--LHP Garrett Olson was optioned to Class AAA Tacoma, and LHP Cesar Jimenez (biceps tendinitis) was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 29. The moves mean the Mariners will open the season with only right-handers in their bullpen.

--RHP Randy Messenger, who got off to a fast start in spring training before getting knocked around, was reassigned to the Mariners' minor league camp. He had a 10.13 ERA in Cactus League play.

--INF/OF Mike Morse, who has spent parts of the past four seasons with the Mariners, was outrighted to Class AAA Tacoma despite hitting .275 this spring. Morse has a .300 career big-league average.

--1B Chris Shelton was one of the best hitters in the Mariners' camp this spring, but that wasn't enough to earn him a spot on the Opening Day roster. He was reassigned to the team's minor league camp after batting .460 in Cactus League play.

--LHP Jose Lugo, selected by Seattle in the Rule 5 draft, was returned to Minnesota on April 1. He allowed only three runs (two earned) in 7 1/3 spring innings, but that wasn't enough to convince the Mariners to make him the lone lefty in their bullpen.

--OF Mike Wilson hit his eighth homer of the spring on April 1, setting a franchise record. Wilson had a .274 Cactus League average.

--RHP Chris Jakubauskas, a 30-year-old rookie, has put himself in contention for a spot in the Seattle rotation. After allowing one run in five innings against Cleveland on March 31, Jakubauskas had a 2.08 spring ERA.

--RHP Brandon Morrow has been moved back to the bullpen, and he is a candidate to be the Mariners' closer if he is healthy. Morrow missed the better part of three weeks this spring because of a right forearm problem. It's unclear if he'll be active at the start of the season. Morrow recorded 10 saves last season.

--INF/OF Chris Burke's contract was purchased by the Mariners from the Padres. The former Astro and Diamondback is expected to open the season in the minors.

--C Jeff Clement was optioned to Class AAA Tacoma on March 29. Considered a candidate to be the Mariners' DH before the team signed Ken Griffey Jr., Clement batted .268 this spring. C Rob Johnson and C Jamie Burke are battling for the backup job. Johnson was batting .400 this spring through March 29; Burke was batting .152.

--RHP Tyler Walker, who signed a one-year, $750,000 deal in January, was released by the Mariners. A regular in San Francisco's bullpen last season after recovering from Tommy John surgery, Walker was limited this spring due to back spasms. He allowed three runs in just 5 2/3 Cactus League innings.

--RHP Mark Lowe at one point appeared to be the leading candidate to be the Seattle closer, but through March 26 he had allowed runs in six of his last eight appearances. Lowe is battling RHP Miguel Batista and RHP Roy Corcoran for the job, and none has had a great spring although Corcoran has been sidelined for a week or so. "Mark's got to command the baseball and he's got to get it down to be considered (for the closer job)," manager Don Wakamatsu said.

--3B Matt Tuiasosopo batted over .400 for the spring (.404, seven doubles, two home runs), but that didn't prevent him being sent down to Class AAA Tacoma on Thursday. Tuiasosopo was called the most improved player on the club, offensively and defensively, by manager Don Wakamatsu, and if the Mariners are struggling at midseason to the point where they'd consider trading free agent-to-be 3B Adrian Beltre, Tuiasosopo would be in position to step in after his big spring.

--LHP Tyler Johnson was looked on as likely to be the Mariners' situational lefty, but Johnson, trying to recover from shoulder surgery, might not be ready. He has not pitched in a Cactus League game yet, and manager Don Wakamatsu said the club might not carry a situational left-hander to start the season, implying that Johnson could start the season in the minor leagues.

--RF Ichiro Suzuki struggled for most of the World Baseball Classic with only seven hits in his first 33 at-bats, but he went 5-for-11 in the semifinals and final, including the game-winning single in the 10th inning to beat Korea in the title game. Two days later he was in the Seattle lineup and hit line drives for singles in his first two at-bats.

--C Jamie Burke missed a couple of days, but not without the proper excuse. He left to return to Oregon for the birth of his son, Payson.

BY THE NUMBERS: 9 -- The number of consecutive years RF Ichiro Suzuki will have reached 200 hits if he gets there this year. No player in history has done that.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'd need a lobotomy to change anything." -- Batting coach Alan Cockrell when asked if he planned on altering anything in Ichiro's swing.