I think we posted a list of the non-roster invitees to spring a while back, but I figured I’d post an updated one with Mike Sweeney and Randy Messenger added to the list. You can click on their names for bios and stats.
Pitchers
Denny Stark
Eric Hull
Chris Jakabauskas
Shawn Kelley
Luis Munoz
Chris Seddon (L)
Tracy Thorpe
Sean White
Randy Messenger
Catchers
Reliever Randy Messenger, who was placed on waivers a few days ago to make room for Ronny Cedeno and Garrett Olson on the 40-man roster, has cleared waivers and signed a minor league deal with the Mariners. Seattle also gave him an invitation to go to major league spring training.
Here’s the Mariners release.
…MARINERS RE-SIGN RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER RANDY MESSENGER Messenger Agrees to Minor League Contract with Invite to Major League Camp.
SEATTLE, Wash. — Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik announced today that the Mariners have re-signed right-handed
I just got off the phone with Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu to get a few comments on the signing of Mike Sweeney to a minor league contract.
First of all, Wakamatsu was only around Sweeney for last season and not even a full one at that, but still came away impressed.
“Phenomenal,” Wakamatsu said in describing Sweeney as a person. “He’s the epitome of a professional. He works his tail off, he cares about people, he does what’s supposed to be done. I don’t know too many people that are quite like him.”
As for whether
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The local media got to have a conference call with Mike Sweeney at 1 p.m. (had to grab some Taco Time afterward), and he was engaging, smart and positive – everything I’d heard about him from people he dealt with in the past.
Most people figured that Sweeney’s career was over last season, after the Oakland A’s released him in September after being hampered by knee injuries. But it didn’t sit well with him.
“It was first time in my 14-year career that I had to take a blow
…The Mariners have signed veteran first baseman/DH Mike Sweeney to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training.
His signing was announced in a press release this morning. The club has scheduled a media conference call for early this afternoon. Ryan will be taking part and reporting. (I, EdgarHOF, am actually Paul Miller, one of Ryan’s co-workers at the Trib).
Sweeney, 35, who lives in Gig Harbor, is a .299 career hitter over 14 major-league seasons – the first 13 with the Kansas City Royals. Last season, he hit .286 in 42 games with Oakland. He
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Aaron Heilman’s time with the Seattle Mariners ended pretty much before it has started. The right-handed pitcher, who was acquired from the New York Mets during the baseball winter meetings in a three-team trade, which included sending closer J.J. Putz to the Mets, has been traded again.
Heilman was dealt Wednesday morning to the Chicago Cubs for infielder Ronny Cedeno and pitcher Garrett Olson, who the Cubs had just recently acquired from the Baltimore Orioles in a trade for once promising
…Greetings on a chilly Sunday evening. I ran up to Fanfest today to talk with a couple of relievers – Roy Corcoran and Tyler Walker – for my story for tomorrow’s paper.
Anyways, it was f-f-f-freezing up there. Little snow flakes were blowing into Safeco through the open air spots. I saw Mike Morse, who said he’s feeling fully healthy (for the time being). I also got a chance to see and meet Franklin Gutierrez, who seems like a nice kid and looks like he’s 15 years old.
I know we’ve discussed Walker’s weight. He’s listed
…Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News did a little research this week and came up with a look at how the economy is affecting major league baseball.
"Seven of the teams that were among the top nine payrolls on Opening Day last year are looking at lesser payrolls in 2009 – the No. 1 Yankees, No. 3 Tigers, No. 4 Red Sox, No. 5 White Sox, No. 6 Angels, No. 7 Dodgers and No. 9 Mariners. The Dodgers could fall as much as $30 million from last year’s $118.6 million."
In all, he found 15 teams are
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