PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) - Reliever Chris Reitsma has left the Seattle Mariners' camp after learning he would not make the Mariners' roster for the start of the season.

Reitsma drove away from spring training camp in Peoria, Ariz., after a meeting Wednesday morning with general manager Bill Bavasi and manager John McLaren.

At the meeting, which included pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre and bullpen coach Norm Charlton, Reitsma was told the Mariners wanted him to continue his throwing program into early April with a possibility of being added to the roster later.

"He is going to go home and think about it," McLaren said. "He's not sure what he wants to do right now. We're hopeful that he does think about continuing his throwing program."

Reitsma was in camp as a non-roster invitee. He has a 9.00 ERA in four games this spring.

He has had five operations on his pitching elbow, including two in the past 20 months.

Seattle also made a similar request of left-handed reliever Arthur Rhodes, who is also in camp as a non-roster invitee. Rhodes, 38, accepted the request.

"When you have to be cautious with three or four guys you're asking for problems," McLaren said. "We kind of got in situations like that last year. We're looking at the big picture. It's not only for the benefit of the player but us too. We don't want to put ourselves in a position where we have too many pitchers that we really have to take extra caution with and paint ourselves into a corner."

A former closer for Atlanta, Reitsma underwent surgery on his right elbow in July of last year and was placed on the disabled list. He appeared in only 20 games and was 0-2 with a 7.61 ERA.