SUNDAY
Seattle came back from a 7-0 deficit to take the lead, then watched its bullpen implode in what became a 17-12 loss to the Kansas City Royals.
MONDAY
Seattle plays Milwuakee in Maryvale in a 1:05 p.m. game that will be broadcast on KIRO. Probable starting pitchers: Ryan Rowland-Smith vs. Manny Parra.
NOTABLE
Starter Jarrod Washburn followed a terrible game by Carlos Silva, but threw 80 pitches over his six innings, and after allowing seven runs in the first two, shut Kansas City out over the next four. Not pretty, but gritty. Washburn leads the staff with 25 innings pitched this spring, but has allowed 41 hits and walked six. That’s a lot of base runners. “I was proud of the way he adjusted after the first two innings,” manager Don Wakamatsu said. “I wouldn’t have thought we’d lose two games with the (21) runs we’ve scored the last two days.” …
Roster moves galore: catcher Jeff Clement was optioned to Tacoma, right-handed pitcher Tyler Walker and his $500,000 base salary was released and the team sent cash to San Diego in exchange for utility player Chris Burke Say what? Clement simply didn’t play well enough to hold what appeared to be his job backing up Kenji Johjima. Walker couldn’t stay healthy enough to pitch, and rookies Shawn Kelley and Chris Jakubauskas climbed past him on the depth chart. And Burke? The 29-year-old Willie Bloomquist clone played five positions for the Padres while batting .194. He’ll likely start the year with Tacoma but, two hours after the deal, Burke was playing center field. …
Tough day for Seattle pitching. After Washburn allowed seven runs, David Aardsma gave up five runs in 2/3 of an inning and Roy Corcoran gave up four runs without getting an out. …
Adrian Beltre is like most camp veterans. He knows his body is ready for the season, and he knows, too, there is another week of meaningless games o play before he gets there. “Physically, I’m ready,” he said. “The last week, the last few games, you try to get to the mental state you want to be in for the season. It’s not like you flip a switch, but it is the last thing to fall into place. Preparing for one last week is tough, but it helps get you there.” …
Mike Sweeney continues his torrid hitting and added three more hits against the Royals. He’s now batting .421 with nine RBI in 12 games. …Work that scorecard! The Royals and Mariners sent a combined 22 batters to the plate in the second inning. Kansas City scored five times, Seattle eight. …
Ken Griffey Jr. has now hit in six consecutive spring games. “He’s been a pleasant surprise,” batting coach Alan Cockrell said. “He’s a player. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but he’s a player.” …
Scare of the Day: Ichiro came running out of the dugout before the game and a loose piece of Astro turf nearly killed him. Ichiro hit the step, the turf flew and he nearly took a header. Outfield coach Lee Tinsley, standing close by, grabbed his chest and staggered away. …
Yunieskey Betancourt has played in 13 Cactus League games, getting a late start because of a strained hamstring, but has hit safely in each of them. He hasn’t drawn a walk yet, and has struck out only once.
QUOTABLE
From Tyler Walker, released after pitching 5 2/3 innings this spring: “I’m shocked. I’m just stunned. I also have to figure out how to get out of the lease I signed for a place in Kirkland.”

On a day when plenty of things are going on around Peoria, general manager Jack Zduriencik added another move to the fray, acquiring utility infielder/outfielder Chris Burke from the San Diego Padres for future cash considerations.

"As we continue to build depth in our organization, we thought Chris was a nice fit as insurance at a number of positions on our big league club," Zduriencik said.

Burke was a non-roster invitee with the Padres and will join the Mariners major League spring training camp also as a non-roster invitee.

Not sure how this all works for the remaining guys in camp like Reegie Corona, a Rule V guy, who either the Mariners will have to make a trade for to keep if he isn't on the 25-man roster. Also, it's another guy that probably moves ahead of Mike Morse as well. But because he was signed to a minor league deal, Burke can be optioned to Triple A Tacoma.

Burke, 29, has started a game in the big leagues at every position except pitcher and catcher. He spent the 2008 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks and saw action at six different positions, including all four infield spots. He played five different positions with the Astros in 2007.

In all, Burke has spent all or parts of five seasons in the big leagues with Houston (2004-2007) and Arizona (2008). He was a part of the 2005 Astros team that advanced to the World Series.

Last season, Burke hit .194 (32-for-165) with 5 doubles, 1 triple and 2 home runs. Despite playing six positions, he committed just one error in 193 total chances.

For those wondering why Tyler Walker's name rarely came up here in the spring-long bullpen battle, consider this:
Walker was released by the Mariners today.

At 32, with a little closing experience and six big-league seasons behind him, Walker signed as a free agent in January.

In February and March, however, minor injuries - to his thigh and then upper back - kept him off the mound.

Now he's off the roster.

"We determined that there are other pitchers ahead of Tyler in our bullpen," general manager Jack Zduriencik said. "That drove this decision."

Like who?

Well, start with rookies Shawn Kelley and Chris Jakubauskas.