Mariners' Morrow won't begin the season as a starter

PEORIA, Ariz. — It turns out Brandon Morrow could be bullpen-bound after all.

Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik confirmed Saturday that Morrow will not be ready to begin the season in the team's starting rotation. But Zduriencik and the team's coaching staff will spend the next week figuring out whether Morrow should head north with the Mariners and build arm strength as a reliever.

"Everything's still up in the air right now," Zduriencik said. "Nothing's been decided. You'll see that, in this next week, a lot of decisions are going to have to be made. And in the end, the route we decide to take will ultimately be one that's in the best interests of the ballclub and the best interests of the individual."

Morrow is still being viewed as a future starter.

But the team's options now are to start him off in the bullpen, throwing him an inning or two at a time. Or the Mariners can send him to Class AAA where he can be in the starting rotation.

The Mariners face health concerns and tough decisions in their rotation and bullpen. No candidates for the closer's job appear to have stepped up, though Zduriencik cautioned that spring-training statistics should be taken for what they are.

"Spring training is spring training," he said.

David Aardsma and Shawn Kelley have put up some of the best spring stats. But Zduriencik's comments raise the possibility a veteran like Miguel Batista, who tossed 1-1/3 scoreless innings in a 16-9 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday, could still win the job despite underwhelming numbers in Peoria.

Zduriencik wouldn't comment on whether Morrow would be considered for the closer's role. Morrow is expected to see action this week.

Notes

• Seattle starter Carlos Silva allowed 11 hits and nine runs — eight earned, and two homers that left him with an earned-run average of 16.88. Silva went 4-15 with a 6.46 ERA in 29 starts in 2008.

"Anyone who says they're getting their work in, they're using excuses," he said. "I need to learn to trust myself and not try to be someone else. Guys tell me, 'Whatever you have in the bullpen, bring it to the mound.' "

• Reegie Corona hit his first spring homer for the Mariners.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Seattle Los Angeles (A) ABRHBIABRHBIChavez cf 3220Figgins 3b 4131B.Johnson cf 2000Izturis 2b 1001Lopez 2b 4011Kendrick 2b 2213Crabbe 2b 1000Quinlan lf 2110Sweeney dh 3021Abreu lf 3110Morse dh 1000Willits rf 2011Branyan 1b 3000Hunter cf 4221Shelton 1b 1110Wood 3b 2000Balentien lf 3101Morales 1b 4243Johnson c 3210J.Moore lf 0100Clement c 1012Rivera dh 3011Wilson rf 4111F.Wipke dh 1110Woodwrd 3b 5022Mtthws Jr. rf 4001R.Corona ss 4221Rodriguez cf 1111 H.Conger c 2100 Budde c 1100 Aybar ss 4243Totals389139Totals40162016

Seattle	111 210 120	—	9
Los Angeles (A)	211 501 06x	—	16

E — Silva (1), D.Herndon (1). DP — Seattle 2, Los Angeles (A) 2. LOB — Seattle 10, Los Angeles (A) 9. 2B — Johnson (4), Clement (3), Wilson (5), Woodward 2 (6), Morales (8), Rodriguez (7), Aybar (3). 3B — Quinlan (1), Aybar (3). HR — R.Corona (1), Kendrick (2), Hunter (3), Morales (3). SB — Chavez (3), B.Johnson (1), Figgins (7). SF — Izturis, Kendrick.

Mariners	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
	Silva L, 0-1		3 1/3	11	9	8	2	2

	Batista		1 2/3	2	0	0	1	0

	Corcoran		1	2	1	1	2	0

	Jimenez		1	0	0	0	0	1

	Messenger		1/3	4	6	6	1	0

	J.Lugo		2/3	1	0	0	0	0

Angels	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
	Palmer		2 2/3	4	2	2	1	4

	M.Tobin BS,1		1/3	1	1	1	1	1

	D.Hrndn W 1-1; BS 1		1	3	2	2	0	0

	Fuentes		1	2	1	1	0	2

	Shields		1	0	0	0	2	1

	Jepsen		1	1	1	1	1	1

	Thompson S, 1		2	2	2	2	2	2

HBP — by Messenger (Morales), by Palmer (Balentien). WP — Batista. A — 8,328.