Mariners trim the roster again in advance of the final cutdown
With just about a week and change to go in Spring Training, the Mariners trimmed their roster again, as they prepare for the regular season and the final 40-man (and 25-man) roster. The Mariners are now down to 47 in their big-league camp, with 36 rostered players and ten NRIs (and one 60-day IL, cannot forget you, Jackson Kowar).
The Mariners optioned RHP Will Klein to Triple-A. Klein, acquired in a trade with the A’s for international slot money, had a solid spring in his five appearances for the club. He struck out eight across five innings, but also walked three, as command continues to be a work in progress for the fireballer. He’ll head to Tacoma to continue ironing out that command.
The Mariners also re-assigned Samad Taylor and Nick Dunn to minor-league camp. Taylor, who can play both the infield and outfield, hit the Mariners’ first home run of the spring and also drove in seven runs in just 20 plate appearances. The highlight of Nick Dunn’s spring was probably a thirteen-pitch plate appearance that ended in a double off Angels starter Caden Dana, making a strong impression on both Mariners fans and Rick Rizzs.
The Mariners also announced they released veteran righty Neftali Feliz, who will not have a chance to pitch for every team in the AL West after all.
After these cuts, there are still some fringe or non-rostered names remaining in camp: RHP Shintaro Fujinami, RHP Jesse Hahn, LHP Drew Pomeranz. Righties Casey Legumina and Seth Martinez also both remain in camp and both seem to have the inside track on roster spots. INFs Miles Mastrobuoni and Rowdy Tellez both remain in camp and in competition for Opening Day roster spots.
As for prospects who have not yet been reassigned to minor league camp, pitching prospects Logan Evans and Brandyn García are still in camp, as are catcher Harry Ford and infielder Ben Williamson.