Another step towards the big leagues for the Italian third baseman. The Seattle Mariners added Alex Liddi to the 40-man roster on Friday. With the move they protect him in the upcoming rule 5 draft during the winter meetings. The 22-year-old also will be automatically invited to Major League spring training in February. He is the second European player on the Mariners roster besides Dutch outfielder Gregory Halman.
Liddi spent the 2010 season with the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx in the Southern League (Double A). He batted .281 (OBP .353/SLG .476) with 15 homeruns, 78 runs scored and a league-leading 92 RBI. He was selected to the Futures Game and was a Southern League all-star. He is currently playing for Cardenales de Lara in the Venezuelan Winter League. He is hitting .229 (OBP .308/SLG .362) through 29 games in Venezuela.