Mariners notebook: Familiar face Mark Lowe invited to spring training

The Mariners' spring training invites include a fan favorite, plus is Ichiro about to find a home?

BY SHANNON DRAYER

Dec 18, 2014, 2:41 PM Updated: 3:47 pm

Right-handed relief pitcher Mark Lowe, who pitched for the M's from 2006 to 2010, has agreed to a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training. (AP)

(AP)

The Mariners announced Thursday that they have signed three players to minor-league contracts with invites to spring training.

The signings are: right-handed reliever Mark Lowe, who was drafted by the Mariners and a part of the bullpen for the better part of four seasons; Justin Germano, a right-handed starter who has spent the majority of the past two years in the minors with Texas and Toronto; and infielder Carlos Rivero, who was claimed off waivers from Boston by the Mariners in October and DFA’d before rosters were to be finalized ahead of the Rule 5 draft.

Lowe, 31, pitched 175.1 innings in 162 appearances from 2006 to 2010 for the Mariners, putting up a 3.95 ERA. In 2010, he was traded along with Cliff Lee to the Rangers in the deal that brought Justin Smoak to Seattle. A fan favorite, it was Lowe who had the idea to display the gladiator helmets in the pen in 2009 after being inspired by the movie “300.” MLB eventually deemed the helmets “inappropriate” and forbade the relievers to take them on the field. Lowe was also responsible for the best sneak shaving cream pie attack in club history.

Rivero, 26, was signed by the Indians in 2005 and has since played in the Phillies, Nationals and Red Sox organizations. A career .262/.320/.379/.699 hitter in the minors, he currently leads the Venezuelan Winter League in home runs (14) and RBI (42) in 48 games.

Germano, 32, has appeared in 96 games in the majors over nine seasons, mostly as a reliever. He split last season in the Rangers and Dodgers organizations, pitching primarily at AAA Round Rock where he went 4-13 with a 4.51 ERA (66 ER, 131.2 IP). He led the Pacific Coast League with three complete games and ranked 10th in innings pitched.

Notebook

• Like the offseason moves or not, according to FanGraphs the Mariners have improved. Check out the latest projections of what would happen if the season started today.

• An AL team that has missed out on a number of outfield targets may turn to Ichiro.