Farm Report: Depth restored in M's talent pool

Editor's note: Jason A. Churchill covers the Mariners and their farm system at his Web site, ProspectInsider.com. His Farm Report appears biweekly in the P-I.

As the Mariners turn over their 25- and 40-man rosters each winter, the farm system is reshuffled, restocked and reorganized. As 2007 gets underway, new talent in the organization has the club gaining ground on the rest of baseball.

Led by four key international acquisitions, the Mariners bring new depth to a farm system much in need of impact players, both on the mound and at the plate.

The Mariners still lack run-producing hitting prospects, as well as major league-ready help in most areas, but depth is back to where it was in the late 1990s, and there are now a handful of genuine prospects with All-Star potential in the majors.

Here's how the organization shapes up by position, from strongest to weakest:

1. Catchers: Jeff Clement and Rob Johnson could have 10-year big league careers, Clement because of his power bat; Johnson for his defense and athleticism.

Clement, 23, made a lot of progress defensively since last season. A little more experience should allow his offense to drag him into the majors.

Johnson, 23, struggled at the plate last season but is off to a strong start this season. A consistent offensive year could vault the Montana native ahead of Clement on the depth chart.

Texas-Arlington product Adam Moore, the Mariners' sixth-round pick last June, possesses plus power and improving catch-and-throw skills. He may be the system's most intriguing sleeper at any position.

Jair Fernandez, 20, has the type of raw ability the Mariners believe will make him a major leaguer down the road.

2. Starting pitchers: Led by teenagers Tony Butler (A) and Chris Tillman (A) and four-year pro Ryan Feierabend (Triple-A), the Mariners are stocked with rotation candidates.

Feierabend, 21, is the closest to the majors; he began the season in Tacoma to add some polish to his above-average stuff and command.

Butler and Tillman need lots of work on their control, but have the stuff to pitch near the top of the rotation if they realize their potential.

Nicaraguan signee Juan Ramirez, 18, has touched the mid-90s with his fastball in the Venezuelan Summer League. Southpaw Justin Thomas receives solid grades across the board and may be right behind Feierabend on the depth chart.

While most of the better pitching prospects are several years from breaking through to the majors, the club has others who may contribute sooner. Left-hander Robert Rohrbaugh (Double-A) is polished, with a strong mound presence and command.

3. Outfielders: The club's top prospect, Adam Jones, projects as a starting center fielder with the offense to produce runs at the next level. After that, the crop is young, raw or unproven -- or all of the above.

Greg Halman (A), 20, has the physical tools of a Gary Sheffield or Jermaine Dye, and Wladimir Balentien (Triple-A), 22, has prodigious power but struggles to make consistent contact.

Other potential major league contributors include Mike Wilson (Double-A), Kuo-hui Lo (A) and Kalian Sams (A), with Wilson being the closest to Seattle.

The best of the bunch may be Mario Martinez, an athletic 17-year-old who may begin his Mariners career as a center fielder with the offensive skill set of a younger Grady Sizemore.

4. Corner infielders: Two years ago, the Mariners had zero corner infield prospects with a promising future. Today, they have at least two and as many as four.

Left-hand-hitting first baseman Bryan LaHair, 24, (Triple-A) flashed legitimate power last summer, though only in short stretches. At 6 feet 5 and 220 pounds, he may get a taste of the major leagues in September.

Matt Tuiasosopo, 20, continues his transition to third base. His defense appears slightly improved, and his power has shown up regularly over the first week of the season in Double-A. He may still end up in right field, which means the ballclub will likely seek a natural third baseman in the draft this June.

Third-base prospect Alex Liddi, 19, has the tools to develop into an everyday player.

5. Middle infielders: Led by the five-tool talent of Carlos Triunfel, the crop has improved greatly with a single signing.

Triunfel, 17, is perhaps the best position player the Mariners have brought into the organization since they drafted Alex Rodriguez first overall nearly 15 years ago. Triunfel should move quickly, and that might include a rapid ascent through Class A ball as a teenager.

Second baseman Yung Chi Chen (Triple-A) may have the ability to find work as a utility player in the big leagues. His gap power has steadily improved, and he is an adept base stealer.

Luis Valbuena (Double-A) and Oswaldo Navarro (Triple-A) may have futures as major league reserves, with Navarro's glove giving him an edge.

6. Relief pitchers: With right-handers Mark Lowe (elbow) and Stephen Kahn (knee) out indefinitely, depth in the bullpen is a concern.

Eric O'Flaherty tasted the majors last summer and may return for good this spring, while 16th-round pick Austin Bibens-Dirkx is poised to force his way onto the map this season.

O'Flaherty could replace the injured Arthur Rhodes in the big league bullpen, and Bibens-Dirkx, currently at High Class A High Desert, is showing a 90-93 mph fastball and an above-average slider thrown sidearm with good deception and command.

Jon Huber is closing for Tacoma and should find his way back in the Mariners' bullpen before too long.

MARINERS TOP 10

A look at the organization's top players not currently in the major leagues:

1. Adam Jones, C, Tacoma (Triple-A): The former shortstop and first-round draft pick is near-major league ready with the bat at age 21.

2. Carlos Triunfel, SS, Wisconsin (A): Just 17, he has unlimited potential. He rates as the organization's best position talent since Alex Rodriguez.

3. Jeff Clement, C, Tacoma: Making strides defensively, but his bat will decide how quickly he gets the call to Seattle.

4. Tony Butler, LHP, Wisconsin: Six-foot-7 southpaw has low- to mid-90s heat and a plus curveball. His command needs work.

5. Ryan Feierabend, LHP, Tacoma: Improved every year as a pro; next step is the big league rotation.

6. Chris Tillman, RHP, Wisconsin: Touches mid-90s with his fastball and employs a plus curve. Must clean up control issues.

7. Justin Thomas, LHP, West Tennessee (Double-A): Most polished starting pitcher not in Triple-A. He could see the majors in 2008.

8. Bryan LaHair, 1B, Tacoma: Left-handed power bat could fit nicely at Safeco. He might be next first baseman in Seattle.

9. Rob Johnson, C, Tacoma: If Johnson can reach league-average offensive levels, he'll be a regular big league catcher.

10. Matt Tuiasosopo, 3B, West Tennessee: After a wretched 2006, local kid is off to a fast start as he repeats Double-A. His power is coming around.