The Mariners have started making some roster moves during spring training, cutting down the number of players in big league camp as they whittle away towards the opening day roster. As the team’s Triple-A affiliate, the Tacoma Rainiers are essentially the final cuts from the big league squad. Our team takes shape over the next two weeks.
Annual reminder on the wording surrounding spring training roster moves: players who are “re-assigned to minor league camp” are not on the Mariners 40-man roster, and can be assigned to any of the team’s minor league affiliates when opening day arrives. Players who are “optioned to ___” are on the Mariners 40-man roster and have to be assigned to one of the minor league rosters – although they can change the minor league team whenever they want, so it’s not binding.
Here’s a recap of roster moves made over the past ten days:
RE-ASSIGNED TO MINOR LEAGUE CAMP
Pitchers: Taylor Dollard, Travis Kuhn, Darren McCaughan, Ryder Ryan, Justus Sheffield, Blake Weiman, Taylor Williams
Outfielders: Jack Larsen, Robert Perez Jr., Alberto Rodriguez
Catchers: Jake Anchia, Matt Scheffler
OPTIONED TO TACOMA
Pitchers: Easton McGee
Infielders: Evan White
Outfielder: Cade Marlowe
OPTIONED TO DOUBLE-A ARKANSAS
Pitchers: Prelander Berroa, Isaiah Campbell, Juan Then
Additionally, the team released left-handed pitcher Nick Margevicius.
We expect most – if not all – of the pitchers listed in the “re-assigned” group to make the Rainiers opening day roster. In the “optioned” group, White has been inked into the Rainiers lineup all along, while Marlowe’s strained oblique put a damper on his spring training and squashed any hopes he had of making the M’s opening day roster.
Seattle still has 55 players in big league camp – which is 29 more than allowed to make the opening day roster on March 31. We’ve got a long way to go and a short time to get there.
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Our next posts will come from Rainiers spring training camp. I’m flying to Peoria next week and will spend Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday on the backfields watching the Rainiers and Mariners. I’ll have new posts sharing my observations going up in the morning on Thursday, Friday, and sometime over the weekend.
Links:
- A newly confident Jarred Kelenic continues to produce during Cactus League play.
- M’s lefty Robbie Ray has looked impressive this spring, which is quite encouraging.
- Cooper Hummel is making a push for the Mariners final roster spot. We probably won’t know if he’s going to be a Mariner or a Rainier until the eve of opening day.
- MLB.com posted its Mariners Top 30 Prospects list, and some spring training thoughts on the Mariners farm system.
March 16, 2023