With three weeks remaining until Opening Day, the Seattle Mariners are still deciding on a right-handed hitting first baseman to complement Adam Lind.
Jesus Montero and Dae-Ho Lee are the front-runners, although long shot Stefen Romero is having a strong camp, reports Bob Dutton of the News Tribune.
Montero, a former top prospect who is out of minor league options, is hitting .227 in 22 spring at-bats. Lee, a 33-year-old who hit 31 homers and 98 RBI for Fukuoka Softbank in the Japan Pacific League last season, is considered the better defensive player. According to Dutton, Lee has an opt-out clause later this month that permits him to become a free agent if he does not make the club.
The 25-year-old Romero, who has hit .192 over parts of the last two seasons with the Mariners, has a 1.176 OPS in 20 Cactus League at-bats this spring.
The competition thinned out Sunday when the Mariners released veteran Gaby Sanchez, a non-roster invitee who played in Japan last season.
