Who’s next in line in the Mariners’ bullpen?

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.

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