Mike Carp takes another trek to the minor leagues

Mike Carp went into the offseason having proven to the Mariners that he could put together a quality at-bat and occasionally pull the ball into the right-field seats at Safeco Field.

He needed to improve his defense, so he went home to California and worked on his quickness, hoping to show at spring training that he’d gotten better at first base.

Problem was, he didn’t get that many opportunities in spring games after the Mariners loaded up on first basemen in the offseason. Besides Casey Kotchman, the Mariner also brought in Ryan Garko, Brad Nelson and Tommy Everidge. Carp has played in 13 games but most were bit parts as a late-inning replacement. He got only 16 at-bats, compared with 31 by Garko.

Three days ago when asked how he was handling the situation, Carp said, “Well, I’m still here.”

He knew what was coming, though, and this morning the Mariners optioned him to Class AAA Tacoma, where he’ll start his seventh straight season in the minor leagues.

“It’s been a little disappointing because I’d worked so hard this winter to make myself better in the field,” Carp said early this week. “But I’m young (23).”

One other early note this morning:

The Mariners have acquired minor league infielder Edgar

Trejo from the Brewers for cash considerations. The 20-year-old was an Arizona League All-Star in 2007 but has been recovering since 2008 from a left knee injury. He played in 75 games last year for the Brewers’ Class A teams in Helena and Wisconsin.

Here are the Mariners’ lineups for today’s split-squad games:

Mariners vs. Indians

Corey Patterson, center field

Chone Figgins, second base

Milton Bradley, left field

Ryan Garko, DH

Tommy Everidge, first base

Adam Moore, catcher

Mike Wilson, right field

Jack Wilson, shortstop

Chris Woodward, third base

Right-hander Felix Hernandez, starting pitcher