FINE PINE

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courtesy Kirby Arnold | HeraldNet


WLADIMIRbalentien
OUTFIELD
.202 | 7 HR | 24 RBI
Balentien won the spring training derby for the final outfield bench spot with Mike Morse; both were out of minor league options. Balentien hit three home runs and drove in 12 runs entering Thursday, and played well enough in the outfield to win the job over Morse, who cleared waivers and was outrighted to Class AAA Tacoma. Strikeouts have been Balentien's curse through his minor league career and it plagued him last year when he fanned 79 times in 243 at-bats with the Mariners. At spring training, he'd struck out only 13 times in his first 59 at-bats.



RONNIEcedeno
INFIELD
.269 | 2 HR | 28 RBI
Cedeno is another product of the J.J. Putz trade, in an indirect way. The Mariners traded pitcher Aaron Heilman, obtained from the Mets in the Putz deal, to the Cubs for Cedeno and pitcher Garrett Olson. Cedeno is a solid fielder with good range, and the Mariners used him to push shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt at spring training. Like Chavez, Cedeno has shown an ability to drop bunts and play an up-tempo game offensively.
*Hitting statistics with the Chicago Cubs in 2008



ENDYchavez
OUTFIELD
.267 | 1 HR | 12 RBI*
Chavez was a key acquisition in the three-team trade that sent closer J.J. Putz to the New York Mets. Chavez was in line to be the Mariners' starting left fielder before they signed Ken Griffey Jr. in February. He still may see considerable time in left, depending on Griffey's mobility in the outfield and how his legs hold up. Chavez started 56 games with the Mets last year, when he finally made an error for the first time since 2005, ending a 253-game streak without an error covering 394 total chances n the field. Chavez also has hit well in spring training, especially using his speed to beat out bunts and play the style that Wakamatsu is pushing.
*Hitting statistics with the New York Mets in 2008