Sean

White

White has already started pitching for Triple-A Salt Lake. The 31-year-old right-hander hasn’t appeared in the big leagues since 2010 as a member of the Mariners and will function as bullpen depth.

It’s not clear whether he’ll receive an invitation to spring training. White spent all of 2011 at Triple-A in the Rockies organization, posting an ugly 5.68 ERA and 1.85 WHIP over 53 appearances. He’ll serve as minor league depth.

White, 31, spent last season with the Angels’ Triple-A affiliate and hasn’t appeared in the majors since 2010. He’s merely organizational depth.

White has allowed only four earned runs in 12-plus innings out of the Mariners’ bullpen this season, but someone had to be bumped to make room on the roster for Milton Bradley. The reliever could be back soon.

White, a Rule 5 pick, will continue to make starts in the minors until his 30-day rehabilitation assignment runs out.

White had pitched very well in his previous two relief appearances, both coming in close games. However, he now has a 6.65 ERA and an 11/14 K/BB ratio in 23 innings this season. The Mariners like to think they’re contenders, but carrying a 26-year-old Rule 5 pick with no real upside makes little sense for the team.

The Mariners timed it out so that White, a Rule 5 pick, would barely spend the minimum 90 days on the active roster, allowing the team to send him down next year. We don’t think he’s worth the trouble, but there’s something here the Mariners like.

The Mariners are upgrading with the Rule 5 pick out of the mix for now. White has a 7.03 ERA in nine relief appearances.

“They’re about ready to do some things,” an official of one contender said. With the Mariners now seven and a half games out of a playoff spot, trading Washburn would serve them well, but there is little incentive to giving up on former first-round pick Morrow, which the article acknowledges.

Tuiasosopo hit .404/.435/.632 in 57 at-bats, but he had lost 400 points of OPS over the last couple of weeks, ruining his slim chances of winning a roster spot. The plan all along was for him to be Tacoma’s third baseman this season. Moore went 4-for-14 in his first big-league camp. He’s another possible catcher of the future for Seattle.