The Mariners cleared two spots on their 40-man roster by out-righting pitchers R.A. Dickey and Sean White to the minor leagues – although Dickey has a week to accept the demotion or decline it and become a free agent.

Dickey, a 34-year-old knuckle ball specialist, started and relieved in Seattle last season, appearing in 32 games, going 5-8 with a 5.21 earned run average.

White, 26, is a former Rule V draft pick for the Mariners, and spent the 2008 season in Tacoma, where he made 22 starts and finished 6-11 with a 5.47 ERA.

The moves clear room on the roster for players the team may add next week during the winter meetings.

That roster now stands at 36.

Among the worst thing sportswriters do is project and predict - areas in which we're no more gifted or lucky than anyone else.

Most of the civilized world, for instance, believed the 2008 Seattle Mariners would contend in the American League West.

Just ask the media.

Well, over at SI.com, Joe Sheehan of Baseball Prospectus has been doing a series - GM For A Day - and evaluating teams, including the Mariners.

In a division in 'transition,' he writes, the Mariners might just surprise everyone and contend.

Why? Among other things, he says the Seattle rotation is among the top five in the league.

It's an intriguing take, heavy with sabermetric analysis, and worth exactly what you'll pay for it by clicking here.

If you're a Mariners fan expecting the worst, it just might cheer you up.