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Mariners Notes: Haniger, Outfield, Sixto, Phillies

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The latest from Seattle…

  • Though Jarred Kelenic, Taylor Trammell, and Julio Rodriguez are expected to be part of the Mariners’ outfield of the future, Mitch Haniger is still a part of the team’s present.  Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times looks at Haniger and the broader outfield plan as a whole, noting that Haniger is expected to be ready to participate in Spring Training.  It has been a brutal 15 months for Haniger, who hasn’t played since June 2019 due to a ruptured testicle, a torn abductor muscle, and then a herniated disc.  It remains to be seen if Haniger can recapture his 2018 All-Star form when he does get back onto the field, though if he plays well and stays healthy, Divish figures Haniger might still hold some trade value, considering that he is under arbitration control through the 2022 season.  Since Trammell and Rodriguez aren’t likely to be in the majors until at least 2022, there is also a case for the M’s to keep Haniger, especially if he remains a productive player and if the Mariners start to become regular contenders.
  • The Mariners’ 2018-19 offseason was marked by several major trades, including a notable deal that saw Seattle land J.P. Crawford and (the soon-to-be-flipped) Carlos Santana from the Phillies in exchange for Jean Segura, James Pazos, and Juan Nicasio.  However, an earlier incarnation of that deal would have seen Segura and Edwin Diaz head to Philly, while Sixto Sanchez would have been part of the trade package coming back to the Mariners, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.  It makes for an interesting what-if for Seattle fans, as moving Diaz in that trade would have altered several other future deals, most obviously the blockbuster swap with the Mets that brought Kelenic and Justin Dunn into the organization and sent Diaz and Robinson Cano to New York.  Rosenthal adds another interesting detail in noting that the Mariners kept trying to acquire Sanchez even after he had been dealt to the Marlins as part of the J.T. Realmuto trade with the Phils in February 2019.  Needless to say, it doesn’t seem like Sanchez is going anywhere for a long time considering how impressive the young righty has looked in his first Major League season.

AL Injury Notes: Osuna, Cruz, Mariners, Guerrero, Iglesias

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Some injury notes from around the American League:

  • Astros’ closer Roberto Osuna has progressed to throwing, per GM James Click (via Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle). Osuna was seemingly ticketed for a Tommy John surgery after going down with an elbow injury earlier, although the reliever instead elected to rehab and attempt to return this season. The likelihood of that happening isn’t clear, but it’s generally encouraging to hear that he’s throwing again.
  • Twins’ DH Nelson Cruz was scratched from today’s lineup against the Cubs. He’s dealing with right knee soreness, per various reporters (including Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com). Eddie Rosario, who was initially slated to start in left field, got to DH instead, with LaMonte Wade, Jr. taking over in left. Cruz has again been among MLB’s best hitters, slashing .314/.403/.623 over 201 plate appearances.
  • A pair of Mariners are unsurprisingly out for the season, per Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times (Twitter links). Catcher Tom Murphy has been shut down; he’ll miss the entire year due to a fractured metatarsal in his left foot. Outfielder Mitch Haniger continues to build up strength and endurance but hasn’t yet begun baseball activities, per Divish. Like Murphy, Haniger missed all of 2020.
  • The Blue Jays held Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. out of today’s lineup as a precaution, per Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet (via Twitter). The young first baseman felt “a little dizzy” after being hit by a pitch in the helmet last night, per Nicholson-Smith. The Jays can afford to slow play things with Guerrero, as they sit four games up on Seattle for the final playoff spot in the American League.
  • Orioles’ shortstop José Iglesias left tonight’s game after getting hit on the left hand by a Charlie Morton pitch, relays Jon Meoli of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). Pat Valaika stepped in at short in his stead. The 30-year-old Iglesias, a longtime defensive stalwart, has been stellar when healthy for Baltimore, hitting .377/.406/.515 in 139 plate appearances. He has been diagnosed a left wrist contusion, per Roch Kubtako of MASNsports.com (Twitter link).

Mariners Outright Jimmy Yacabonis

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The Mariners have outrighted hurler Jimmy Yacabonis to their alternate training site, according to a team announcement. They previously designated the right-hander for assignment Tuesday.

Yacabonis, whom the Mariners acquired from the Padres for cash just under a month ago, threw 2 1/3 innings with the M’s before they ejected him from their roster. The 28-year-old yielded one earned run on two hits and three walks (one strikeout) during that span.

