NEW YORK – The Seattle Mariners are on the brink of getting key players healthy – players like Erik Bedard, Shawn Kelley and Yuniesky Betancourt – but not all of them are promised the job they had when they were injured.

Betancourt, for instance, could return from a hamstring injury next week – as a second baseman.

The Seattle infield is a patchwork quilt without Adrian Beltre, who underwent surgery on his left shoulder Tuesday, and with shortstop Betancourt missing time. In their absence, Ronny Cedeño has played shortstop well, and Tuesday was the first game without Beltre.

The Mariners have considered moving second baseman Jose Lopez to third base, keeping Cedeño at short and having Betancourt play second upon his return.

“What we’re going to be looking at is what gives us the best defense,” manager Don Wakamatsu said. “Cedeño isn’t hitting, but his defense brings an energy we’ve missed.”

The Mariners have been offered third basemen in the past few days, but players like Pittsburgh’s Erik Hinske – at $1.5 million – didn’t excite the front office.

Bedard, meanwhile, could start Satuday against Boston but insisted he didn’t know if that would happen. Kelley, the hard-throwing rookie reliever, could rejoin the team this weekend, too.

Outfielder Ryan Langerhans, acquired in a minor league trade Sunday, joined the Mariners in New York – he’s No. 12, if you’re wondering – and took the roster spot of Beltre. His role: a left-handed hitting defensive replacement off the bench.

Beltre’s surgery went well, according to team officials, with no damage found beyond a painful bone spur, which was removed.

And Jamie Burke, the veteran catcher the Mariners love but can’t keep in the big leagues, cleared waivers and will report to Tacoma tonight.

Balentien runs out of time

The grand Wladimir Balentien-as-regular-left fielder experiment is about over, and it was no more successful in 2009 than it was in 2008.

Balentien started just once in the three-game series in Los Angeles, going 0-for-4, and was on the bench Tuesday with Ken Griffey Jr. playing in left field and Mike Sweeney as the designated hitter.

After batting .202 last season, Balentien is hitting .230 in 48 games this year with three home runs and nine RBI. Seattle’s staff is underwhelmed with him in the field and at the plate.

His playing time will be much diminished going forward.

Short hops

Ichiro Suzuki began the night Tuesday with hits in 52 of his last 55 games. The last player to hit safely in 53 of 56 games? Um, Ichiro – who did it in 2007. ...

Opening the 2009 season, Russell Branyan had a career average of .204 against left-handed pitching and had only four home runs against them in the last four seasons. This year, he’s batting .301 vs. lefties and has hit five home runs, so far. ...

Seattle finished interleague play this season with an 11-7 record. The only team with more interleague wins than the Mariners this season: The Angels went 14-4.

On tap

Seattle continues its series in New York with a 4:05 p.m. PDT game that will be televised on FSN. Probable starting pitchers: Jarrod Washburn (4-5, 3.22) vs. Andy Pettitte (7-3, 4.38).

larry.larue@thenewstribune.com

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