The Mariners have signed another round of free agents on minor league deals. Joining the club next month will be left-hander Nate Robertson and outfielder Jody Gerut. Both are veterans coming off of less-than-inspiring years. However, both could potentially have roles with the club in 2011.Robertson made his name as a starter for the Detroit Tigers, holding down the middle of their rotation during the middle of the 2000s, especially during their 2006 playoff run. He's certainly not young anymore, but Nate still has the ability to throw over 100 innings in a season. He should compete with Pineda, Bedard, Pauley and French for a back-end rotation slot. He could also be converted into a lefty reliever, something the club definitely needs. Pitching in cavernous Safeco should also help him greatly.
Gerut showed promise as a rookie for Cleveland in 2003, hitting 22 homers, but has done very little since then. A career resurgence in 2008, while he was playing for San Diego, put him back on the map, but a couple of seasons with the Brewers have done him no favors. He also happens to bat left-handed, meaning that he offers little that Saunders or Langerhans don't already bring to the table or outright exceed. However, having guys like Jody waiting in Tacoma is a luxury. Depending on how the Milton Bradley situation plays out, Gerut could be a factor on the 2011 Mariners squad.
The club also invited organizational players Blake Beavan and Steve Baron to Spring Training. Beavan is a right-handed starter we picked up in the Cliff Lee deal, who has the potential to be decent mid-rotation, innings-eater type dude. Baron is a 20-year-old catcher, who wowed the minors last season with his defensive prowess, but still has a lot of work to do with his bat before he looks like a potential major leaguer. He'll be around to catch things and get experience, no more, no less.
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