Seattle Mariners Friday: Top 5 at 5

Feb 20, 2014; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners outfielder

(16) poses for a picture during photo day at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

2. Is Cole Gillespie the RH outfield bat the M’s need?

In a flurry of moves the last few days Erasmo Ramirez and Nick Franklin were sent down to the Minor Leagues.

With those moves, Cole Gillespie was called up from Triple-A Tacoma to play in this weekends series against the Rangers.

In 16 games for Tacoma Gillespie was batting .362/.456/.741 with 5 home runs, 5 doubles, 1 triple, and 14 RBI.

Gillespie will likely play right field, where he has more defensive experience and skill than Nick Franklin. And if his bat translates to Major League pitching, he will replace a position that has provided a .247/.298/.390 line thus far in the season.

It’s a lot to ask him to be the missing cog in a team that is already falling apart with so many holes in the lineup.

But he could prove to be a bright spot early in the season, and provide more right-handed stability in the lineup.