Since Rafael Soriano was given away for FREE to the Atlanta Braves last winter, there has been some question as to which of the remaining relievers was second only to closer J.J. Putz.

In brief conversations last season, some believed it was since-traded left-hander George Sherrill. Others thought it was rookie right-hander Brandon Morrow, at least at times, and there were stints in which right-hander Sean Green was that guy, too.

If you’re wondering who might get the nod in 2008, wonder no more.

Barring a lack of luck and a kick in the rear from karma itself, right-hander Mark Lowe is the easy choice to set up Putz and cover high-leverage situations in the seventh and eighth innings.

Lowe began the spring as a question mark, but ended it as a resounding exclamation point. After sitting in the 89-92 mph range very early in the Cactus League schedule, Lowe’s arm strength returned, as did much of his command, and his slider and change were thrown with more confidence and effectiveness.

While his elbow will be in the thoughts of everyone monitoring his progress, he’s shown no ill-effects this spring, and has cemented a spot in the Mariners bullpen as camp breaks this weekend.

In his final three outings, Lowe sat n the 92-95 mph range with his four-seam fastball that offers late life to go with a natural sinking action that assists him in the ground ball department. He reached as high as 97 on the gun and registered 95 on six occasions on Friday night in Las Vegas.

What’s great about the former 5th rounder is that he’s not a typical reliever who uses two pitches, and he’s even got a leg up on many closers who generally stick with two power offerings, and sometimes a true split-finger, like Putz.

Lowe has a nasty slider, that has improved every week and is about 75 percent back to where it was in 2006 before Lowe’s injury, and a changeup that he throws with great arm speed and a consistent release point.

His changeup looks so much like his fastball as the ball leaves his hand that he even crossed up catcher Jamie Burke earlier this week and it looked like Burke was trying to catch a screwball or a knuckler when he was expecting a fastball.

If his own catcher is baffled, how do you think hitters are going to react?

When comparing Lowe to Morrow, the pure stuff isn’t even close. Morrow has slightly better velocity and even better late action on his four-seamer, but Lowe’s secondary offerings and command out Morrow’s to shame.

There are only four other pitchers in the division with stuff that is equal to or better than Lowe’s; A healthy Rich Harden in Oakland, Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez, though a 100 percent healthy Lowe isn’t far off at all, Felix Hernandez and Putz.

You can make a case for Bedard, too, and Bedard is a much more valuable pitcher, but in terms of pure arsenals, Lowe probably edges him out by a slim but clear margin.

His two plus pitches and above-average change are why many have always believed Lowe was being wasted in the bullpen, but with the arm injury and his confidence and personal preference to pitch in relief, Lowe is right where he belongs.

As the second-best reliever in the M’s bullpen, and knocking on the door to No. 1.

Notes:
With Morrow optioned to Double-A West Tennessee, the bullpen is one decision shy of being complete. Six or seven, Mr. McLaren?

A six-man pen will consist of right-handers Putz, Lowe and Green, left-handers Eric O’Flaherty and Ryan Rowland-Smith, and either R.A. Dickey or Cha Seung Baek.

A seven-man relief corps is probably going to include both, but if the actions of the Seattle Mariners over the past week are any indication, the Mariners prefer to go with six.

The Mariners have put Dickey on waivers, which is step one in offering him back to the Minnesota Twins, via Rule 5 regulations.

But they have also been shopping Baek, so it’s possible they were allowing luck to make the choice for them. If Dickey is claimed, they pull Baek off the trade block and keep him. If Dickey clears and they either send Dickey back to Minnesota or have something worked out with the Twins, they get to keep Baek, who is out of options.

The third scenario is that the Mariners do what they have to do to keep Dickey at this stage, and either trade Baek or lose him through the waiver wire. Placing Baek on waivers seems unlikely at this point, if they haven’t already have done so, unless they feel the chances of squeezing him through outweighs the return they’d receive via trade.

With a six-man bullpen, both Mike Morse and Charleton Jimerson probably make the team. Two hours ago I believed Greg Norton was going to get the last spot on five-man bench, but with the thumb injury to third baseman Adrian Beltre, the club might have to use Morse and/or Willie Bloomquist to spell Beltre, which removes one of them from playing the outfield if necessary, something Norton isn’t as capable of doing as is Jimerson.

A seven-man ‘pen eliminates both Jimerson and Norton, most likely, and Jimerson, like Baek, Dickey and Morse, cannot be sent to the minors without at least getting him through waivers.

But…

“Right now I think there’s a good chance a guy like Jimerson gets through,” said a National scout, whose club may be joining the trade talk for Jeremy Reed, who was optioned out on Firday night. “So many teams are looking for another arm or someone that might have some development left. He may very well get through.”

So, going that route with Jimerson might be something the M’s try also, since Norton is not likely to be interested in a Triple-A assignment.

“I think we’d get in on someone like him if he were available,” said the scout. “I was sent here to find an arm and a bench bat, and he might be the best guy available - if Seattle lets him go.”

Lots to chew on in the next day or so for the Mariners.

Let’s hope they make the right decisions.

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