Seattle added 10 minor league players to the Major League 40-man roster Friday, bringing the Mariners total of the 40 to 39 with the Winter Meetings just two weeks in the future.
Added to the roster were outfielder Johermyn Chavez, pitcher Maikel Cleto, pitcher Cesar Jimenez, third baseman Alex Liddi, pitcher Josh Lueke, pitcher Yoervis Medina, outfielder Carlos Peguero, pitcher Michael Pineda, pitcher Mauricio Robles and pitcher Tom Wilhelmsen.
Any players who have been in organized baseball for four or more years have to be put on the 40-man roster or be exposed to the Rule 5 draft when the on the last day of the Winter meetings in Orlando, Fla., on Dec 9.
The name on the 10-man list that evokes the least surprise is that of the right-handed Pineda, who jumped from Double-A to Triple-A this season and who will go to spring training with a chance to make the starting rotation.
The name on the list that elicits perhaps the most surprise is that of Wilhelmsen, a 26-year-old right-hander who was out of baseball for six seasons before surfacing in the Seattle organization this year and going 7-1 with a 2.19 ERA in 15 minor league starts.
“Wilhelmsen did some very positive things this year, GM Jack Zduriencik said. “Give him a lot of credit for what hes done we valued his talent enough to put him on the roster.
The name most surprising to be missing from the list is that of pitcher Nick Hill, who was projected two years ago as a player to watch and who now can become the property of another organization willing to send $50,000 the Mariners way.
Perhaps the player on the list Seattle fans know the most about is the left-handed Jimenez, who was up for parts of the 2006 and 2008 seasons with the Mariners.
“The medical reports were very good on him, Zduriencik said. “We had high expectations two years ago. Hes had setbacks, but hes pitched very well in winter ball. He fits in the category of young players who will compete for a job this year in spring training.
John Hickey is a Senior MLB Writer for AOL FanHouse (www.fanhouse.com)
Twitter: @JHickey3