First up this morning, the Mariners have announced four more cuts off the Major League roster, all players being sent down to the minor league camp, which officially opened today.

The four are first baseman Tommy Everidge, 1B/OF Brad Nelson, and outfielders Greg Halman and Michael Wilson.

The moves bring the team's Major League roster to 51 --- it will have to be at 25 by the start of the season, April 5, at Oakland.

Manager Don Wakamatsu said the cuts were made today in part due to the minor league camp opening today, and the reality that it's time to begin paring the roster with the season nearing. "They are at the point where they need to start getting some at-bats,'' he said.

Of the four, Everidge made the most news this spring with a grand slam in the eighth inning on March 4 to key a win over the Padres. He was 2-5 with a HR, 5 RBI and two strikeouts this spring.

"What an impression,'' Wakamatsu said of the grand slam.

The 22-year-old Halman remains one of the team's brighter young prospects and was 1-7 this spring. But like the rest, he's a player who Wakamatsu said needs more regular at-bats than he can get with the big club -- Wakamatsu said there's a chance that all of the players will get more ABs with the Major League team at some point this spring.

"It's nice to have this kind of depth,'' Wakamatsu said.

Wilson had a big spring a year ago with eight home runs but was 2-8 with no homers this spring.

The team made eight cuts of pitchers and catchers earlier this week, doing so then because pitchers and catchers were allowed to report early to minor league camp.

The Mariners will play the Giants today at 1 p.m. It will be the last game here until Wednesday as the Mariners will play Sunday and Monday in Tucson, then take Tuesday off. The Wednesday game is one of two night games for the Mariners this year, a 7:10 first pitch that will be televised live on FSN.

It will be a nice break for the players, but it provides a little bit of a challenge for Wakamatsu to juggle it all.

"It's kind of a tough schedule,'' he said. "There's a chance some guys might not see any action for two-and-a-half days.''

Among those are Ichiro, Chone Figgins and Ken Griffey Jr., won't make the trip, giving them an extended rest in the middle of camp --- all will play and then not again until Wednesday night.

Most of the youngsters (guys like Dustin Ackley, Mike Carp and Matt Tuiasosopo) will make the trip and stay for both games.

Many veterans and pitchers will travel to play in just one game and then return.

One worry, especially for older players, is being active all day, then getting stiff on a two-hour bus ride home --- one reason for guys like Griffey and Ichiro to skip it entirely.

Those who stay behind, either for one day or both, won't just be sitting at the pool the whole time, however.

Wakamatsu said a few simulated games will be planned to allow them to get some work in. Pitchers staying behind to pitch in simulated games include David Aardsma, Danny Cortes and Mark Lowe. Aardsma made it through his first live action on Friday just fine, but Wakamatsu said the team wants to play it cautious with him and be able to control his work --- he is recovering from a groin injury.

Since a few guys won't go to Tucson at all, and some limited, today's lineup is veteran heavy. Here it is:

Ichiro, RF
Chone Figgins, 2B
Jose Lopez, 3B
Ken Griffey Jr., DH
Eric Byrnes, RF
Casey Kotchman, 1B
Franklin Gutierrez, CF
Adam Moore, C
Josh Wilson, SS
Doug Fister, P

For Ichiro and Figgins, it is their fourth straight day in the starting lineup.