Roster Decisions as Opening Day Nears
The Seattle Mariners are finalizing their roster for March 27 as they tighten their lineup ahead of the season opener. In a recent round of adjustments made just before a game against the Cleveland Guardians, the team moved ahead with several cuts.
Notable Roster Moves
Among the changes, a key move involved the release of a 36-year-old right-handed pitcher, who signed with the organization on January 30 under a minor league contract. In addition, a few players transitioned to Triple-A Tacoma while others were reassigned within the minor league camp, illustrating the strategic effort to solidify the roster into its final form.
Veteran Pitcher Neftali Feliz
One of the most significant moves was the decision to release veteran reliever Neftali Feliz. Despite not pitching in the major leagues since 2021, Feliz once emerged as a promising young reliever, making an All-Star appearance during his early career with the Texas team from 2009 to 2015. His stint in 2016 when he recorded 62 appearances with a 3.52 ERA and 61 strikeouts in just under 54 innings highlighted his potential. Since then, his journey has seen him pitch for multiple teams through 2017 and again in 2021. Recently, his performance in spring training with the Mariners fell short of expectations, with four appearances, an ERA of 6.75, one strikeout in four innings, and concessions that allowed a high opposing batting average.
Competition for Roster Spots
With opening day fast approaching and a final roster cap of 26 players, every position faces intense competition. For the relievers, the pressure is especially acute as each pitcher’s performance becomes crucial for securing a spot on the main roster. The decisions made in these final cuts reflect the challenging choices the team faces as it builds the strongest possible pitching staff for the season ahead.
