Will the Tacoma Rainiers benefit from M's Winter Deals?
While all the attention is on the Mariners and how their winter dealings benefit Seattle, many of these off season moves could add up to an outstanding Rainiers team come April. The Mariners just signed Jesus Colome to a minor league contract, which guarantees him an invite to spring training. Landing a spot on the Mariners already crowded pitching roster seems highly unlikely. That's good news for Tacoma, as Colome's 94mph fastball and improved control should be hard to hit at the AAA level.
Yusmeiro Petit is another pitcher destined for a role in the Rainiers pitching staff. He has big league stuff, but needs some development if he hopes to pitch for the Mariners or any other team. Petit did manage one six-inning outing where he allowed only one run, but his 1.91 home runs per nine innings, and 3.41 walks per nine innings mean there's work to be done to get into any starting rotation. Petit has major league potential, which makes him a good acquistion for Tacoma in 2010.
A winter that started out looking like Tommy Everidge might play first base for the Mariners, now appears Everidge is destined to share first base at Cheney Stadium with Mike Carp. A healthy Jack Wilson is likely to keep Josh Wilson starting at shortstop in Tacoma as well.
Mariners prospect Michael Saunders still needs work to hit big league pitching, which means he won't appear in the Mariners crowded outfield roster at the beginning of 2010. As the Rainiers left fielder, Saunders hit .310 with a .922 OPS in 248 at bats during 2009. Those numbers should put him back on the M's roster at some point in 2010, but Ryan Langerhans, Milton Bradley, and Eric Byrnes are going to make it tough for Saunders to be in Seattle on opening day.
Corey Patterson, who the Mariners picked up as a possible backup for Franklin Gutieriez, doesn't look to get any playing time in the M's outfield, despite having major league speed. He has played above replacement level throughout his career with the White Sox and Orioles, although a 2008 season with the Reds hitting .205 might mean Patterson is in decline. Assuming he sticks around, Patterson will make a solid showing in the Rainiers outfield.
Other non-roster invites for the M's spring training include a crowded field of pitchers: Chad Cordero, Josh Fields, Nick Hill, Mike Koplove, David Pauley, Mauricio Robles, Chris Seddon, Steven Shell, and Levale Speigner. A handful of catchers: Eliezer Alfonzo, Josh Bard, Steven Baron, Luis Oliveros, and Guillermo Quiroz. And a few fielders: Brad Nelson, Chris Woodward, and Mike Wilson.
