Kuo, Camp join bullpen
--LHP Hong-Chih Kuo and RHP Shawn Camp agreed to non-guaranteed, one-year contracts as the Mariners added some bullpen options.
Kuo, 30, was one of baseball's top relievers in 2010 but struggled to a 9.00 ERA in 2011, prompting the Dodgers to non-tender him. He also had a fifth operation on his shoulder in October, and he missed portions of last season dealing with a lower back strain and an anxiety disorder.
Camp, 36, will receive a $750,000 base salary, and he could earn more in incentives. He made 67 appearances for Toronto last season, going 6-3 with a 4.21 ERA.
--OF Mike Wilson and C Chris Gimenez were designated for assignment by the Mariners, who needed spots on the 40-man roster for newly signed LHP Hong-Chih Kuo and RHP Shawn Camp. Wilson, 28, played his first eight major league games last season, going 4-for-27 (.148) with three RBI. Gimenez, 29, hit .203 with one homer and six RBI in 24 games with Seattle last season. He had been bumped down to fourth on the catching depth chart behind holdover Miguel Olivo and newly acquired Jesus Montero and John Jaso.
--INF/OF Carlos Guillen signed a minor league contract and received an invitation to spring training. Guillen made it to the big leagues with the Mariners, then was traded to the Tigers, where he became a three-time All-Star. The 36-year-old has been hobbled by injuries the last few seasons, and he hasn't played in 100 or more games since 2008. In 28 games for Detroit last year, Guillen hit .232 with three homers and 13 RBI.
--OF Casper Wells has been given a clean bill of health, trainer Rick Griffin said. Wells, acquired in a deal with Detroit, had balance and vision troubles after he caught a fastball from Toronto RHP Brandon Morrow on the nose on Aug. 17. At the time, the 27-year-old had homered in four consecutive games, but he finished the season 3-for-45 before missing the final dozen games of the season.
--3B Chone Figgins seems to be emerging as the likeliest candidate to leadoff in 2012 if, as manager Eric Wedge has said, the club uses RF Ichiro Suzuki to bat second or, more likely, third. As a leadoff hitter, Figgins has a .289 average and a .367 on-base percentage -- better numbers than he has produced from any other spot in the batting order. He was 2-for-4 in his one start leading off in 2011.
--C Miguel Olivo has more competition this year as the starter with the arrival of Jesus Montero, but he has no need to be worried about his status. Olivo may lose a little playing time, but manager Eric Wedge said Olivo remains his starter. Olivo delivered 19 homers and 62 RBI last season, and he seemed to wear down toward season's end.
--RHP Hisashi Iwakuma was off to Arizona after having spent time house-hunting in the Seattle area. He said he's anxious to start his Seattle career after pitching for a decade in Japan. "I'm concerned about putting up good numbers," Iwakuma said. "I've got a strong feeling this will be good."
BY THE NUMBERS
4 -- Times Seattle is scheduled to play as part of a Fox-TV Saturday game this season.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"I'm real anxious to see how these young guys might be able to help us." -- Manager Eric Wedge on young pitchers Danny Hultzen, James Paxton and Taijuan Walker, all of whom will be a key part of spring training.
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