SEPTEMBER 17: Marmolejos has cleared waivers and been outrighted back to Tacoma, the team announced Friday. He has the right to elect free agency because he’d previously been outrighted in his career, although the team offered no indication he’s planning to do so.
SEPTEMBER 14: The Mariners announced they’ve designated corner outfielder/first baseman José Marmolejos for assignment. Fellow outfielder Jake Fraley has been reinstated from the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. Marmolejos’ designation also opens a spot on Seattle’s 40-man roster, which now sits at 39.
Marmolejos has already been designated once this season, losing his roster spot back in May after hitting just .139/.266/.278 in his first 94 plate appearances. The 28-year-old cleared outright waivers and was sent to Triple-A Tacoma. He put together an incredible few months with the Rainiers, popping 23 home runs in just 303 plate appearances and mashing at a .360/.452/.700 clip. That earned him another look with the big league club, as the M’s reselected Marmolejos a couple weeks back.
Seattle has given Marmolejos a few starts since he was called back up, but he again struggled in a very small sample of 28 plate appearances. With Fraley ready to return to assume his customary left field role, the front office evidently determined there was no space on the big league club for Marmolejos. Because he’s out of minor league option years, Marmolejos had to again be exposed to waivers to be bumped from the active roster.
While Marmolejos cleared waivers a few months ago, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see another club take a flier on him this time around thanks to his intervening demolishing of Triple-A pitching. Any claiming team would also have to keep the left-handed hitter on the active roster or place him back on waivers themselves.
Fraley has missed a little more than two weeks due to right shoulder inflammation. The 26-year-old got off to a great start to the season but had cooled off significantly before landing on the shelf. He’s still been a productive player overall, though, sporting a season line of .213/.359/.388. It’s an unsightly batting average, to be sure, but Fraley’s massive 18.2% walk rate has helped him post an OBP nearly forty points higher than the .321 league average (excluding pitchers).
Too bad. Someone will definitely pick him up, as he really didn’t get a chance the second time around this year. Best of Luck Jose
that guy canta hit. i’m from DR and i see him play winter baseball every year and i can tell you that he won’t be better than we see now… just a nice swing.
Hell of a AAA hitter. Has yet to translate to the big leagues. Given he is nearly 30 years old, I doubt he will develop much more.
@JosephCC87, He sure canta hit, .183 & he’ll be 29 soon. Lightning needs to strike his noggin.
It’s a non zero hes better than Bauers going forward. I get keeping Bauers over Marmolejos given hes younger and was a decent prospect at one time but could see a scenario where Marmolejos is the better player, becoming a late blooming power threat for someone willing to give him playing time.
I don’t get Bauers. He’s generally lackluster. Not saying they should have kept Marmo, but just don’t get the love for Bauers.
He was a decently regarded prospect and still young? I remember when he was supposed to be a good hitter, who had gap power, who could draw walks, play decent defense as a 1B/LF type and maybe some day hit some dingers. So far he’s a mediocre hitter who doesn’t hit for power and is best suited as a DH. He’s young enough to turn it around but I cant see him on the Mariners roster next year unless he miraculously passes waivers when they inevitably DFA him this winter.
Best suited as a DH who can’t hit? He’s looked pretty good in the OF this year, but still can’t hit. I remember him making several nice plays in the OF this year. I think his glove is his strongest trait, because it certainly all not his bat.
Servais has a history of hamstringing guys who were producing, sitting them after a good game.
Bauers, running from Aug 19 to August 23, was 5 for 12 with 2 runs, 2 RBI and 2 SB.
He sat for 2 days and has since gone 5 for 27..
Why cut off production? Never understood the thinking.
Probably had some tough lefties to face and went with a RH bat instead of Bauers.
I’ve noticed that too over the years. Never understood it either. Go with the hot hand, right?
He blew his chances….and he legitimized that he cannot hit MLB pitching.
He only has 237 PA in the MLB, someone will give him another chance to prove that. He has a nicr swing and you can squint and see a decent hitter based on that and his MiLB numbers.
That’s a lot of consonants
Too bad, he was a nice guy and fun to watch. But like the team itself, not quite championship level.
I”m getting old, waiting for the M’s to put it all together one more time.
‘Course, they still might win every remaining game . . . and then . . . C’mon team go for broke!
Aside from the early ’60s Dodgers, a team just can’t it done by putting so much reliance on pitching, and not work on the hitting as well.
Is he toast?