The Mariners have placed infielder Danny Espinosa on release waivers, according to a team announcement. Espinosa lasted less than a month with the Mariners, who signed him July 23. They recalled utilityman Taylor Motter from Triple-A Tacoma in a corresponding move.
This is the second time this season a team has released Espinosa. The Angels, who acquired the 30-year-old in a trade with the Nationals over the winter, cut ties with him July 20. Espinosa batted a paltry .162/.237/.276 in 254 plate appearances as the Halos’ starting second baseman and turned in a similar line with the Mariners – .188/.235/.313 – albeit over just 17 PAs. He lined up at first, second, third and shortstop during his brief stay in Seattle.
The 2017 campaign has been disastrous for Espinosa, though he was a fairly solid middle infielder in Washington from 2010-16. Espinosa posted three different seasons of at least 2.0 fWAR during that 2,972-PA span, thanks largely to excellent defense, and contributed some pop (92 home runs) and baserunning value (60 steals and a 15.2 BsR, per FanGraphs). The switch-hitting Espinosa slugged a career-best 24 homers last season (with a less-than-stellar .209/.306/.378 line in 601 PAs, granted), but the Nats moved on from him and his $5.43MM salary after acquiring outfielder Adam Eaton in an early winter blockbuster trade with the White Sox and shifting Trea Turner from center to shortstop.
Motter Pop is crushing it in Tacoma- looks like he’s earned a return to the Seattle bench
Looks like Jerry’s up early today.
Probably got up early to see the Premier League battle between the newly promoted teams Newcastle United and Huddersfield Town- as you do on weekend mornings
Not me. Soccer is boring. Plus, it’s Sunday…..and I’m going to church.
I try watching the World Cup every 4 years. The problem is, it’s hard to flip between the bloodlust of the NHL playoffs and back to… soccer
I love baseball, my favorite American sport- but I’m nuts about Soccer. Go to see a Glasgow Celtic Champions League match live in Scotland and I guarantee you will not be bored. The atmosphere in the crowd is electric and will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up!
Never should have shaved the beard.
Motter earned his return trip- hopefully he can hit the ball up the middle and the other way in the bigs. Prior to his demotion he became very one dimensional with his hitting- pull-happy. I was at the game in Oakland where he hit his grand slam, good to see him back
He’s earned his way back. It’s not his lack of pop that send him down. He was pressing and pulling everything, He still isn’t great at defense, though which I happen to prize in utility guys so we’ll see how he’s used.
Hmmm, I wonder if they are going to call up Chris Taylor.
Chris Taylor no loner an M. And, in typical fashion he goes to the Dodgers and begins crushing everything out of the park!
Yeah, was kinda taking a sarcastic angle there…. 😀