Jeremy Reed’s days with the Mariners numbered?

One of the Mariners’ final roster moves of the spring may not involve adding a player to a roster, but instead shipping one to an entire different team.  The chances of Jeremy Reed- the former can’t miss prospect who, unfortunately, missed with the Mariners- claiming a roster spot as the club begins to head north for Opening Day as all but nil, as it makes little sense for the M’s to add the left-handed Reed to accompany their triumvirate of lefties patrolling the outfield in Raul Ibanez, Ichiro, and Brad Wilkerson.

The M’s all ready have a bench currently comprised of organizational fave Willie Bloomquist, back-up catcher Jamie Burke, and roster-hog Miguel Cairo, so one of the final questions manager John McLaren must address as the M’s make their final last-minute roster adjustments is whether to add one more bat to his bench, or two.  McLaren does have two options available to add a right-handed back-up outfielder to the bench in Mike Morse, whose utility experience allows him to play at first base besides the corner outfield spots, and Charlton Jimerson, who has shown the ability to contribute both speed and power.  As both Morse and Jimerson have run out of options, if McLaren opts not to keep either, they would certainly be claimed off waivers.

Faced with such stiff competition in the outfield and on the bench, if the Mariners decide to keep Reed- who does still have options remaining- Jeremy would spend another year batting against Triple A pitching that he is continually aging (well) against, a situation that does nothing positive either for him or for the M’s, who would sacrifice a starting outfield spot that could go for a young, developing prospect in exchange for a veteran minor leaguer who really has little to prove against Triple A pitching.

So the trade rumors are in full bloom, with the reports being that the M’s have been in discussion with two teams, the San Diego Padres and the Tampa Bay Rays, regarding deals to send Reed their way, both of whom could make immediate use of a part-time or even a starting center fielder with outstanding defensive skills and good strike zone judgment.  The Padres are pinning a lot of hope that gimpy 37-year old Jim Edmonds can overcome his injury-riddled history to wield a productive bat, and San Diego could definitely use Reed as a reliable back-up.  But the Rays may identify Reed as a player that can join their promising youth movement, especially as erstwhile starting center fielder Rocco Baldelli is suffering from a rare illness that leaves his muscles incredibly fatigued even after the slightest workout.  Baldelli is slated to start the season on the 15-day DL, but the once-promising Rays outfielder may be resigned to the scrap heap of players who were never able to capitalize on their potential due to injuries.  Plus, the Rays have been remarkably adept at developing solid young pitching, which the M’s could acquire in a deal, as the chances of obtaining left-handed power in exchange for Reed is non-existent.

Although Reed may very well end up patrolling center field in Cheney Stadium for another season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him pop up in another uniform before the summer is through, and ending up in the American League East, where he would face off against former Tacoma teammate Adam Jones, is the most likeliest destination.