How likely is it that someone like Paredes can learn another pitch (at this point in his career) that makes him a potential starter? I know, anything is possible, but how often does something like that actually happen?

Paredes needs something else to work against right-handers. At present, he has a change-up, but the change-up frequently is the most extreme of the feel pitches. It’s not something that most guys can just get a grip for and let loose. He’s been relieving because he can’t get that change down even though they’ve been trying to get him to learn it for years. A cutter might work, but that would still leave him only with the slider as an off-speed pitch and that may not be enough.

The M’s seem to be experts at picking up pitchers that turn into passable relievers, alas.

I don’t sense that the M’s are yet in the position where they won’t have a spot or two on the 40 man to waste.

The M’s are moving in that direction, though. [Pause for smile.] And it might change quickly depending on who is available in the Rule 5 draft and on waivers following the annual shuffling of 40-man rosters at the end of spring training or later in the year. I would hate to pass on the next Nelson Cruz next March because the M’s did not want to risk the 5% chance that the Padres would select Carlos Peguero and keep him on its active roster for 2010. Looking at the current 40-man roster, after subtracting the veteran free agents Jay mentioned, there are not many Josh Wilsons, Gaby Hernandezes, or Ryan Feierabends.

This is not to say that the M’s should not add anyone to the 40-man roster, just do not add someone if there is virtually no risk that another team will take and keep him.

Even with the five that were pulled off at the start of the offseason, there’s still a bit of dead weight on the roster as is, or players that won’t likely be adding much to the next Mariners playoff run. I’d rather have maybe one or two more of the above seven added than I want to see the spot reserved for a player whom we already know is a marginal contributor at best.

I don’t sense that the M’s are yet in the position where they won’t have a spot or two on the 40 man to waste.

There is a significant downside to adding a player and then bumping him off when Branyan or someone else signs — he must clear waivers before the M’s could send him back down, but unlike the Rule 5, the claiming team can send the player to the minors using an option. No team may want to carry Dan Cortes on its 25-man roster, but many would likely jump at the chance to add him to their minor league system.

The M’s are better off exposing a borderline player to the Rule 5 draft than adding him and removing him later.