The Mariners are signing catcher Jacob Nottingham to a minor league contract, according to his MLB.com transactions tracker. The right-handed hitter also spent part of the 2021 campaign in Seattle.
Nottingham played in the majors each season from 2018-21. He spent most of that time as a member of the Brewers, working as a bat-first depth catcher for his first few seasons. Nottingham exhausted his minor league option years by 2021, requiring teams to keep him on the MLB roster or make him available to other organizations. That led to a shuffle between Milwaukee and Seattle teams that each valued him as a depth catcher.
Within a one-month span early in that season, Nottingham yo-yoed between the two clubs. He went from Milwaukee to Seattle on waivers, was reacquired by the Brew Crew for cash a week and a half later, then landed back in Seattle on waivers a couple weeks thereafter. The series of transactions even partially inspired a change in the newest collective bargaining agreement; now, teams move to the back of the waiver priority on a player if they’ve already claimed him once before in that season.
Nottingham again found himself on the wire in early June 2021 after being designated for assignment by the Mariners. He cleared that time around and hasn’t played in the majors since then. He spent the remainder of that season in Triple-A and inked a minor league deal with the Orioles last winter. Nottingham spent the entire 2022 season with the O’s top affiliate in Norfolk, where he hit .229/.333/.425 through 354 plate appearances. He connected on 15 home runs while walking at a robust 10.5% clip but struck out in an elevated 27.7% of his trips.
The 27-year-old has shown a similar profile throughout his entire career. He’s a .250/.330/.412 hitter in parts of nine minor league seasons, showing decent power and patience but striking out at a 25.6% clip. Punchouts have also been a problem in his limited MLB looks, as he’s gone down on strikes in 38.5% of his 130 big league plate appearances. He’s a .184/.277/.421 hitter at the highest level.
Seattle has the duo of Cal Raleigh and Tom Murphy to serve as their catchers this year. Nottingham adds some upper level depth who won’t require an immediate 40-man roster spot, presumably heading to Triple-A Tacoma to open the season.
He’s going to have one interesting story to tell his kids about being swapped between the brewers and seattle lol
Especially since the Brewers are the old Seattle Pilots.
Nice depth addition.
Jacob Nottingham , Esquire
Oooooh, and here me thinks he was the Nottingham from the forest clan.
Lol
“Mariners clear waivers Nottingham back to Milwaukee.”
I think it was Sarah but I could be wrong whoever it was who drafted him in the minor league free agent draft is happy! Haha (effectively wild podcast)
Meg* my bad.
Mariners can have Nottingham if Cubs can have the Sheriff.
I shot the Sheriff, but the Cubs can have the Deputy…
Putting the rest of the league on notice. Watch out Houston!!!
It would be hilarious, if he was part of a trade package going back to Pittsburgh for Reynolds lmao!!!!
Maybe the Brewers will trade for him again.
I wonder how he stacks up with Torrens? Bytheway what’s going on with Torrens these days has he been pick up?
He was not protected in the rule 5 draft. I am not sure what his status is now. He might be on the 40 man until Murphy gets ready. Hope to never see him in an Ms uni again. This new kid could replace Murphy if he outplays Murphy in ST.
Torrens is a FA since didn’t get offered a contract. My guess is Ms are moving on from him.
Forrest: “Would you like to sign this guy?”
Dipoto: Sure would, Forrest.
Exciting signing! That really improves our Left field situation! The Mariners lack of effort to truly improve the team does make me wonder if it really true, after all, that management wants a team that is just good enough to keep people interested without much of an investment.
Acquiring Castillo was a pretty big get. Extending Rodriguez was huge. M’s are going in good direction.
It is just nice to see that, after taking the free agency period off, Jerry Dipoto is still alive. M’s fans were getting worried about him…
On purpose?