Mariners sign LHP Joe Beimel & RHP Mark Rogers to Minor League contractsWith invitations to Major League Spring Training

January 24, 2014

SEATTLE, Wash. -- Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik announced today the club has signed left-handed pitcher Joe Beimel and right-handed pitcher Mark Rogers as minor league free agents and invited them to Major League Spring Training.

Beimel, 36, spent last season with AAA Gwinnett, an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves where he was 1-2 with a 4.36 ERA (16 ER, 33.0 IP) with 24 strikeouts in 30 relief appearances after signing with Atlanta in May. He missed the 2012 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in May after being released by the Rangers in March.

His 393 appearances from 2006-11 rank as the 4^th-most of any Major League left-hander and in that same span held left-handed batters to a .241 (123x511) average. He has spent parts of 11 seasons in the Majors with Pittsburgh (2001-03, 11), Minnesota (2004), Tampa Bay (2005), Los Angeles-NL (2006-08), Washington (2009) and Colorado (2009-10) but has not appeared in the Majors since 2011.

Beimel was originally signed by the Pirates after being drafted in the 18^th round of the 1998 June amateur draft.

Rogers, 27 (turns 28 Jan. 30), has battled shoulder injuries throughout his career after being selected in the first round (5^th overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2004 June Amateur Draft. Rogers pitched in the Majors in 2010 and 2012 with the Brewers, compiling a 3-1 record with a 3.49 ERA (19 ER, 49.0 IP) in 11 games (9 starts).

The native of Brunswick, Maine spent most of last season on the 60-day disabled list with a right shoulder injury. He appeared in 12 minor league games on rehab assignment.

The Mariners Spring Training roster is currently at 64 players (40 roster, 24 non-roster), including 32 pitchers (14 non-roster), 7 catchers (4 non-roster), 14 infielders (4 non-roster) and 11 outfielders (2 non-roster).

Pitchers and catchers will report to spring training in Peoria, AZ on Feb. 12 (physicals) and holds its first workout Feb. 13. Position players are scheduled to report for physicals Feb. 17 and the first full-squad workout will be held Feb. 18.