The Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics are getting close to their trip across the world to Japan. The Mariners are taking off Thursday afternoon from Arizona for their last few exhibition games against the Hanshin Tigers and Yomiuri Giants in Japan, then their first regular-season series against the Oakland Athletics.
Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times has their trimmed down roster of 30 to make the epic journey, here's how it breaks down by position:
Pitchers (14): Blake Beavan, Steve Delabar, Felix Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma, Shawn Kelley, Brandon League, Hector Noesi, Erasmo Ramirez, Chance Ruffin, Tom Wilhelmsen, Charlie Furbush, Lucas Luetge, George Sherrill, Jason Vargas.
Catchers (four): Miguel Olivo, Jesus Montero, John Jaso, Guillermo Quiroz.
Infielders (seven): Dustin Ackley, Chone Figgins, Munenori Kawasaki, Alex Liddi, Brendan Ryan, Kyle Seager, Justin Smoak.
Outfielders (five): Mike Carp, Carlos Peguero, Michael Saunders, Ichiro Suzuki, Casper Wells.
All 30 players will be eligible for the exhibition games, but will have to cut it to 28 for the regular season games. Only 25 of the 28 will be eligible to play in those games. All of the 28 players must also be placed the 40-man roster as well. Pitcher Kevin Millwood won't make the trip to continue with his training back in Arizona.
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