Seattle is the second major league team for which Yacabonis has pitched. He appeared in the bigs with the Orioles in each season from 2017-19 and combined for 81 innings with the O’s in the previous two years. In all, Yacabonis has logged a 5.71 ERA/6.05 FIP with 6.49 K/9 and 5.11 BB/9 in 104 innings.

Mariners’ Matt Magill Undergoes Shoulder Surgery

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Mariners reliever Matt Magill underwent an arthroscopic debridement surgery on his right shoulder on Tuesday, according to the team. The M’s expect Magill to be ready for the start of spring training in 2021.

The 30-year-old Magill joined the Mariners in a minor trade with the Twins in July 2019. He has since given the Mariners 32 2/3 innings of 4.41 ERA/4.22 FIP pitching with 10.74 K/9 and 3.03 BB/9.

Overall, Magill has recorded a combined 4.63 ERA/5.25 FIP and posted 9.5 K/9 against 4.93 BB/9 in 149 2/3 innings with the Dodgers, Reds, Twins and Mariners since he debuted in the majors in 2013. He’s slated for his first of three potential arbitration trips during the upcoming offseason.

Mariners Designate Jimmy Yacabonis, Active Brandon Brennan

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The Mariners have activated right-hander Brandon Brennan from the 45-day injured list, the team announced.  In corresponding moves, righty Jimmy Yacabonis was designated for assignment and right-hander Seth Frankoff was optioned to the team’s alternate training site.

Brennan only pitched in one game before a left oblique strain sent him to the IL on August 2.  The righty will get a bit of time left to try and build on a 2019 rookie season that saw Brennan post a 4.56 ERA, 1.96 K/BB, and 8.9 K/9 over 47 1/3 innings for Seattle.  The results were solid enough to make Brennan look like a nice pickup for the M’s after he was selected out of the Rockies organization in the 2018 Rule 5 Draft.

Seattle acquired Yacabonis from the Padres in August, and the right-hander appeared in two games for the Mariners (allowing one run in 2 1/3 innings).  After spending his entire pro career in the Orioles organization, Yacabonis inked a minor league deal with the Padres in the offseason and now could potentially be joining his third different team of 2020 if he is claimed on DFA waivers.  Yacabonis offers some innings-eating length as a swingman, though he has only a 5.71 ERA over 104 career frames in the majors.

Mariners Outright Mallex Smith

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The Mariners have outrighted outfielder Mallex Smith to Triple-A Tacoma, the team announced. Smith is now out of their 60-man player pool.

This is the latest setback in the Seattle tenure for Smith, whom the team acquired from the Rays in a trade centering on him and catcher Mike Zunino heading into 2019. Smith was then coming off a highly valuable season as a member of the Rays, with whom he slashed .296/.367/.406 with 40 stolen bases and 3.5 fWAR across 544 plate appearances. For the most part, though, Smith hasn’t come close to replicating those numbers in Seattle. While the 27-year-old Smith has chipped in 48 steals as a Mariner, it hasn’t made up for his shortcomings at the plate. He batted an abysmal .220/.290/.323 with minus-0.5 fWAR over 613 trips to the plate before the M’s outrighted him.

Because of the struggles he has endured in Seattle, Smith has seemingly been out of the team’s plans for a few weeks. He hasn’t played in the majors since Aug. 15, and the Mariners optioned him to their alternate training site Aug. 18. Now, with the offseason nearing and Smith possessing enough service time to opt for free agency, it’s possible he won’t suit up for the Mariners again.

60-Man Player Pool Additions: 9/9/20

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Here are the latest players added to their team’s 60-man player pool …

  • Hurlers Penn Murfee and Ian McKinney are now a part of the Mariners’ 60-man group, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times tweets. The 26-year-old Murfee had a strong 2019 showing, producing good numbers at the High-A level and then dominating Arizona Fall League hitters. It’s possible he could be an option at the MLB level if he shows well at the alternate training site. The same holds true of McKinney, 25, who joined Murfee as a productive member of the Modesto rotation last year. McKinney is a 2013 draftee who joined the Seattle organization as a minor-league free agent in advance of the 2019 season.
  • The Rays brought aboard a pair of youngsters in righty Seth Johnson and infielder Ford Proctor, as Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times covers on Twitter. The 40th overall pick of the 2019 draft, Johnson hasn’t pitched above the Rookie ball level and is likely being added for developmental purposes. Proctor, 23, is a 2018 third-rounder who has shown strong on-base ability but little power in the low minors. He appeared this year in the Constellation Energy League, knocking out a healthy .346/.500/.679 slash in 28 games.
  • The Padres have added youngster Owen Caissie to their pool at just 18 years of age, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports via Twitter. It’s quite the vote of confidence in the recent second-round pick, who obviously won’t be expected to make his professional debut this year at the MLB level. The Canadian outfielder will get some excellent experience at the Friars’ alternate training site before joining an affiliate in 2021.

