In fact, said GM Jack Zduriencik, the remade roster that heads to spring training Feb. 13 may not be complete yet.

"Are we finished? No," he said. "I'm not doing my job if I don't try to improve this team every day. I'd like another productive bat. I'd like a backup infielder and maybe a veteran infielder who could push a couple of our younger guys."

He also wouldn't mind a closer or a designated hitter, but hey, those are things that may work out in camp.

New manager Don Wakamatsu was asked how many positions were set in concrete headed into spring training.

"Mine," he deadpanned, and broke up the room.

Asked if he had to say today who would play first base and left field - spots vacated by Richie Sexson and Raul Iba?ez - Wakamatsu didn't hesitate.

"Right now? Russell Branyan and Endy Chavez," he said. "But we're going to encourage competiton."

The hope is, they'll get it at more than one postion, and minor league director Pedro Griffol - yes, he's new, too - tossed out a couple of dark-horse candidates from the farm system.

"Shawn Kelly dominated every league we put him in last year, and we put him in three," Griffol said of the 24-year-old right-hander. "We moved him from Class A to a higher Class A - and he didn't allow a run in 12 appearances."

Kelly, a reliever with good stuff and fine control, was 5-2 with a 1.98 ERA in his first 77 professional innings, and closing in Venezuela this winter he was 9-for-9 in save opportunities with a 2-1 record and a 3.68 ERA.

And the other kid to watch for?

"Adam Moore will probably start the season in Tacoma, but he's going to be a catcher who can lead a staff and bat in the heart of the order," Griffol said. "He's going to be an impact player."

Moore, caught in the traffic jam with catchers Kenji Johjima, Jeff Clement, Rob Johnson and Jamie Burke, batted .319 with 14 home runs and 71 RBI in 119 Double-A games in 2008.

"He's got an outside shot to come up this year," Zduriencik said of Moore, "but next year, he's coming. He's a good young player with a lot of promise."

There was good news for the club on the health front. Trainer Rick Griffin, who ticked off a list of five players whose season ended with surgery last year - Clement (knee), Erik Bedard (shoulder), Adrian Beltre (thumb, shoulder), Mike Morse (shoulder) and Bryan LaHair (hernia) - said all would be 100 percent healthy by the time camp opens.

And Griffin even had news on pitcher Carlos Silva, who seemed to grow larger each month last season.

"Carlos has worked hard all offseason, with diet, strength training and yoga, and has lost more than 20 pounds," Griffin said. "He told me, 'I'm going to surprise you this season.' All of his problems last year related to his conditioning. I don't think that will be a problem in 2009."

First base and outfield coach Lee Tinsley (yes, he's new) was asked about the defense of an outfield that could feature left fielder Chavez, center fielder Franklin Gutierrez and right fielder Ichiro Suzuki.

"That could be one of the best outfields in Baseball," Tinsley said. "There's a lot of potential there. You've got three plus outfielders defensively, guys who can cover a lot of ground."

Even the way the Mariners approach spring training appears to be something new. Griffin said players will be worked harder, and Wakamatsu said the emphasis will be on teaching "from the neck up."

"We're not just going to tell them what has to be done, we're going to tell them why, help them understand the game," he said. "A lot of players get to the majors so quickly, they haven't fully learned the game. We'll tell them, then we'll show them video, then we'll show them statistics.

"I want to tell players why."

And the strength of the '09 team at this point?

"I like our rotation," Wakamatsu said.

"If you put Felix (Hernandez) at the top and follow him with a healthy Erik Bedard and then Brandon Morrow, that's three pretty good guys at the top of your rotation.

"We're probably going to have six, seven, eight guys pitching for a spot in the rotation. I need to see them all pitch."

Pitcher Mark Lowe talked about the loss of J.J. Putz and the hole it will leave on the team, but said there were pitchers on the team - he included himself - who would have to step up and fill the void.

"Eddie Guardado taught J.J. how to handle that job, and I learned from J.J.," he said. "This year, maybe it's my turn to pass on what I know to younger guys. Maybe it's my year to close."

In the end, it came down to asking Zduriencik what he'd tell fans about the 2009 Mariners, and whether he had a plan to right the franchise.

"We need to get this club healthy, get the players to play to the level of their ability," he said. "Last year, a number of them underachieved. If they just play to the level of their ability, and play the game right, we're a better, more exciting team.

"It is going to take patience. We haven't replaced the bat of Raul Iba?ez, but maybe the players here can help do that. If Jeff Clement or Russell Branyan steps up and has a breakthrough season, that would make a difference."

Bottom line?

"We need more talent in the organization. If you ask me today do I feel warm and fuzzy about this roster, no - I don't," Zduriencik said. "I know how much this organization means to our fans. I'm a fan, too. Be patient with us. There is a plan in place, we have the chance to get better as an organization in the June draft.

"And I'd like to add to this club before spring training ends. That could be before camp, it could be in mid-spring. We're not done."

- - -

blogs.thenewstribune.com/Mariners