The Mariners designated pitchers Jesus Colome and Kanekoa Texeira for assignment, according to a team press release. The moves freed up spots for Garrett Olson and Sean White.
Colome, 32, posted a 5.29 ERA, 8.5 K/9, and 5.8 BB/9 in 17 innings this year, allowing only one home run despite a low groundball rate. The Mariners had signed the hard-throwing righty to a minor league deal in February. Baseball America ranked Colome the 53rd best prospect in baseball in 2000, a few spots above Adam Dunn and C.C. Sabathia. The next year he ranked 69th, just beating Francisco Rodriguez and Carl Crawford.
Texeira, 24, has a 5.30 ERA, 6.8 K/9, and 4.8 BB/9 in 18.6 innings, with no home runs allowed. He was taken in December's Rule 5 draft from the Yankees, so any team acquiring him must keep him on the Major League roster all season. Before outrighting him to the minors, he'd need to be offered back to the Yankees for $25K. Baseball America ranked Texeira 26th among Mariners prospects heading into the season, describing him as a deceptive sinker/slider reliever who "could have value in a lower leverage role." Jack Zduriencik had drafted Texeira out of a Hawaii high school in '04, but the righty did not sign with the Brewers.
As a Mariners fan, waking up and seeing Colome DFA’d is like waking up on Christmas morning to find everything you’ve ever wanted under the tree.
Jesus Colome DFA’ed? Shocked, I tell you, absolutely shocked.