Looks like O’Flaherty wins the lefty derby

The Mariners made four roster cuts late this afternoon, including Cesar Jimenez, who’d come to camp with an outside chance at becoming the left-handed relief specialist.

Jimenez’s downfall was the lack of an effective breaking pitch, a necessary weapon against left-handed hitters. He’ll go down to Class AAA Tacoma to keep working on it.

It means Eric O’Flaherty, to no real surprise, will handle the late-inning chores as the left-handed relief specialist. Manager John McLaren said as much a few minutes ago in his meeting with reporters.

Others optioned to Tacoma were catcher Jeff Clement and right-handed pitchers Jon Huber and Sean White. There’s been a lot of sentiment for Clement to make the team as a DH because of his left-handed pop, but the Mariners want him to play every day at Tacoma and continue to develop as a catcher.

In other developments today, the Mariners’ three rehab relievers — Chris Reitsma, Arthur Rhodes and Mark Lowe — each pitched two innings in a minor league intrasquad game. They were all knocked around a bit, particularly Rhodes, who McLaren said was uncomfortable on a mound that seemed too steep.

It’s looking more like at least two of those relievers, and probably all three, will start the season on the disabled list.