Mariners Rhodes, Reitsma go AAA or retire

Published on March 26, 2008 by Paul Raymond · No Comments

Seattle Mariners relief pitchers Arthur Rhodes and Chris Reitsma both are in a sticky situation right now. Both players are coming off injuries and the team would like them both to spend some extra time in the minors getting back their strength. Seattle actually has told them this and neither player has much of an option in the matter. Both of them signed minor league contracts in the off-season so there are only 3 options for them. 1.) go to AAA Tacoma 2.) retire or 3.) ask the Mariners for their release. Each player has looked at the situation differently.

Reitsma was told by the Mariners that he is not physically fit to play in the majors yet and needs to spend more time in the minors. He didn’t take kindly to this and left the ball club. ”I’m proud of myself for coming back the way I have,” the 30-year-old Reitsma said. ”I have a healthy arm again. It’s definitely not the arm I used to have, but I feel great.” Reitsma is at least saying the politically correct thing but it looks like he won’t be willing to accept a AAA assignment. He could ask the team to release him, but the Mariners are under no obligation to do so.

Now Rhodes, he took it completely different. Rhodes is coming back from a Tommy John style ligament replacement surgery and was given the same talk Reitsma got. Rhodes was willing to accept the assignment and go work on his arm strength. I could see Rhodes making an appearance later in the season in Seattle, especially if some relievers go down with injuries.