Mariners Select Jimmy Yacabonis

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The Mariners have selected the contract of right-hander Jimmy Yacabonis from their alternate training site, the team announced. They optioned fellow righty Brady Lail in a corresponding move.

The 28-year-old Yacabonis is new to the Seattle organization, which acquired him from San Diego for cash on Aug. 19. Yacabonis previously signed a minor league contract with the Padres last offseason, but he didn’t wind up seeing any major league action as a member of the club. He did, however, appear in the bigs with the Orioles in each season from 2017-19. During that 101 2/3-inning span, Yacabonis pitched to a 5.75 ERA/6.01 FIP with 6.6 K/9 and 5.0 BB/9.

Yacabonis will now join a Mariners bullpen that, as Greg Johns of MLB.com points out, may need some fresh arms at the moment. Their relief corps pitched most of Tuesday’s loss to the Giants after Ljay Newsome left with an injury following just 1 2/3 innings of work.

Mariners Activate Casey Sadler, Place Sam Haggerty On IL

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The Mariners have added Casey Sadler to their active roster. Sadler was claimed off waivers from the Cubs a couple of days ago. In a corresponding move, Sam Haggerty has been placed on the 10-day IL, per a team release.

Sadler has bounced around in his professional career, suiting up for the Pirates, Rays, Dodgers, and Cubs prior to the Mariners. Last season was the busiest of his career: he made 33 appearances between the Rays and Dodgers with a 2.14 ERA/4.39 FIP across 46 1/3 innings. He was less effective for the Cubs this year as he struggled to find the plate (7.7 BB/9). He came out of the Cubs’ pen 10 times this year, finishing with a 5.79 ERA/6.58 FIP before being placed on waivers.

Haggerty was another waiver claim made by the Mariners this past January. The Mariners snagged the utlity man from the Mets, who had in turn acquired him from the Indians along with Walker Lockett for catcher Kevin Plawecki.

The 26-year-old Haggerty can play all over the field, but he mostly settled into left field for the Mariners this season. The switch-hitter held his own with a triple slash of .260/.315/.400 over 54 plate appearances, racking up 0.4 rWAR. The Mariners are flush with multi-positional athletes who can take the at-bats that otherwise would have gone to Haggerty. Dylan Moore will see time in left as could Dee Strange-Gordon or Shed Long Jr., who appeared in 16 games in left last season, though he has yet to play there this year.

Mariners Claim Casey Sadler

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The Mariners claimed right-hander Casey Sadler off waivers from the Cubs, according to an M’s press release.  Chicago designated Sadler for assignment earlier this week.

Sadler had an impressive (if, according to advanced metrics, deceptive) 2.14 ERA over 46 1/3 combined innings with the Rays and Dodgers in 2019, and the Cubs acquired him in an January trade hoping the righty could emulate that performance.  Instead, Sadler struggled with a 5.79 ERA over 9 1/3 innings for the North Siders, walking eight batters over that limited span of action.

Appearing in parts of five MLB seasons with the Cubs, Rays, Dodgers, and Pirates, Sadler has a career 3.82 ERA, 1.83 K/BB rate, 51.5% grounder rate, and 6.6 K/9 in 75 1/3 Major League innings.  Originally a 25th-round pick for Pittsburgh in the 2010 draft, Sadler’s grounder-heavy approach has led to success at the minor league level, with a 3.43 ERA over 757 1/3 career frames on the farm.

Since Sadler is out of options, the Mariners won’t be able to send him to their alternate training site without exposing him against to the DFA wire.  Given how the M’s are already looking ahead to 2021, there isn’t any harm in giving Sadler some innings to see if he could factor into next season’s plans, even if the 30-year-old isn’t a long-term piece.

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