July 17, 2008

The Mariners will start the second half of their season with another new face joining the squad.  Bryan LaHair will join the team for tomorrow nights game against the Cleveland Indians at Safeco. To make room for LaHair, the M’s optioned infielder Tug Hulett back down to Triple-A Tacoma.

 On July 12, Hulett made his Major League debut for the Mariners, recording his first hit going 1-for-3 batting as the team’s DH. Unfortunately for Tug, it was the only action he got to see.

LaHair is a left-handed batter who has put up good power numbers in Triple-A. Manager Jim Riggleman plans on using the 25 year old first baseman mostly against right-handed pitching, but didn’t rule out using him this weekend against the Indians’ three left-handed arms.

In some other team news, Closer J.J. Putz is scheduled to throw a relief rehab inning for Tacoma on Friday.  He has been on the DL since June 13th with a sore elbow.  Putz pitched in Double-A earlier in the week and got through with no soreness.  If all goes well, he could be back within a week.

The team also announced the signings of two young 16-year-old players.  Outfielder Julio Morban from the Dominican Republic and pitcher Francisco Valdivia from Nicaragua.

Mariners Blog

Thursday July, 10th 2008

Its a busy day for the Mariners roster as the team finally has decided to grant 1st Baseman Richie Sexson his release.  Sexson has to wait through the waiver period till Monday and can be signed by another big league club for roughly $200,000.  The M’s are left holding the bag for the rest of his $64 million contract, which he is owed around $7 Million.  Manager Jim Riggleman said the team will platoon Miguel Cairo, and Jose Vidro for the series with the Royals before heading to the All-Star break. 

Sexson’s bat has showed a little promise of late, but it still wasn’t good enough as his struggles at the plate have reached almost a two-year span.  It appears the M’s ran out of patience.  Lefty first baseman Bryan LaHair remains a possibility in the second half if they decide to promote him from Triple-A Tacoma.  LaHair is considered by some as a younger version of Sexson, and packs a nice power stroke.

As well Seattle placed Erik Bedard on the 15-day DL.  The move will be retroactive to July 5th.  This move was needed as the bullpen needs another arm after all of the recent work they have been getting.  Promoted from Tacoma was righty Jared Wells, who the team acquired earlier in the season from the Padres for pitcher Cha Seung Baek.  Also called up was infielder Tug Hulett.

Mariners Blog

The Seattle Mariners have made a round of cuts at spring training as they optioned and re-assigned 12 total players.  There will be more cuts as opening day will be here in just a few weeks.

Yung-Chi Chen, Joe Woerman, and Bryan LaHair were optioned to Triple-A Tacoma.

Phillippe Aumont, Brodie Downs, Stephen Kahn, Robert Rohrbaugh, Jair Fernandez, Adam Moore, Brant Ust, Bronson Sardinha, and Mark Kiger were re-assigned to Minor League camp.