Yankees have taken him back

Returned to the Minnesota Twins (Rule V)
LHP Jose Lugo: 24 year-old rule V pick has never pitched above Hi A and he wasn't that good there (2-6, 4.04 ERA) UPDATE 3/23 - has improved his chances by allowing just 2 ER and 2 hits in 6 IP this spring UPDATE 4/1 - returned to the Twins

Released
RHP Tyler Walker: saved 23 games for the Giants back in 2005; held right-handed batters to a .186 BA in '08 but lefties crushed him (.319 BAA); click here for a look at the M's closer candidates UPDATE 3/1 - more on the closer's competition UPDATE 3/24 - scheduled to pitch on Thursday after missing time with a minor muscle injury UPDATE 3/29 - with the news that Brandon Morrow is likely headed for the bullpen, Walker was released

Optioned to the minors
1B Bryan LaHair: could take over the 1B job as soon as the M's grow tired of Branyan's strikeouts; hit .250 with 3 HR's in 136 AB's in his first big league action in 2008 UPDATE 2/27 - will also get a shot to prove his versatility with some time in the outfield this spring
LHP Jason Vargas: former Marlins prospect was acquired from the Mets in the Putz deal after missing the '08 season with an injury UPDATE 3/21 - optioned to the minors
C Jeff Clement: will likely be in the lineup at C or DH on a regular basis in 2009; hit .227 with 5 HR's in 203 AB's in '08 UPDATE 3/11 - Johjima is still the starter at catcher and Griffey will be DH'ing quite a bit so things aren't looking as promising for Clement as they were earlier this offseason UPDATE 3/21 - it's looking more and more like Clement will start the season at AAA so he can continue to play everyday UPDATE 3/29 - optioned to AAA
LHP Garrett Olson: will compete for a starting job in spring and could even end up in the bullpen; likely to continue starting in AAA if he doesn't make the Mariners rotation UPDATE 4/1 - optioned to AAA

Reassigned to Minor League Camp
OF Freddy Guzman: averaging 65 SB's per season in five minor league seasons but has yet to hit enough to stay in the big leagues UPDATE 2/25 - broken hamate bone has likely ended any chance he had of making the opening day roster; he'll be out 4-6 weeks UPDATE 3/18 - reassigned to minor league camp today
RHP Sean White: UPDATE 3/21 - 27 year-old has allowed just 2 ER and 4 hits in 9 IP this spring UPDATE 3/26 - reassigned to the minors
1B Chris Shelton: will be battling for the job to play 1B vs LHP's but he's actually been better against RHP's in his career (.283 BA vs RHP; .254 vs LHP's) UPDATE 3/11 - could force the M's to find a spot for him with the spring he is having (8-for-16, 3 HR's, 2 2B's, 5 BB's, K) UPDATE 3/18 - Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times says it's either Sweeney or Shelton for this spot; based on the spring he's having (13-for-25 with 3 HR's), I'd think Shelton has the edge right now UPDATE 3/22 - it now appears that Sweeney has the edge UPDATE 4/1 - reassigned to the minors
RHP Randy Messenger: posted a 3.55 ERA in 12.2 IP for the M's in 2008 UPDATE 3/3 - add Messenger to the list of closing candidates after an impressive start to the spring UPDATE 4/1 - reassigned to the minors
IF/OF Mike Morse: versatility gives him an edge for a bench job but he's questionable for spring training after reconstructive shoulder surgery in '08 UPDATE 3/18 - unless the M's go with an 11-man pitching staff, Morse will have a tough time making the team UPDATE 4/1 - cleared waivers and outrighted to AAA UPDATE 4/3 - could be brought back to fill a roster spot with Ichiro headed for the DL
RHP Chad Cordero: UPDATE 3/12 - signed to a minor league contract today, he'll be in camp trying to show that he's fully recovered from shoulder surgery; he posted a 3.36 ERA with 37 saves for the Nats in his last full season back in '07 UPDATE 3/13 - apparently turned down more money from Texas because the Mariners told hime he'd be their closer once he was completely healthy
UTL Chris Burke: former top prospect for the Astros is still waiting for an opportunity to play on a consistent basis; San Diego might offer the best chance, although he'll likely have to play multiple positions UPDATE 3/29 - has been told he won't make the team UPDATE 3/29 - acquired from San Diego
RHP Jesus Delgado: UPDATE 4/2 - claimed off of waivers from the Marlins on 3/15, he's still in the mix for a spot in the 'pen. UPDATE 4/4 - reassigned to the minors
C Jamie Burke: hitting .283 in 205 AB's over the last two seasons for the M's UPDATE 4/4 - reassigned to the minors
OF Mike Wilson: UPDATE 4/3 - with Ichiro being placed on the DL, Wilson could be considered for a roster spot after an impressive spring (8 HR, 19 RBI) UPDATE 4/4 - reassigned to the minors