You literally can’t tell the Mariners without a program. Preferably a Tacoma Rainiers program.
The Mariners’ wave of the future caught four players today in a flurry of roster moves, sweeping out designated hitter Jose Vidro, bringing in young outfielder Wladimir Balentien, moving reliever Brandon Morrow to Class AAA Tacoma where he’ll begin his transformation into a starter, and calling up reliever Jared Wells from Tacoma to take Morrow’s place.
Balentien is in tonight’s lineup at DH. Morrow is scheduled to start Wednesday’s game for the Rainiers against Albuquerque and throw about 35 pitches. And Vidro left his season and a half with the Mariners uncertain where he’ll play next.
In designating Vidro for assignment, the Mariners have 10 days to trade, release, option or assign him to the minor leagues. The M’s had tried to trade him before last Thursday’s non-waiver trade deadline and, without any other team showing interest, his future in Seattle seemed unsteady as the Mariners began looking at their young players.
That’s why Balentien is here, and also why Morrow is down in Tacoma for a while to build his pitch count. Manager Jim Riggleman obviously wants to see Morrow back up here for a handful of starts before the end ofd the season, but he emphasized that Morrow will determine that with how he progresses.
That brings to mind another reliever who’s been in Tacoma making a similar transformation — left-hander Ryan Rowland-Smith. He has made three solid starts and, after Miguel Batista’s three-inning struggle Monday, there’s considerable speculation that Rowland-Smith will be up here when Batista’s turn in the rotation comes up again Saturday.
Riggleman said no decision has been made, noting that there’s plenty of time between now and Saturday for the team to make that call.
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