<p>The position players appear set other than the Brantly/Clevenger backup catcher role. No issue what so ever with this group. Romero isn't good and O'Malley is interesting and a cute player, but he's not a difference maker in my opinion.</p>
<p>Rotation: Felix-Kuma-Miley-Walker-Karns</p>
<p>Looks like Montero will be on the block this weekend - they're saying nice things about Romero and Lee has the deadline. Clevenger may be fading in the BU C race, too. Getting close to decision time. De Fratus is off the 40-man, Scribner is hurt, #Montgomery looks to make the BP with Furbush not ready - I think that's all the out of options guys right there. Might be an interesting weekend. Love the idea of Hazelbaker. Wonder what besides Taylor it would take.Tyler Marlette?</p>
<p>Mariners need to be serious about contending this year. That means that the best arms go to the pen including Paxton or Karns. #Montgomery needs be in there as well. </p>
<p>I would break with Cishek-Benoit-Zych-#Montgomery-Karns/Paxton-Nuno.... Those are your best arms.. if there is an injury in the rotation.. suck it up for a week or two until Karns/Paxton rotation loser can get stretched out.</p>
<p>Otherwise this team is going nowhere. You can't throw guys like Aro and Peralta in middle relief. Would be a disaster.</p>
<p>From MLBTR, man do we need to trade for some RP's: There’s growing concern among Mariners brass about the #Health of left-hander Charlie Furbush’s shoulder, writes Bob Dutton of the Tacoma #News Tribune. Furbush’s 2015 season ended in July due to biceps tendinitis and a minor tear in his rotator cuff, and it was decided then that he would pursue a non-surgical rehab route. Now, however, he feels continued tightness in the shoulder the day after throwing sessions.
<p>Ms release Bass so he can go to #Japan. I wonder if this is the opening shot in the moves to finish the BP. The interest in Antonio Bastardo that Shannon Drayer reported back at Winter Meetings time may still be there. </p>
<p>AB wants what Sipp got -3/$18M - but the Ms might prefer something like 2/$10 from what it sounds like. But no other team has stepped up with a 3rd year, so maybe JD has some maneuvering room. </p>
<p>Shannon Drayer had mentioned interest in Antonio Bastardo for the pen earlier in the off-season - a nice LH complement to Benoit if Furbush isn't fully ready. I suppose with the budget already exceeded that isn't in the cards now, but boy, would that make for a shutdown pen if Benoit, Bastrdo, Zych, and Scribner backed up a revitalized Cishek. Bastardo is apparently looking for 3/$18M (i.e., what Sipp got).</p>
<p>The club just went from having it's sixth best starter being #Montgomery to it's sixth best starter being Karns or Paxton. That's worth quite a bit, especially with Paxton and Kuma on the roster. The risk is real that one or both of them will miss chunks of time time during the season. I like the depth.</p>
<p>Yeah, I'm down with #Montgomery in the bullpen. If he, Nuno and Bass are all in the pen then it's likely that your #7, 8 and 9 starters are all in the pen. Would that allow them to carry a five-man bench? 'Cause a five man bench is about the only way I see Montero making this squad.</p>
