Mariners hope Cordero can be their closer

The Seattle Mariners hope Chad Cordero will soon be ready to fill an important role in their bullpen even though the closer hasn't pitched in 10 months.

Cordero signed a minor league contract with Seattle on Thursday, then made the 5 1/2-hour drive from his Southern California home to the Mariners' spring training complex in Arizona to resume rehabbing from shoulder surgery.

Seattle has been searching for someone to fill the stopper job since trading J.J. Putz to the New York Mets in December. Cordero had 128 saves with the Montreal-Washington franchise from 2003-07 before hurting his shoulder last May.

"I'm actually feeling really good, I haven't had any setbacks so far," Cordero said Friday. "I've been throwing bullpens since about the first week in February. Everything's been good so far. Whether when I come out they me want to pitch in the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth or 10th it doesn't matter me. I just want to go out and show that I'm healthy again."

Cordero, who turns 27 next week, had season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in July. The Nationals tried to send Cordero to their Triple-A team in Syracuse but he refused the assignment and became a free agent.

Since then he's been working out rigorously while trying to build the strength up in his pitching shoulder. Typical recovery time for a surgery like the one Cordero had is nine to 10 months.

Cordero most assuredly will not be ready by opening day and instead will likely stay behind in Arizona for extended spring training when the Mariners travel to Minnesota for the season-opening series, beginning April 6.

Seattle manager Don Wakamatsu said he's comfortable waiting for the right-hander.

"We're kind of looking at it like we're not counting on it before it happens," Wakamatsu said. "Obviously it's in the back of our mind that that's a potential reinforcement and a good one, but right now we're not changing plans about anything. We're still going to have to have a closer on day one so we're going to continue evaluating."

The Mariners have been auditioning several pitchers for the closer's job but have had little success. Miguel Batista, Mark Lowe, Roy Corcoran and Randy Messenger have all been mentioned by Wakamatsu as candidates but none has emerged as a front-runner.

That's why Seattle sent a scout to watch Cordero throw three bullpen sessions a week before signing him.

Wakamatsu said the Mariners still have no idea who their closer will be.

"It's really about where we started, no one's really stood out," Wakamatsu said. "Guys are still trying to weed their way through it mentally and physically."

Cordero's "been proven and an All-Star, 47 saves," Wakamatsu added. "All the indications are that he should be able to get back to that. That's what's exciting.

"You always want to be able to add depth and somebody of that caliber, you look forward to it. But obviously there's a need where we're at right now and depth is probably the biggest word for us."

Cordero only played catch with the Mariners on Friday and was slated to throw a bullpen session Sunday. Because he was throwing up to 50 pitches during his offseason rehab, the hope is he can increase his work load quicker than normal.

Reports were that Cordero had lost 7-10 mph off his fastball, a point he doesn't deny. Although he says he's close to getting back to when he was throwing 89-90 mph, the Mariners want to take a cautious approach with their newest investment.

"He feels he's at 75, 80 percent so we'll just keep progressing that," Wakamatsu said. "There's no pain in there and it's just a matter of getting in shape and getting his arm to where it was.

"But all the reports have been that it was a fairly minor surgery compared to what they thought it was going to be. I can't even predict whether we're going to have him in a game or not. He might turn the corner fast."