The Seattle Mariners have opted to not tender (offer) 2012 contracts to right-handed pitcher Dan Cortes and catcher Chris Gimenez. The pair are now free agents and can negotiate with any MLB team, including Seattle. The moves also mean that Seattle’s 40-player major league roster has just 36 players.
MLB clubs must make contract offers to every player on their 40-man roster, who is not already signed for the 2012, season by Dec. 12 at 9 p.m. PDT. The Mariners have three players who are arbitration eligible for 2012 — RHP Shawn Kelley, RHP Brandon League, LHP Jason Vargas. All three have been tendered contracts.
Kelley, League and Vargas may either agree to a contract or advance to arbitration proceedings.
The 24-year-old Cortes appeared in 10 games with Seattle in 2011 after making his major league debut in 2010. He spent time on the disabled list with a bruised left ankle and had his season cut short in September after suffering a non-displaced fracture of the third metacarpal in his right hand. Cortes also had surgery in late October to repair a partial tear of his rotator cuff in his right shoulder, a partial tear of his right biceps tendon.
Gimenez, 28, appeared in 24 games for the Mariners in 2011. He made starts at three different positions (C, 1B, LF), hitting .203 (12×59) with one home run and 6 RBIs. Gimenez missed more than two months of the season (June 29-Sept. 1) with a strained left oblique.
Mariners Offseason News/Transactions
Nov. 1: Announced that Chris Gwynn had been named the organizations Director of Player Development with the responsibility of overseeing all aspects of the Mariners minor league system.
Nov. 2: Outrighted INF Luis Rodriguez, who opted to become a free agent (Rodriguez appeared in 44 games for the Mariners in 2011).
Nov. 3: Outrighted LHP Anthony Vasquez to AAA Tacoma. Vasquez, 25, made seven starts for the Mariners in 2011, going 1-6 with an 8.90 ERA (29 ER, 29.1 IP).
Nov. 18: Added OF Chih-Hsien Chiang, INF Francisco Martinez and INF Carlos Triunfel.
Nov. 28: Named infielder/outfielder Vinnie Catricala (High Desert/Jackson) Minor League Player of the Year, RHP Taijuan Walker (Clinton) Pitcher of the Year and Arizona League trainer Randy Roetter Player Development Staff Member of the Year.
Dec. 2: Announced the 2012 minor league coaching staff, including returning managers Daren Brown (Tacoma), Jim Pankovits (Jackson) and Eddie Menchaca (Clinton); announced that Pedro Grifol, the Mariners Director of Minor League Operations in 2011, will manage High Desert, that Jose Moreno will manage Pulaski after spending last season with High Desert, that Rob Mummau will take over as manager for Everett, and that Mike Kinkade will manage the Mariners in the Arizona League after coaching in Everett last season.
Dec. 12: Announced that RHP Dan Cortes and C Chris Gimenez would not be offered 2012 contracts.
Dec. 13: Signed 11 players to minor league contracts for the 2012 season, including OF Darren Ford, RHP Matt Fox, LHP Steve Garrison, RHP Jarrett Grube, LHP Sean Henn, RHP Josh Kinney, RHP Jeff Marquez, RHP Scott Patterson, C Guillermo Quiroz, INF Luis Rodriguez and LHP Phillippe Valiquette
