Ryan Dempster's getting flak in his country for declining to play in the World Baseball Classic. 

It's not easy to read about how much your team would like to replace you, and it's not fun to hear rumors about who might be hired to take away your job. 

--RHP David Aardsma might get a chance at showing he can close this spring for Seattle. 

RHP David Aardsma was acquired in trade from Boston, with the Mariners giving up Class-A LHP Fabian Williamson. 

The Seattle bullpen is in a state of flux as the Mariners prepare to set up camp in Peoria, Ariz. 

--RHP David Aardsma might get a chance at showing he can close this spring for Seattle. 

RHP David Aardsma was acquired in trade from Boston, with the Mariners giving up Class-A LHP Fabian Williamson. 

The Seattle bullpen is in a state of flux as the Mariners prepare to set up camp in Peoria, Ariz. 

The joke among those of us who have sat through decades of preseason gabfests is to walk in and openly wonder: "Gee, you think they're gonna be optimistic about the new season?" 

With their first informal meeting with the media, the new-lookSeattleMariners - from their general manager to their manager, coaches and players - had the same message Thursday. 

AMAZING, ISN'T IT, that Erik Bedard won't be at the Mariners FanFest this weekend at Safeco Field. 

Make no mistake, Seattle's Asian Pacific Islander community loves Ichiro Suzuki and Kenji Johjima and takes pride in the Mariners' Japanese ownership. 

The Mariners still hope to sign right-hander Josh Fields, their first choice in the June 2008 draft out of Georgia. 

--RHP David Aardsma was acquired by the Mariners from the Red Sox in exchange for 20-year-old LHP Fabian Williamson. 

The Mariners have invited 17 players to spring training, including RHP Erik Hull, RHP Chris Jakubauskas, RHP Shawn Kelly, RHP Luis Munoz, LHP Chris Seddon, RHP Denny Stark, RHP Tracy Thorpe, RHP Sean White, C Jamie Burke, C Adam Moore, C Luis Oliveros, 1B