Aug. 25: The Mariners announced on Friday that Martin has cleared waivers and been assigned outright to Triple-A Tacoma.
Aug. 23: The Mariners have designated outfielder Leonys Martin for assignment, per Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times (via Twitter). Martin’s active roster spot will go to David Phelps, who was activated from the 10-day DL.
This represents the second trip through DFA limbo on the year for Martin, who was outrighted and later re-selected to the roster. The 29-year-old was much better in his second stint this season, but still managed only a .230/.266/.426 batting line in the 64 plate appearances since he returned to the majors in late July.
Martin is likely to clear waivers, given that he is earning $4.85MM for the season, and can elect free agency if he is outrighted. Doing so, however, would mean forfeiting the remainder of that $4.85MM payday — a sum of roughly $1.03MM. (Players do not earn the right to reject an outright and retain their salary until clearing five years of MLB service.) Martin is eligible for arbitration again this fall, but it seems all but certain he’ll be non-tendered even if he stays in the Seattle organization through the end of the year.
Love adding Phelps but DFA for Martin makes no sense. Ian Miller just got to Triple-A Tacoma, and albeit has done well, but unless we retain Dyson, Miller is our 2018 4th outfielder. Now Leonys will walk as a minors free agent with team control through 2019 if everything is played right. Should’ve just sent Altavilla back down
You can find a fourth outfielder anywhere in the offseason
Leonys has no incentive to walk as he’d forfeit the remainder of his salary, and probably wouldn’t be able to get anything more than a minors deal with any other team
Bingo! He isn’t stupid. Forfeiting about $750,000 for a 4th outfielder hitting sub .200 wouldn’t be smart
Glad to see Phelps back- not sure we can count on Altavilla as a replacement for Zych
Few Mariner starters can get much beyond 5 innings which means you need extra bullpen arms. so this makes some sense.. Someone else will have to go beside Martin when Dyson is activated possibly as early as Sunday.
That’s when a BP pitcher will go.
Actually it makes perfect sense. Almost 5 million for that kind of production, which is easily replaced for much cheaper makes him very expendable.
The free agent OF market will be flush with solid starting-caliber players this winter, and the two teams who need to take full advantage of that are the M’s and Giants. Both teams have gotten sketchy production from their OF for the past 2-3 years.
Gamel, Heredia, and Haniger disagree with you. Dyson has been pretty good too (although not under contract for next year) I’d say the Ms have been overall very happy with their OF production.
when he came up with Texas, I thought Martin was gonna be something special. Great speed….sensational arm. But…..he never developed as a hitter and had a bad eye at the plate. Very poor OBP.