The Mariners have signed outfielder Jody Gerut and left-handed pitcher Nate Robertson to minor-league deals and invited them to Spring Training, according to the team's official Twitter feed.
Gerut was a touted prospect coming out of Stanford and has enjoyed intermittent but fleeting periods of success in the Majors, chiefly as a rookie with the Indians in 2003 (.279/.336/.494) and with the Padres in 2008 (.296/.351/.494).
Robertson was a key cog during the Tigers' run to the World Series in 2006 but has not been able to capture that form since then. After spending parts of seven seasons with Detroit, he pitched primarily for the Marlins in 2010 but was released in July and made a two-outing cameo with the Phillies in September. For his career, he has 6.1 K/9, 3.3 BB/9 and a 5.01 ERA.
That takes care of left field and mid-rotation starter. Now lets get Derrick Turnbow and Scott Schoeneweis to fill up the bullpen and we’re golden.
Both deals are minor league deals, therefore minimal risk. Good signings!
Considering Safeco’s effect on below average lefty arms (Washburn, Vargas), Nate Robertson has a good shot to grab the #5 spot in the rotation. If he can make it out of spring training with the team and stay healthy, he will have a shot at a nice contract from an unsuspecting team for the 2012 season.
Jody Gerut should have a good chance to make the team out of spring training, either as the 4Th outfielder or the starting LF (If he impresses). In spring training he will push Saunders to boom or bust.
Nate Robertson had an ERA OF 54.00 last year with Phillies. Yeah he only had 2 appearances but he looked as bad you can get.
I remember both appearances including the one when we played the marlins and it was a pretty ugly to watch. It surprised me to because I thought he would be able to come in and eat up an inning or two.
Nate Robertson????????!!!!!!!!! Some of these signings as we approach spring training make me shake my head and wonder how these guys are still in baseball…
why? they are minor league deals, whats the problem with that?
I’m not criticizing the signing per se, just shocked that Nate Robertson is still floating around baseball.
Relax, it’s a minor league deal.
Nate Robertson hasn’t been able to consistently retire right-handed hitters, and since right-handed struggle to hit in Safeco Field, this is actually a very solid move, albeit a minor league deal.
Hope Gerut gets his hitting back.
not likely
It won’t take much hitting from Gerut to put Saunders job in jeopardy!
Ooof, that statement is so many kinds of mis-informed.
1. Gerut may have had some potential of some kind, but that was in 2002 or 2003. He badly injured his knee back in 2004, and missed all of 2005(and 2006 and 2007 weren’t great for him either). Despite that anomolously good 2008 season, he’s no better than a 4th OF now, and quite probably worse(a 5th OF).
2. Also, if the M’s do feel that Saunders needs a platoon partner–and they might, even though I disagree–they’d probably want a right-handed 4th OF. Gerut is a lefty, just like Saunders, and that wouldn’t be a very natural platoon.
3. Gerut is 33, which is even older than Ryan Langerhans(who’s also been signed to a minor league contract with an NRI to spring training). Each year that passes makes it that less likely that Gerut returns to anything resembling the younger, pre-injury version of himself.
Is he worth a minor league contract with a look in spring training? Sure, but that’s still no guarantee of anything, and I think the M’s might still be looking for a right-handed OF who can play 2 or possibly all 3 OF positions, either on a minor league contract or a major league deal. This signing doesn’t change that, and Gerut shouldn’t be looked at as a potential starting OF *at all*(and that goes for everyone who said as much in this thread.)
Thank you.
Depending on how deep the Celtics go in the playoffs, Nate Robinson may not be available until June.
As a Tiger fan (and a Seattle resident) I think Nate is a good pickup for tryouts.
What do you have to lose?
I don’t care much for the Gerut signing but Robinson could be a good pick up. It’s always nice to have extra lefties around.
Detroit is going to regret not resigning Nate. Seattle’s gain at Tigers loss. Nate is a class act guy that deserves every success! We still miss him in the D. Best wishes Nate!
Nate Robertson is a great pick-up for the Mariners. He has post season experience and success. The Tigers will regret not resigning Nate, they could use him after moving Phil Coke from the pen to the rotation. Nate is a class act guy with great clubhouse presence. Best wishes to Nate and his Family! You deserve all God’s blessings and personal success!
Nate Robertson is a great signing for the Mariners. They gain a lefty who is a gamer with big game experience (World Series). Nate is a class act player who will add leadership the clubhouse. Tigers will regret not resigning Nate. He would have helped since moving Phil Coke from the pen to a starter. Best wishes to Nate for a starter spot and great success! We miss you in the D!