The Mariners held their annual pre-spring training luncheon for the media Thursday at Safeco Field and there are a number of news items, notes and quotes of interest that came from the over two-hour question and answer session with members of the front office, manager Scott Servais and head trainer Rick Griffin. We'll start with what jumped out at me as items of note.
• Jerry Dipoto said that Taijuan Walker, Nate Karns and James Paxton will battle it out for the final two spots in the rotation. Of bigger note, he offered up the possibility that the odd man out could go to the bullpen.