Ugueto earns spot on Mariners roster; bullpen roles finalized

KIRBY ARNOLD, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Originally published Thursday, March 28, 2002

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Luis Ugueto, the promising young infielder who presented the Seattle Mariners with a difficult roster decision, apparently has made it as a major leaguer.

Manager Lou Piniella and members of the front office met Tuesday night to finalize the 25-man opening-day roster and the 23-year-old Ugueto appears to be on it.

Piniella said the team won't make an official announcement until at least Saturday.

The choice of Ugueto, a 23-year-old Venezuelan who has never played above the Class A level, means that veteran infielder Alex Arias probably won't make the team.

Ugueto became not only a difficult choice for the Mariners, but also a complicated one. As a Rule V draft selection, the Mariners would have to offer him back to the Florida Marlins if they didn't keep him on the 25-man roster.

"I don't know about complicated, but it's the most involved decision we had," Piniella said. "We didn't know what to expect."

What they have is a player with a strong arm and blistering speed on the bases. What they hope will develop is Ugueto's bat and his overall feel for the game, especially defensively, at this level.

"He's got good athleticism. He's got some tools," Piniella said.

The final two roster spots came down to a competition among Ugueto, Arias and Charles Gipson. Gipson gives them versatility as an infielder and outfielder, plus speed as a late-inning pinch-runner and defensive replacement, making Arias the odd man out.

Arias, obtained from the Padres in December as part of the Ben Davis trade, played well this month, batting .305, but doesn't have the speed and versatility of Gipson or Ugueto.

Ugueto gives the Mariners a sixth switch-hitter, along with Mark McLemore, Carlos Guillen, Desi Relaford, Ben Davis and Ruben Sierra.

Without the Rule V issue, Piniella said Ugueto would be better served playing regularly in the minor leagues.

"He would fit well on somebody's Double-A roster," Piniella said. "He needs to play. Well, put it this way, he doesn't need to play. He should be playing."

That won't happen with the Mariners.

"If Ugueto is with us, he's going to be sitting with me and we'll utilize his speed late in the ballgame," Piniella said.

- THE SECOND LEFTY: The only other roster drama -- who will be the second situational left-hander in the bullpen -- also seems to have been answered: nobody.

Brian Fitzgerald, the lefty who pitched impressively late in spring training and had the team considering him for the bullpen role, will play at Triple-A Tacoma.

"He will start the season in Triple-A," Piniella said. "But I like what I've seen."

That will leave left-hander John Halama in a long relief role and right-hander Ryan Franklin in middle and setup relief. Those two competed for a starting spot with right-hander Joel Pineiro, who Piniella said entered camp as the favorite and hasn't done anything to change his mind.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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