Mariners notebook: M’s take different approach to bench with 26-man roster

Roadtrip!

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This Mariners morning notebook is going to be short and sweet – there is not much going on in the clubhouse and no workouts are scheduled on the field as the team has to get to Mesa for a game against the Cubs. Kendall Graveman will make his second start of the spring and is scheduled to throw three innings or 50 pitches, whichever comes first.

Lineup!

Jake Fraley, RF
J.P. Crawford, SS
Kyle Lewis, DH
Daniel Vogelbach, 1B
Austin Nola, C
José Marmolejos, LF
Patrick Wisdom, 3B
Mallex Smith, CF
Donovan Walton, 2B

Kendall Graveman, RHP

Those not traveling will get a semi-day off – finish up their work early at the complex and be done. The Mariners have their first day off of the spring coming up on Tuesday and manager Scott Servais is taking his foot off the gas a bit.

Of interest in the lineup, José Marmolejos in the outfield. A career minor leaguer in the Nationals organization, Marmolejos put up monster numbers at Triple-A Fresno last year. Of course those are 2019 Pacific Coast League numbers so they should most likely be taken with a grain of salt, but Servais is intrigued nonetheless.

“I am,” he said. “I like his bat. He’s always hit. There’s some things our hitting coaches really like about him. It looks like there is more power in there. His at-bats are good, he knows what he’s doing in the batters box.”

With Dee Gordon and Austin Nola taking two of the bench spots, an interesting battle for the final two spots is shaping up. With Gordon the backup at shortstop, the ability to play that position is not as important as it was last year.

Servais also acknowledged that they may not need a true fourth outfielder. They like the bat of Tim Lopes, are interested to see how the adjustments Dylan Moore made in the offseason play out and have two corner infield backups in Marmolejos and Patrick Wisdom. With the 26th man this year, bench construction can be different. Offense will play into the decision.

“You can’t just be the guy who has the good glove and can stick ’em anywhere,” Servais pointed out. “I think those days are gone.”

Mariners notes

• As the starters continue to build up and relief innings become more scarce, we are expecting a series of cuts next week as the Mariners look to get the spring roster down to a more manageable size. There was some thought that with minor league camp not opening until March 10 the camp would be kept large later but that situation would be far from ideal. It’s a problem all teams are facing this spring but the Mariners have a good number of minor leaguers already at the complex for pre-camp work and will be able to run drills, set up intrasquad and sim games and otherwise find work for the group before minor league games begin.

• It’s not official yet but it appears Taijuan Walker will make his spring debut Wednesday starting the game against the Angels in Tempe.

• Evan White, who has been kept out of games the past few days because of groin soreness, is scheduled to run the bases Sunday. If all goes well he should be in the lineup on Monday.

• Joel Sherman of the New York Post was in camp Saturday and it appears the Jarred Kelenic trade is still front of mind for many Mets fans.

https://t.co/QzVZSp0i6y The #Mets nightmare wants something simple — to be “the face of baseball.” On Jarred Kelenic’s rise toward the majors.

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) March 1, 2020

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Check out Shannon’s Get To Know Your Mariners series

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• If anyone can relate to top Mariners prospects, it’s Taijuan Walker
• Julio Rodriguez looks the part of future superstar on and off the field

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