--RHP Randy Messenger was released by the Mariners on Jan. 28 in order to clear room on the 40-man roster. He rejoined the club, signing a minor league deal, two days later.
--1B/DH Mike Sweeney joins the Mariners on a make-good minor league contract. If he doesn't make the club out of spring training, the 35-year-old with a history of knee troubles could simply retire. "If it doesn't work out and I don't make the trip to Minnesota for Opening Day, I'll probably sail off into the sunset to San Diego with my wife and kids and look to the next chapter." --LHP Garrett Olson has been a starter his entire career in the Baltimore organization. But after being acquired by Seattle from Chicago barely a week after the Cubs got him from the Orioles, Olson isn't limiting his options to just the starting rotation.
--SS/2B Ronny Cedeno will get a chance to displace either SS Yuniesky Betancourt or 2B Jose Lopez this spring. That's the word from general manager Jack Zduriencik after picking up Cedeno in a trade with the Cubs. "Our No. 1 goal is to continue to accumulate talent in our organization while doing everything we can to compete in 2009," Zduriencik said. "My goal is for Cedeno to come in and push these guys, give it his best shot, and let the pieces fall where they may."
--RHP Phillippe Aumont has decided to give the World Baseball Classic and Team Canada a pass in order to spend the spring with the Mariners. The 20-year-old has just one year of pro experience, and the Quebec native had his agent tell the Mariners he was skipping the WBC in order to concentrate on getting his big-league career going.
BY THE NUMBERS: 59 -- The number of players who will be in camp with the Mariners this spring.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I would like every player on the roster to know they are going to be given their best shot. We're going to run our best guys out there." -- GM Jack Zduriencik on the 59 players the Mariners are bringing to camp.
