Seattle Mariners manager Eric Wedge and general manager Jack Zduriencik discuss the team's offseason moves and look ahead to spring training. Audio available here.

by Curtis Crabtree
KJR reporter
Twitter: @Curtis_Crabtree

SAFECO FIELD - There's no illusion of "Believing Big" this season if you listen to Seattle Mariners manager Jack Zduriencik.

Zduriecik was very matter of fact with the state of the Mariners major league roster heading toward spring training getting underway next month.

"This is going to be a challenging year at the big league level for us. Let's not kid ourselves," Zduriencik said. "We've got a young club no matter how you shake it."

Zduriencik cited the big moves made this offseason by division rivals Anaheim and Texas along with Seattle's continued youth movement as examples of the steep hill the Mariners still have to climb.

Assistant GM Jeff Kingston said of the 65 players invited to major league spring training, 55 have less than five years of major league service and 10 have less than a year of service time.

Manager Eric Wedge continued to address the likelihood that Ichiro will be moved out of the leadoff spot in the order. Ichiro has been a mainstay at the top of the Mariners lineup since first coming over from Japan in 2001.

Now Wedge says he's considering putting either Dustin Ackley, Chone Figgins or even Franklin Gutierrez in the leadoff role with Ichiro still a possibility as well.

"I haven't made any firm decisions," Wedge said. "I made it very clear over the winter I was thinking about it. I'm even further down the road to where I'm leaning in that direction to have (Suzuki) hit somewhere else."

Wedge said he's thought about moving Ichiro to either the 2nd or 3rd spot in the lineup.

"Ultimately it's not just about Ichiro, it's about our club and his 24 other teammates," Wedge said. "And Ichiro understands that and I damn sure understand that. So what we're going to do is make sure we put out the best lineup possible to score more runs. It's unacceptable the amount of runs we've scored the last couple of years."

Team trainer Rick Griffin gave medical updates on several players that went into the offseason with issues.

RHP Felix Hernandez - Was hit on the forearm by a batted ball late last season. Griffin said he's completely healthy and is not suffering any ill-effects.

SS Brendan Ryan - Dealt with a nerve issue in his neck the final month of the season. Ryan has been undergoing therapy this offseason and no longer has any symptoms.

OF Casper Wells - Dealt with a balance disorder late in the season. Griffin said they don't know exactly what caused the issues but he is no longer suffering from any symptoms and is good to go.

OF Franklin Gutierrez - Gutierrez is up to 197 pounds according to Griffin after finishing last season at 183 pounds. Griffin said the weight is all muscle and that he is having no issues with his stomach condition that plagued him the last two years.

C Adam Moore - Moore has completely recovered from the meniscus injury suffered last year and is 100-percent according to Griffin.

INF Chone Figgins - Figgins had a hip flexor problem that cost him the end of the season last year. Griffin said he's doing great now.

The team also announced on Thursday nine more players within the organization that will be invited to major league spring training...

RHP Taijuan Walker
LHP James Paxton
INF Nick Franklin
OF Vinnie Catricala
RHP Erasmo Ramirez
RHP Stephen Pryor
RHP Forrest Snow
C Jesus Sucre
C Ralph Henriquez

Audio from Wedge and Zduriencik's comments with the media Thursday can be found with the link at the top of the page.