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< Shannon Drayer
Mariners option Roenis Elias to Triple A, cut roster to 28
Roenis Elias, who pitched most of 2014 with the Mariners, was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday. (AP)PEORIA, Ariz. – With just over a week to go until the regular season begins the Mariners have made one more round of cuts.
Optioned to AAA Tacoma
Roenis Elias
Re-assigned to Minor League Camp
Mark Lowe
Jordan Pries
Kevin Correia
Joe Saunders
Shawn O'Malley
Carlos Rivero
John Baker
Endy Chavez
Chris Taylor is still on the roster but will most likely be put on the disabled list before the end of camp. Lloyd McClendon would still not officially announce the starting rotation, noting that there are still six starters in camp with Erasmo Ramirez still on the roster. There are nine relievers remaining for seven spots but one of them is Edgar Olmos, who is not yet pitching. The final bullpen decision should be made in the next day or two, according to McClendon. Will it be rookie southpaw Tyler Olson, or will be a righty who was on the club last year, leaving the pen with just one lefty?
Perhaps the toughest cut was Elias. Taijuan Walker has clearly won the job for fifth starter, but Elias came up big for the club last year by making the jump from Double A to the big leagues when two starters were hurt in camp last year. While McClendon pointed out that Elias had not pitched well in camp, he acknowledged that there should be opportunities for him in Seattle this year.
"The one thing I impressed upon him is, listen, I'm a big Elias fan," he said. "I think everyone knows I pushed hard for this young man to be on this club last year. But he has got to get better, he has got to improve and command of the strike zone is one of them, particularly with the fastball. I think all of us would agree, for us to go through the season with five starters, that's just not going to happen. At some point he has got to be prepared to come back here and help this club. But at the same time he has got to be pitching well to be able to come back and help us."
"It was tough, but it was a decision we all thought was best for him and best for the organization at this particular time."
In addition to Elias, Jordan Pries will be minor league starting depth. While he is not on the 40-man roster, the Mariners shouldn't have a problem getting him there as they will most likely start the season with two open spots with David Rollins on the restricted list
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