Mariners signed INF Carlos Guillen to a minor league contract.
The deal includes a spring training invite. Guillen, who previously played with Seattle from 1998-2003, batted just .232/.265/.368 over 102 plate appearances last season with the Tigers. The 36-year-old can’t be counted on as an everyday player anymore, but the switch-hitter could be a decent bat off the bench.
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Mariners trainer Rick Griffin told Greg Johns of MLB.com that Casper Wells has fully recovered from a “balance disorder.”
Wells began having vision and balance problems last season after taking a Brandon Morrow fastball off his nose on August 17. He wound up going just 7-for-56 (.125) over his final 18 games before being shut down in mid-September with what was called “vertigo-like symptoms.” The 27-year-old figures to serve on the short side of a platoon with Mike Carp in left field now that he’s back to full health. His speed and power should make him relevant in AL-only formats.
Source: mlb.com
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Mariners signed RHP Brian Sweeney to a minor league contract.
He’s been given and invite to spring training. Sweeney, 37, spent all of 2011 in the minors, holding a 4.34 ERA over 32 appearances — eight starts — for Triple-A Buffalo in the Mets organization. The journeyman is a longshot to crack the Opening Day roster.
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Mariners skipper Eric Wedge said Wednesday that there’s a “good possibility” that 38-year-old outfielder Ichiro Suzuki is moved away from the leadoff spot.
Ichiro has hit first in 1,722 of the 1,749 games he has played in his career. But he registered a poor .310 on-base percentage in 721 plate appearances last season while also showing other signs of old age. “Obviously I’ve got to work off of Ichiro a little bit,” said Wedge, “but ultimately I’m going to do what I think is best to give us a chance to score runs because it’s just too important for us to make a huge step for us this year offensively.”
Source: mynorthwest.com
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Chaz Roe has been suspended 50 games following a positive test for amphetamines.
Roe posted a brutal 6.59 ERA and 1.72 WHIP in 99 2/3 innings last season at the Triple-A level. He’s only 25 years old but could struggle to ever reach the majors. The Mariners cut him from their organization in July.
Source: twitter.com
Mariners manager Eric Wedge said Thursday that Miguel Olivo remains the team’s starting catcher.
The Mariners plan to continue Jesus Montero’s development as a catcher, but they are also focused on getting him as many at-bats as possible. The most likely scenario is that he’ll play behind the plate a couple times per week, so fantasy owners will have to be little patient before he gains catcher-eligibility.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Mariners, Miguel Olivo, news
Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said Monday that Jesus Montero will be “given every opportunity to catch.”
Many scouts are skeptical about Montero’s ability behind the plate, but it’s probably worth seeing whether he can become a viable option in the long-term, especially for a team like the Mariners who aren’t expected to contend in the AL West. The catcher-eligibility would be pretty helpful for fantasy owners.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Jesus Montero, Mariners, news
Mariners acquired RHP Hector Noesi and DH/C Jesus Montero from the Yankees for RHPs Michael Pineda and Jose Campos.
Noesi posted a 4.47 ERA and 45/22 K/BB in 56 1/3 innings over 28 relief appearances and two starts as a rookie with the Yankees last season. The 24-year-old right-hander throws in the low-90s and has shown elite command (1.7 BB/9) in the minor leagues. With Safeco Field as his new stomping grounds, he would have nice sleeper potential in AL-only leagues if he ends up in the starting rotation.
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Mariners acquired DH/C Jesus Montero and RHP Hector Noesi from the Yankees for RHPs Michael Pineda and Jose Campos.
While it’s surprising to see the Mariners give up a promising young pitcher with years of team control left, they at least flipped him for someone that has a chance to be a legitimate impact bat in the long term. The 22-year-old had an .867 OPS over five seasons in the minors and batted .328 with four homers and a .996 OPS over 69 plate appearances as a September call-up with the Yanks last season. Montero’s value will be somewhat depressed by virtue of hitting in the Mariners’ lineup and playing half his games at the pitcher-friendly Safeco Field, but it will be interesting to see whether he is used strictly as a designated hitter or gets some work behind the plate. While many scouts believe he doesn’t have the proper defensive skills, fantasy owners should be rooting for catcher-eligibility.
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Mariners signed RHP Kevin Millwood to a minor league contract.
The deal includes an invitation to spring training, where Millwood will battle Hisashi Iwakuma, Blake Beavan, Hector Noesi and Charlie Furbush for the final three spots in the Mariners’ season-opening starting rotation. The veteran right-hander posted a surprising 3.98 ERA and 36/8 K/BB ratio in nine starts for the Rockies last season. Safeco Field could allow him to keep that pace.
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