The Mariners have added a lot of veteran help for the bullpen over the winter. Righty Hector Noesi will likely also claim a spot in the bullpen if he doesn’t win a spot in the starting rotation this spring. Here is a look at the Mariners’ bullpen as of right now:

Closer: Brandon League: 28-year old righty Brandon League took full advantage of the injury that kept David Aardsma out of action in 2011. He pitched in 65 games (0 starts) for the Mariners lasst year and he was 1-5 with 37 saves, a 2.79 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. He has now pitched in 135 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Mariners and he is 10-12 with 43 saves, a 3.14 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. League has now pitched in 303 games (0 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 17-22 with 45 saves, a 3.70 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. I look for League to have another big year in 2012 for the Mariners.

Set-Up Man: Shawn Kelley: 27-year old righty Shawn Kelley will likely get the shot to set-up for Brandon League. He pitched in 10 games (0 starts) for the Mariners last year and he was 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 0.79 WHIP. Kelley has now pitched in 73 games (0 starts) in his first three years with the Mariners and he is 8-5 with a 3.66 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. I think the Kelley is going to pitch well as long as he can stay healthy in 2012.

Righties: Chance Ruffin: 23-year old Chance Ruffin came to the Mariners last summer in the big Doug Fister deal with the Tigers. He pitched in 13 games (0 starts) for the Mariners last year and he was 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. Ruffin pitched in 15 games (0 starts) overall for the Tigers & Mariners last year and he was 1-0 with a 4.08 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. He also pitched in 44 games in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 3-3 with 19 saves, a 2.03 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. Ruffin has a huge upside and he might be the closer for the Mariners down the road.

Tom Wilhelmsen: 28-year old Tom Wilhelmsen looked solid in his first taste of the majors with the Mariners in 2011. He pitched in 25 games (0 starts) for the Mariners last year and he was 2-0 with a 3.31 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. He also pitched in 14 games (12 starts) in AA-ball last year and he was 4-5 with a 5.49 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. Wilhelmsen will need to have a good spring to make the opening day roster for the Mariners.

Shawn Camp: 36-year old Shawn Camp pitched in 67 games (0 starts) for the Blue Jays last year and he was 6-3 with 1 save, a 4.21 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. He has now pitched in 432 games (0 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 25-26 with 10 saves, a 4.40 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. Camp likely already has a spot sewed up in the Mariners’ pen for 2012.

Aaron Heilman: 33-year old Aaron Heilman had a rough time in 2011 for the Diamondbacks. He pitched in 32 games (0 starts) for the Diamondbacks last year and he was 4-1 with a 6.88 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. Heilman has now pitched in 477 games (25 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 35-46 with 16 saves, a 4.40 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Heilman is going to need a really good spring to win a spot in the Mariners’ pen.

Brian Sweeney: 37-year old Brian Sweeney pitched in 33 games (9 starts) in Independent + AAA-ball last year and he was 6-5 with 1 save, a 4.21 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. He last pitched in the majors back in 2010 with the Mariners. Sweeney has now pitched in 73 games (2 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 4-2 with 2 saves, a 3.38 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. Sweeney has been a solid pitcher in the majors, so it wouldn’t be much of a surprise to see him in the Mariners’ opening day bullpen.

Josh Kinney: 32-year old Josh Kinney was very solid in the minors last year. He pitched in 49 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the White Sox last year and he was 6-3 with 14 saves, a 2.77 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. But, he didn’t pitch too well for the White Sox in 2011. He pitched in 13 games (0 starts) for the White Sox last year and he was 0-0 with a 6.62 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP. Kinney has now pitched in 58 games (0 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 1-0 with a 5.12 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP.

Scott Patterson: 32-year old Scott Patterson pitched in 52 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball for the Mariners last year and he was 4-4 with 19 saves, a 3.54 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. His only major league action in his career came way back in 2008 for the Padres & Yankees. He pitched in 4 games (0 starts) in the show in 2008 and he was 0-0 with a 1.93 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP.

Lefties: George Sherrill: 34-year old George Sherrill signed over the winter as a free agent to return to where he started his major league career. Sherrill pitched in 51 games (0 starts) for the Braves last year and he was 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. He has now pitched in 440 games (0 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 19-17 with 56 saves, a 3.68 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. I look for Sherrill to pitch well in his return to the Mariners in 2012.

Hong-Chih Kuo: 30-year old Hong-Chih Kuo was signed over the winter and he is a legit high risk/high reward type of pitcher. Kuo pitched in 40 games (0 starts) for the Dodgers last year and he was 1-2 with a 9.00 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP. Kuo had anxiety issues and some physical issues last year, but he has a huge upside as he has downright nasty stuff when he’s healthy and in the right frame of mind. Kuo has now pitched in 218 games (14 starts) in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 13-17 with 13 saves, a 3.73 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP.

Cesar Jimenez: 27-year old Cesar Jimenez pitched in 8 games (0 starts) for the Mariners last year for the Mariners and he was 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. He also pitched in 43 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 5-4 with 1 save, a 4.06 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. Jimenez has now pitched in 43 games (3 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Jimenez will have to pitch really well this spring if he’s going to make the opening day pitching staff for the Mariners.

Sean Henn: 30-year old Sean Henn is going to be a longshot to make the Mariners’ opening day pitching staff. He pitched in 43 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 3-2 with 3 saves, a 2.79 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Henn last pitched in the majors back in 2009 for the Baltimore Orioles. He has pitched in 60 games (5 starts) in his major league career so far and he is 2-9 with a 7.56 ERA and a 2.01 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BULLPEN IN 2012: B-