Mariners make first cuts of spring training earlier than expected
Mar 15, 2021, 6:43 PM
The Mariners make Peoria, Ariz., their home during spring training. (Getty)
(Getty)
The Mariners’ cuts actually came sooner rather than later.
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The Mariners announced the following moves at spring training Monday night:
• Optioned to Mariners’ alternate site: RHP Brandon Brennan, RHP Wyatt Mills
• Optioned to Triple-A Tacoma: RHP Sam Delaplane
• Re-Assigned to minor league camp: RHP Nick Duron, RHP Emerson Hancock, RHP George Kirby, RHP Darren McCaughan, RHP Jaime Schultz, LHP Brandon Williamson, C Carter Bins, C Josh Morgan, IF Jordan Cowan
Mariners manager Scott Servais said on his Monday morning media call that the major league roster in spring training would soon be cut down. The thought originally was that with no minor league camp to send players to, the camp would be kept large until closer to the start of the season, but the challenges of getting pitchers work had made it clear that would not be possible.
“We’re running out of innings in the A-games and some of them have been cut short – seven innings, eight innings,” Servais said. “It doesn’t sound like a big deal but somebody is getting cut, someone who was scheduled to pitch that day.”
The Mariners brought an enormous number of pitchers into camp, hoping to be able to schedule B games with other clubs to get players work, but so far have been unable to do so. As a result, numerous relievers have taken their turn to pitch on Field 2 at the Peoria Sports Complex against teammates instead of in Cactus League games.
“It’s not the same,” Servais admitted. “The intensity is not the same, you are facing your own guys, sometimes you have defense behind you, sometimes you don’t. It’s just not the same but it does keep their arm active and moving in the right direction, building volume.”
Those among the cuts included some of the late adds – George Kirby, Emerson Hancock and Brandon Williamson, top pitching prospects who general manager Jerry Dipoto wanted to get exposure to big league camp. Still in camp, though, is the Mariners’ ninth-ranked prospect per Baseball America, 21-year-old right-hander Juan Then.
With minor league camp not starting until the big leaguers break camp, those who were reassigned or optioned will continue to work out at the Mariners’ spring training home in Peoria, Ariz., just at different times from those on the MLB side. Those who are non-roster invitees and not on the 40-man roster can be brought up for big league games as necessary.
With Monday’s moves, the Mariners’ big league spring training roster is at 63 players.
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