3 storylines to watch heading into Mariners Spring Training

Seattle Mariners bullpen — SEATTLE, WA – AUGUST 21: Yoshihisa Hirano #6 of the Seattle Mariners greets fellow members of the bullpen bdfore a game against the Texas Ranger at T-Mobile Park on August, 21, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won 7-4. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)

The Bullpen competition

Right behind the sixth starter battle, the final spot in the bullpen is the second most interesting competition from Mariners Spring Training. There are six pitchers that I think are locks to make the bullpen: Joey Gerber, Kendall Graveman, Keynan Middleton, Anthony Misiewicz, Rafael Montero, and Yohan Ramirez.

Then, there’s a group of seven players that will fight for the final spot in the bullpen (Mariners will only have seven bullpen pitchers because there is a max of 13 and the Mariners have a 6 man rotation). That group is comprised of Brandon Brennan, Sam Delaplane, Aaron Fletcher, Casey Sadler, Erik Swanson, Domingo Tapia, Will Vest (Who will need to make the roster, and if he does not he will be sent back to the Tigers), and a slew of non-roster invites.

Some of the players that I included in the “locks” group may not be true locks, but that group of six seems to be unanimously in everyone’s pre-season roster prediction. Will Vest may be the most interesting to watch because of the Rule 5 Draft rules and as I just mentioned he has to make the roster for Seattle to keep him. So if he pitches poorly and does not look MLB ready he will be sent back to Detroit.

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The Bullpen competition

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