Mariners confirm five minor-league signings with camp invites

SEATTLE — The Mariners confirmed five minor-league signings Thursday that include invitations to big-league camp, including two — infielder Ed Lucas and outfielder Mike Baxter — that had previously been reported.

The other three signings are pitchers: lefty Brad Mills and right-handers Casey Coleman and Blake Parker. All five are a good bet to open next season at Triple-A Tacoma.

Mills, 30, spent most of last season at Triple-A Nashville in the Oakland system, where he was 5-12 with a 4.52 ERA in 24 starts. He spent most of the last seven years shuttling between the majors and Triple-A.

Coleman, 28, made 10 relief appearances last season at Kansas City, and allowed seven earned runs in 10 innings. He was 5-4 with a 4.92 ERA in 33 relief outings at Triple-A Omaha.

Parker, 30, made only three appearances last season at Triple-A Iowa in the Chicago Cubs’ system before undergoing elbow surgery. He is 2-3 with a 3.68 ERA in 74 big-league outings from 2012-14 with the Cubs.

Lucas, 33, batted .316 in 107 games at Triple-A Round Rock in the Texas system. Baxter, 31, batted .246 in 34 games for the Cubs and .279 with a .390 on-base percentage in 74 games at Iowa.

This story was originally published December 17, 2015 at 11:52 AM with the headline "Mariners confirm five minor-league signings with camp invites."