The Mariners have signed 36-year old switch-hitting 3B/2B/DH Carlos Guillen to a minor league deal. Guillen played in 28 games for the Tigers last year and he was 22 for 95 (.232 avg, .633 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 3 homers, 13 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Guillen started his major league career with the Mariners from 1998-2003 in which he played in 488 games in which he was 439 of 1,665 (.264 avg, .718 OPS) with 264 runs scored, 29 homers, 211 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. Guillen has now played in 1,305 games in his first 14 years in the majors and he is 1,331 of 4,673 (.285 avg, .798 OPS) with 733 runs scored, 124 homers, 660 RBIs and 74 stolen bases. Guillen might get a chance to compete with Chone Figgins for the starting 3B job this spring, but he will likely be used as a bat off the bench. I like this signing for the Mariners.

The Mariners have signed 37-year old righty reliever Brian Sweeney to a minor league deal. He pitched in 33 games (9 starts) in AAA and Independent 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 pitched in 29 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Mariners and he is 1-2 with a 2.91 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP. He 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 will have a good shot of winning a spot in the Mariners’ pen this spring.

The Mariners have signed 30-year old lefty starting pitcher Oliver Perez to a minor league deal. Perez pitched in 16 games (15 starts) in AA-ball last year and he was 3-5 with a 3.09 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. Perez last pitched in the majors back in 2010 with the Mets. Perez has pitched in 206 games (195 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 58-69 with a 4.63 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. Perez has only given up 1,019 hits in his first 1,111 2/3 innings so far in his major league career while whiffing 1,126 batters. But, he has also walked 628 batters which is way too many. If Perez is healthy and throwing strikes this spring, he could win a job at the back end of the Mariners’ starting rotation.

The Mariners have signed 37-year old righty starting pitcher Kevin Millwood to a minor league deal. Millwood pitched in 9 games (all starts) for the Rockies last year and he was 4-3 with a 3.98 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. He has now pitched in 423 games (415 starts) in his first 15 years in the majors and he is 163-140 with a 4.10 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. Millwood won the ERA title in 2005 (2.86) when pitching for Mariners’ manager Eric Wedge in Cleveland, so maybe he has a surprise season in store for the Mariners.

The Mariners have added more pitching than hitting this winter, so they still have some work to do before the 2012 season begins. They have went the trade route and to Japan (for free agents) to try to improve the teams so far this winter. Here is a look at the new guys the Mariners have brought in over the winter so far:

On the field: The Mariners made a big splash just a couple of days ago in dealing for DH/C Jesus Montero. He will be the full-time DH for the Mariners starting in 2012. The Mariners also dealt for lefty swinging catcher John Jaso to platoon behind the plate with Miguel Olivo in 2012. The Mariners also brought in outfielder Darren Ford and shortstop Munenori Kawasaki to compete for backup jobs this spring, and they both have decent upsides.

On the mound: The Mariners have signed Hisashi Iwakuma as a free agent from Japan and he will likely replace Michael Pineda in the starting rotation in 2012. Reliever George Sherrill will likely be the Mariners’ top lefty reliever in 2012 as he is coming off a solid year with the Braves in 2011. Righty Aaron Heilman will compete for a bullpen job this spring for the Mariners. Righty starter/reliever Hector Noesi was part of the return for Michael Pineda and he will either be in the rotation or the bullpen for the Mariners in 2012.

Overall: The Mariners didn’t want to spend too much money this winter, as they are not a legit threat to the re-loaded Angels or the Rangers in 2012. But, they have made some nice additions for the future.