ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It’s two days and counting for the Seattle Mariners in their decision to operate with a shortened relief corps.
Even manager Lloyd McClendon acknowledges it can’t continue much longer.
“I think we’re close,” he said of making a move. “I don’t think it’s (Thursday). It may not even be the next day, but I think we’re close.”
The Mariners opted to operate with a six-man bullpen by optioning Danny Farquhar to Triple-A Tacoma after Monday’s game in order to clear roster space when outfielder Austin Jackson returned from the disabled list.
At the time, general manager Jack Zduriencik characterized the decision as a short-term move that represented something of a gamble.
“We’re prepared to (make another move to add a reliever),” he said. “We’ll go game to game, day to day. We’ll see how it falls into place.”
Rules prevent the Mariners from recalling Farquhar for 10 days unless he replaces a player placed on the disabled list. So what happens if they need someone sooner?
The leading candidate appears to be right-hander Dominic Leone, who had his third straight scoreless outing Tuesday when he pitched two innings in closing out Tacoma’s 4-3 victory at Omaha.
The Mariners demoted Leone, as they did Farquhar, after a series of poor big-league outings: six runs in 8? innings over eight appearances. But Leone had a 2.17 ERA last season in 57 games as a rookie.
If not Leone, other possibilities include Mayckol Guaipe, Lucas Luetge and recently signed Kevin Gregg.
Guaipe is described as “Yoervis Medina with better command” and had a 2.55 ERA in 14 outings at Tacoma before giving up five runs in the eighth inning Monday in an 8-5 loss at Omaha.
Luetge, a lefty, has shuttled between Tacoma and the big leagues in recent years, but his current numbers — 13 runs and 19 hits in 19? innings — make him an unlikely promotion candidate.
Gregg has given up one run in three innings over three outings since joining the Rainiers after compiling a 10.13 ERA in 11 games for the Cincinnati Reds. He missed most of last season because of an elbow injury.
Promoting Gregg would require a corresponding roster move, which likely would require the Mariners to designate one of their veteran non-pitching reserves for assignment.
It is that decision — choosing which veteran to jettison — that pushed the Mariners into their six-reliever gambit. Delaying the decision, even by a few days, bought time to re-examine trade possibilities.
Brad Miller’s emergence as a viable super utilityman appears to put four players at risk: outfielders Justin Ruggiano and Dustin Ackley, veteran utilityman Willie Bloomquist and DH/outfielder Rickie Weeks.
The Mariners also could delay that decision a while longer by optioning shortstop Chris Taylor back to Tacoma and returning Miller to shortstop. Taylor is batting just .169 in 17 games since being called up from Tacoma.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
