Mariners utility man is on borrowed time even as he nears his return off IL

Miles Mastrobuoni still hasn't had a chance to suit up for the Mariners this year. While representing Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic, he sustained a calf injury that has kept him sidelined since the start of March.

Now, he's back with Triple-A Tacoma on a rehab assignment and although he has been playing well, Seattle may not have a roster spot waiting for him even when he's fully healthy.

At first glance, it seems like things are going well for Mastrobuoni. He's healthy enough to get back on the field and has posted a respectable 126 wRC+ over 22 Triple-A plate appearances. As a player who can fill nearly any position on the field, nearly any team would benefit from the positional depth he offers, especially if his offensive contributions can be somewhere close to average.

Even as his return approaches, Miles Mastrobuoni's time with Seattle seems to be running out

Unfortunately, Seattle is one of the few exceptions to the rule. With the recent call-up of Colt Emerson going swimmingly for the squad, it seems like the Mariners have a new face that will be in the lineup long term. Brendan Donovan, who has been on the shelf with a groin strain, will present a similar issue when he returns and his 146 wRC+ for the season is simply too compelling to pass up.

For now, Mastrobuoni is on the 60-day injured list which means he's not technically on the 40-man roster. However, when he does return, someone else will need to cede their roster spot to him. Then, the team would be forced to make yet another swap once Donovan returns.

To make matters worse, Mastrobuoni has no remaining minor league options, meaning if Seattle wants to keep him in the organization but not on the 40-man roster, they'll have to designate him for assignment and hope that he clears waivers, meaning that no other team is interested in picking up his contract for no additional cost. Luckily, if he does clear waivers and is outrighted to Tacoma, he doesn't have the five years of major league service time necessary to reject the assignment and pursue free agency instead.

Somehow, this isn't the only roster crunch the team is going through right now. Typically, this is a symptom of a very well-rounded roster of talented players but despite sitting atop the AL West, the team's 28-29 record leaves plenty to be desired.

Mastrobuoni isn't the answer to the Mariners' woes and for that reason, it's difficult to see the organization making an attempt to keep him around. Ironically, a return to full health may also lead to a return to roster purgatory for Seattle's most utilitarian player.

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