Mariners Lop Off Three, Including Listach

The Seattle Mariners released utility infielder Pat Listach, the 1992 American League Rookie of the Year, and made two other moves Wednesday to trim their roster to 25 players.

They optioned career minor leaguer Dan Rohrmeier to Triple-A Tacoma and placed infielder Aaron Holbert on waivers. Holbert, 25, will be sent to the Mariners’ Pacific Coast League farm club in Tacoma if he clears waivers, which is expected to happen.

The Mariners will start the regular season Tuesday with three catchers.

In effect, the Mariners kept third-string catcher John Marzano over the 30-year-old Listach, who was trying to revive his career with the Mariners after being cut by Houston last season.

Listach, who hit .290 and stole 54 bases as Milwaukee’s rookie shortstop in 1992, was signed as a free agent by the Mariners on Dec. 16. This spring he hit .277 in 24 games (13 for 47) in his bid for a utility infield job, but committed six errors.

Listach has been bothered by injuries since his rookie season.

The Mariners will leave Arizona on Friday with Jeff Huson as their only utility infielder. Rich Amaral, an outfielder, also can be used as a reserve infielder.

Manager Lou Piniella said he elected to go with three catchers instead of two utility infielders in order to give Dan Wilson, an All-Star catcher in 1996, more rest this season. Wilson caught more games (144) and more innings (1,202) than any other catcher in the majors last season.