Zimmerman signs with Seattle

The Mariners signed former closer Jeff Zimmerman (36) to a Minor League contract. He's not going to be competing for saves in Seattle any time soon.

It has been more than eight years since the 36-year-old reliever pitched in the big leagues, but Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said a recent tryout in Arizona was impressive and the hurler passed a physical that spanned Monday and Tuesday in Seattle.

Zimmerman will begin workouts at the Peoria Sports Complex on Wednesday, and he will be on a program that, according to Zduriencik: "Will get him ready to pitch for us this year. I can't tell you the time frame."

Relievers Chad Corder and Tyler Johnson continue their rehab work with Zimmerman in extended spring training.

Fantasy Impact: Zimmerman sounds like middle relief fodder going forward. The article says he's still capable of touching 90 mph, but current closer Brandon Morrow can go there and beyond. Morrow is the present and the future at the end of the Mariners 'pen.

Diabetes in the Mariners' bullpen

By now, most people know that Mariners pitcher Bradon Morrow switched from starter to reliever to help him better manage his diabetes. Well, it turns out that Morrow's condition helped fellow reliever Mark Lowe realize he, too, was suffering from diabetes.

The Mariners may soon become baseball experts in the disease that affects about one in 12 Americans. Fellow reliever Mark Lowe was diagnosed as well.

After attempting last season to manage his blood sugar with diet and oral meds, Lowe was re-diagnosed as a Type I (juvenile onset) diabetic instead of a Type II (adult onset) and recently began insulin shots.

"I know it did affect me last year," Lowe, who began his major league career with a franchise-record 17 2/3 scoreless innings over 13 games, told the News Tribune. "I would come in some days and be dragging. Some days in the middle of the day I would hit a wall. Some days it was so high that my vision was blurry."

With proper training and medical monitoring, there is little reason to think that Lowe and Morrow won't continue to be productive relief pitchers, although Armstrong mentioned that diabetics "can be a little slower to come back from some injuries and inflammation, which is why (Morrow) is suited to pitch in shorter stints than longer ones where the chance of injury is a little greater."

Lowe is likely to set up Morrow this season in Seattle. Morrow's move to the bullpen denies the Mariners myriad closer candidates of actually landing the job. He's a bonafide star in the making in that role.

Beltre told "no" for WBC

Adrian Beltre felt his surgically-repaired shoulder was ready to play at the World Baseball Classic. Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik felt otherwise. Today the team told Beltre they wouldn't excuse him to participate in the tournament.

"We had an idea how we both felt," Beltre said. "And from that conversation, I got that he wanted me to stay here but if I was going to go he was going to support that.

I was trying to get ready and mentally, I was ready to go. And physically, yesterday I found out I was ready to go. But today, it's a different story."

An unanswered question is whether this episode could impact Beltre's pending free-agency. Beltre has declined to comment on any possible contract extension, while speculation mounts that Zduriencik will attempt to deal him by the July 31 deadline.

The Mariners kept Beltre out of the lineup for Saturday's game, a 6-4 win over the San Francisco Giants. They plan to give him a couple of days off to absorb the decision and ease him in more slowly.

"I think they're separate issues," Zduriencik said of Beltre's free-agency and the denied WBC opportunity. "Hopefully, this isn't an issue that is anything further than this particular issue."

Beltre was fairly diplomatic about the situation, but if he's masking ill feelings, they could eventually come back to haunt the Mariners. Then again, if they're holding Beltre as trade fodder rather than a cog in the wheel, he might not be around long enough to get bitter.

Wriggling Riggleman wants M's job

In an MLB.com article that lists Ken Macha, Willie Randolph, Ned Yost, Art Howe and Bobby Valentine as possible candidates, Mariners interim manager Jim Riggleman asks publicly for position full-time.

"Everyone in the organization knows of my desire to come back," said Riggleman, who compiled a 36-54 record after replacing John McLaren on June 19. "I just hope to be considered a candidate."

If the Mariners decide to go in another direction and cut ties with Riggleman, he could wind up as a coach with the Washington Nationals. He reportedly is being considered for a spot on manager Manny Acta's staff, possibly as bench coach -- the same position he had with the Mariners last season prior to McLaren's dismissal.

"I don't want to commit to anything until I hear from Seattle," Riggleman said.

Near the end of the Mariners' 101-loss season -- the first time they hit triple digits in losses since 1983 -- club president Chuck Armstrong said he had complied a list of 10 potential managerial candidates for the then-unknown Mariners GM.

Armstrong said Riggleman's name was on that list.

And prior to the final game of the season, Riggleman talked about his desire to return.

"I can promise you that nobody wants to manage this club more than I do," he said, "and nobody is more prepared to manage this club than I am. But if I don't manage this club [next season], I am not going to point to anything other than the fact I did not win enough games."

You can't blame Riggleman for his passionate plea, but you also can't expect him to beat out the bigger names. Riggleman isn't a bad manager. He did a nice job with the Cubs years ago, and he wasn't given much to work with after inheriting the M's mid-season.

M's new GM

No big announcements are allowed during the World Series, but the Mariners made a splash just hours before game one, hiring Jack Zduriencik as general manager. Zduriencik has an interesting background, having coached both baseball and football at a high level.

The 57-year-old Zduriencik, known for his skill in drafting players, replaces Bill Bavasi, who was fired in June, and takes over for interim GM Lee Pelekoudas.

Since he arrived in Milwaukee in 1999, the team has drafted Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, J.J Hardy and 2007 NL Rookie of the Year Ryan Braun - the young foundation of Milwaukee's playoff team this season.

If he's going to build the Mariners through the draft, it's going to be a five-year plan in Seattle!