M’s roster takes shape

Kevin Appier did what he would not do a year ago – accept a minor league assignment.

The Seattle Mariners sent the 38-year-old former All-Star pitcher and World Series winner to their minor league camp on Wednesday. Appier, a non-roster invitee who hasn’t pitched in the major leagues in 23 months because of elbow trouble, had said at the start of spring training he would likely retire again rather than accept a minor league assignment.

But then he strained his right calf muscle covering first base March 17. Though he hasn’t pitched in a game since, the Mariners remain intrigued by his two wins and 2.84 ERA in three appearances this month at their Peoria, Ariz., training camp. He had two scoreless outings before allowing three hits and two runs in 11/3 innings of the game in which he got hurt.

So instead of releasing him, as Kansas City did last spring after he refused a Royals minor league assignment, Seattle sent Appier down to get the calf fully healthy again for a possible push back onto the regular-season roster.

The Mariners made 11 moves in all.

Their roster is at 29, four more than where it must be for Monday’s opening game.

The most prominent player optioned to Triple-A Tacoma was Mike Morse, who started 50 Mariners games at shortstop and seven in left field last season.

Morse’s .278 batting average in 2005 was third best among American League rookies, but Seattle, for now, chose the potential power of non-roster invitee Roberto Petagine as a possible utility player.

“On the field, Petagine bolstered his chances of making Seattle’s opening-day roster, hitting a two-run, ninth-inning homer in the team’s 10-10 tie against the Kansas City Royals in Peoria, Ariz.

Petagine’s one-out homer off Jimmy Gobble highlighted a three-run ninth that completed Seattle’s comeback from an 8-0 deficit.

Jamie Moyer, scheduled to start Seattle’s opener Monday against the Angels, allowed eight runs, eight hits and two wild pitches in five innings.