Mariners notebook: No relief for relievers
March 31 has long been the goal.
That date – the Seattle Mariners’ season opener at Safeco Field on Monday – was the motivation behind the pain, the sweat and the creeping doubts that Chris Reitsma, Arthur Rhodes and Mark Lowe endured the past several months as they came back from elbow operations.
The Mariners’ three “rehab relievers” were determined to show the team that they can pitch quality innings when the season begins. Wednesday, the team decided that Rhodes and Reitsma aren’t ready.
The two were told that they won’t break camp with the rest of the team, that they’ll continue building their arm strength in minor league games.
Rhodes, still several weeks from reaching the 12-month mark that’s the usual recovery period from Tommy John surgery, said he agrees with the team’s decision.
Reitsma apparently didn’t.
He visited with a few teammates after being told of the plan for him, then walked out of the clubhouse with his Mariners equipment bag in hand and drove away in his truck to consider his options.
He has few.
Because he signed a minor league contract, he can’t refuse an assignment to the minor leagues, although he can request his release and hope the Mariners grant it. He said early in spring training that he turned down offers from other teams in order to re-sign a minor league deal with the Mariners because he felt an obligation to the organization after missing most of last season with the injury.
The Mariners hope Reitsma will be back, and Rhodes planned to talk with him later in the day to try and convince him it’s best that he remain with the club.
Rhodes said he’s OK with the plan for him, although it stung to be told he wouldn’t be with the team on opening day.
“When you hear it, it’s tough,” he said. “But in my situation, with Tommy John, they say it’ll be a year when I’m (completely) healthy. They don’t want me to push myself. I’d rather come back here and throw some back-to-back games and see how I feel.”
That’s a big change of approach for the 38-year-old Rhodes, who’s never been the most patient guy.
Manager John McLaren said it became apparent that neither Reitsma nor Rhodes would be ready to pitch in back-to-back games by the opener, and he didn’t want too many one-inning relief pitchers on the roster. Right-hander Brandon Morrow, who had a shoulder issue midway through camp, also won’t be ready for back-to-back duty.
McLaren wouldn’t say he feels more secure with Lowe’s situation, although he recently pitched in back-to-back games and is in the mix of pitchers the team is considering for the opening-day roster – along with Morrow, R.A. Dickey, Cha Seung Baek and Ryan Rowland-Smith.
Mariners beat Royals
Erik Bedard was not sharp, but he got the win in his final spring training start as Seattle defeated Kansas City 8-5 at Surprise, Ariz.
Bedard, who was acquired in a six-player trade on Feb. 8 from the Baltimore Orioles, has been selected as the Mariners’ opening day starter against the Texas Rangers on Monday.
Bedard had an 8.63 ERA in six starts this spring, allowing 35 hits, including nine home runs, in 24 innings.
“I’m happy with him,” McLaren said. “He’s ready. The last thing he said, I asked him if he’s ready to get out of Arizona and he said, ‘Yes, I am.’ “