We're only nine days away from spring training being over and the team might have to keep its final roster under wraps until the very last minute. That's because of the uncertainty surrounding Cliff Lee's injury and how long he'll have to be out.

Right now, the team is pondering whether to have Lee break camp on the roster -- even though he still wouldn't be able to pitch -- or put him on the DL right away. It all depends on that five-game suspension and when he'll serve it. Also, on when he'll realistically be ready to play.

The choice is, put Lee on the DL right away and have him serve the suspension when he comes off.

Or, break camp on the 25-man roster, serve the suspension, then go on the DL. Obviously, if he breaks camp on the roster, the team would still need to head north with 12 healthy pitchers, so that would limit you to a three-man bench.

Which is why the team will not announce that Mike Sweeney has officially made it. There is a chance that Sweeney would have to begin the season in-limbo someplace until he could be added to the roster. Maybe he turns up on the DL at some point, who knows? But if Lee breaks camp on the roster, something has to give. Maybe it's another spot that gets eaten up by Lee temporarily, but realistically, a platoon DH/pinch hitter type seems the least valuable spot to shelve for now.

If Lee breaks camp on the DL, then Sweeney will have made the team. The Mariners are not impressed by what they've seen defensively from Ryan Garko this spring and feel they're better off with Casey Kotchman as the full-time first baseman. Sweeney, once he's on the team, either April 5 or sometime soon after that, will be a right handed DH on some days and a pinch-hitter on days when Milton Bradley assumes some of that role. He may also have to play first base once a week max.

But his bat brings more to the table than Garko's does at the moment. Defensively, Garko did little to distinguish himself here. That's why Sweeney will beat him out.

One area the team won't have to think long and hard about is the backup infielder role. While nobody has announced it yet, Matt Tuiasosopo has that job nailed down.

The team is already facing too many questions about adding non-roster guys to the Opening Day squad: guys like Sweeney, or long relievers David Pauley and Jesus Colome should Doug Fister not be ready.

(By the way, the Mariners have decided to have Fister throw a couple of innings in a minor league game today ahead of his Cactus League outing slated for Monday).

With all of those non-roster guys creating questions, the team isn't about to waste time worrying about the backup infield spot that Tuiasosopo has made a case for himself at. Yes, Josh Wilson is also making a case for himself, but he's not on the 40-man roster. To add him, you'd have to take someone off. And then to send him back down to Class AAA, you'd risk losing him to another team.

Here is how it will all play out: Tuiasosopo will be on the team Opening Day as the backup infielder. Josh Wilson will go to AAA as insurance in the event that shortstop Jack Wilson gets hurt.

The team can live with Tuiasosopo at shortstop one or two days a week if need be.

But they can't live with it if Jack Wilson gets hurt and goes on the DL, or has to miss significant time.

In that case, Josh Wilson would be called up and Tuiasosopo sent to AAA because he still has options. The club would then worry about what happens with Josh Wilson when Jack comes back, but will cross that bridge if and when it comes to it.

Got it? Take it to the bank.