Former Toronto infielder Chris Woodward is among 17 nonroster players invited to spring training, the Mariners announced Wednesday.
Others on the list include Jamie Burke, Seattle's backup catcher the past two seasons, and outfielder Freddy Guzman, who has stolen 324 bases in five minor-league seasons and has brief major-league time with San Diego and Texas. Guzman stole 71 bases in 82 attempts last season in 131 games at Class AA and AAA in the Detroit organization. Other invitees include first baseman Chris Shelton, who hit 34 homers for the Tigers in 2005-06, and pitcher Denny Stark, once traded by the Mariners along with Brian Fuentes and Jose Paniagua for Jeff Cirillo.
Eleven of the invitees have major-league experience. Besides Woodward, Burke, Guzman, Shelton and Stark, those include pitchers Eric Hull, Chris Seddon and Sean White, infielders Callix Crabbe and Oswaldo Navarro, and outfielder Prentice Redman (brother of former Pirates outfielder Tike Redman).
Other invitees include one of the Mariners' leading prospects, catcher Adam Moore, as well as pitchers Chris Jakubauskas, Shawn Kelley, Luis Munoz and Tracy Thorpe, and catcher Luis Oliveros.
Woodward, 32, has by far the most experience of the invitees, having played 607 games in nine seasons with the Blue Jays, Mets and Braves.
Last year, Woodward went to camp with the Yankees but was released on March 26. He signed a minor-league deal with the Phillies and was released by them on May 2. He signed with the Brewers on May 31, and hit .291 in 71 games for Class AAA Nashville. One of the Brewers' executives last year was current Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik.
Larry Stone: 206-464-3146 or lstone@seattletimes.com
