Years after making Richie Sexson and Adrian Beltre their franchise multimillionaires, the Mariners are finally getting it. Pitching, defense and young talent is how this team wants to get it done. And, welcome aboard Mr. Erik Bedard.

Quietly, the Mariners are one of the strongest teams in the AL up the middle. Ichiro Suzuki is a long-time Fantasy gem, especially in Rotisserie leagues, but catcher Kenji Johjima, second baseman Jose Lopez and shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt are solid all-around players who can fly under the radar on Draft Day. Their defense won't help you much, outside of the fact their great gloves will have them playing as close to every day as anyone in their class. The Mariners, squarely built on pitching and defense now, need their gloves on the field.

And that's great news for Fantasy owners of their pitching staff. It has been thought Felix Hernandez would be a Fantasy disappointment in recent years because the Mariners are not a true contender that can make him much more than a .500 or 15-win starter. But, the Mariners stayed in the race deep into the summer last year, and although King Felix still has yet to dominate consistently, you have to like his chances of doing so heading into this season.

Hernandez will be cheaper on this Draft Day than either of the previous two -- and it should be his best season yet. The addition of Bedard should take some pressure off and gives the Mariners two of the best aces in baseball.

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The offense can improve, but in Fantasy terms, you will get more run out of the pitchers and the potential late-round AL-only sleepers with the Mariners in 2008.

Spring position battles

Right field -- Brad Wilkerson vs. Wladimir Balentien

Wilkerson is an injury-risk sleeper for deeper leagues, but more of an AL-only option at this point. He has pop, but he is injury-prone and he strikes out too much, leading to extended slumps. Balentien has a more power, but he strikes out a lot, too, and has less in the way of physical tools. As a raw prospect still, he is likely ticketed for Triple-A and is no better than an in-season call-up -- albeit a nice prospect sleeper.

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Seattle Mariners Outlook
Projected lineup Pos. Projected Rotation
1 Ichiro Suzuki CF 1 Erik Bedard LH
2 Adrian Beltre 3B 2 Felix Hernandez RH
3 Jose Vidro DH 3 Miguel Batista RH
4 Raul Ibanez LF 4 Jarrod Washburn LH
5 Richie Sexson 1B 5 Carlos Silva RH
6 Kenji Johjima C Alt Horacio Ramirez LH
7 Brad B. Wilkerson RF Top bullpen arms
8 Jose Lopez 2B CL J.J. Putz RH
9 Yuniesky Betancourt SS SU Brandon Morrow RH
Top bench options RP Sean Green RH
R Jeremy Reed OF RP Eric O'Flaherty LH
R Jeff Clement C RP Ryan Rowland-Smith RH
Rookies/Prospects Age Pos. 2007 high Destination
1 Jeff Clement 24 C Majors Majors
Arguably baseball's top catching prospect but he'll bide time behind Johjima.
2 Wladimir Balentien 23 OF Majors Triple-A
After Erik Bedard deal, Balentien could have an opportunity to start this year.
3 Robert Rohrbaugh 23 LH SP Triple-A Triple-A
Lefty made one of the biggest jumps in status with steady numbers.
4 Carlos Triunfel 18 SS Low Class A High Class A
Numbers won't wow you yet, but he's a 18-year-old Dominican shortstop.
5 Phillippe Aumont 18 RH SP DNP -- High school Low Class A
2007 top draft pick is headed to big league camp but is years away.
Best of the rest: OF Michael Saunders, 1B Bryan Lahair, 3B Matt Mangini, 2B Yung Chi Chen, P Mark Lowe, 3B Matt Tuiasosopo, P Juan Ramirez.

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