Will Kyle Seager automatically make the team this spring? Not guaranteed

Interesting decision the other day by the Mariners to sign onetime Seattle infielder and longtime Detroit Tigers stalwart Carlos Guillen to a minor league deal. The Mariners, as you'd know from reading our winter meetings coverage, have been in on Guillen for quite a while. He'll earn $1 million in base salary if he makes the team plus an additional incentive bonus based on the number of plate appearances he gets. Problem is, where is that playing time going to come from? The Mariners already have Chone Figgins in the fold and he isn't going anywhere unless he arrives in camp completely out of shape and unable to perform. Given that his career is now on the line, I just can't see that happening. In fact, I expect to see the Mariners giving Figgins some at-bats out of the leadoff position this spring as they seek an alternative to Ichiro, who will not be back at the No. 1 role to begin the season. So, where does Guillen fit? I guess, technically, he does not have to ...