Luke French

French is a marginal starter at best with a bad K:BB (37:29) and a low K/9IP (3.79) who is capable of getting good results now and then under the right circumstances. His game log bears this out: after joining the rotation for good Aug. 1, he posted five starts with no more than two runs allowed and seven starts with at least four runs allowed. A flyball pitcher, French relies on good command and gets lit if he doesn't have it - his 11 second-half homers allowed came in six starts. The left-hander is only a legit candidate for the 2011 rotation because the Mariners have so few options.

Detroit traded French to the Mariners at the deadline last season for Jarrod Washburn. Like Washburn, French is flyball pitcher who relies on control and, also like Washburn, if he doesn't have good command, it turns into batting practice for hitters (he had five starts of two runs or less and five starts of four runs or more). The biggest difference is he's about $10 million cheaper, which is why it was a good trade for the Mariners even if French never does much in a Seattle uniform. French could compete for the fifth spot in the rotation in spring training, but more likely will end up at Triple-A Tacoma.