The Mariners Wednesday recalled LHP Bobby LaFromboise from AAA Tacoma, optioned LHP Lucas Luetge to the Rainiers and announced that the Toronto Blue Jays had claimed OF Casper Wells off waivers from the Mariners, who had only a few days remaining to trade or release him. The Mariners designated the 28-year-old Wells for assignment March 31 when the team established its Opening Day roster.
LaFromboise, 26, has made two appearances for the Rainiers and has not allowed a run in 2.2 innings. He has struck out four and not walked a batter. The lefty was the 2012 Tacoma Rainiers Pitcher of the Year after going 5-2 with 4 saves and a 1.59 ERA in 27 appearances.
LaFromboise was originally selected by the Mariners in the eighth round of the 2008 June draft out of the University of New Mexico. He will be making his major league debut with his first appearance, and will wear uniform No. 30.
Luetge, 26, has appeared in four games for Seattle this season, posting a 8.31 ERA (4 ER, 4.1 IP). He threw a career-high 3.0 innings in Wednesday night’s 16-9 loss vs. the Astros.
The Mariners acquired Wells as part of what now looks like a dubious six-player deal from Detroit July 30, 2011. In parts of two seasons with Seattle, Wells hit .225 (87-for-387) with 13 doubles, 3 triples, 17 home runs and 51 RBI in 124 games. He had a .304 on-base percentage and slugged .406 (OPS of .710).
The Mariners sent pitchers Doug Fister and David Pauley to the Tigers for Wells and reliever Charlie Furbush, a middle reliever in the Seattle bullpen. The Mariners also received minor league pitcher Chance Ruffin, who flopped as a reliever and is being tried as a starter, and minor leaguer Francisco Martinez, who was a third baseman and is now being tried as an outfielder.
Fister, now a major part of Detroit’s rotation, is 19-11 since the trade, including 1-0 this season. Furbush may be the only major leaguer the Mariners get from the deal.
The Mariners, slapped around by the lowly Astros Tuesday night 16-9, close out their three-game series with Houston Wednesday night at Safeco Field. Blake Beavan will throw for Seattle against Brad Peacock.
At 7 p.m. Thursday, Felix Hernandez will make his 2013 home debut against the Texas Rangers. The first 25,000 fans will receive a King Felix yellow T-shirt and commemorative K card. Special View Level seats are priced at $10 and select Main Level seats will go $25 in the first session of “The Supreme Court.”
6 Comments
The Fister and Cliff Lee trades will be the undoing of Jack Z’s tenure in Seattle. You simply can’t have assets like that on your team and get nothing in return for them. I don’t care how much better the minor system has gotten, the Mariners simply don’t have enough talent to overcome mistakes like that.
Depending on what happened to Saunders shoulder the M’s might have let go of Wells a bit too soon.
Don’t forget the Michael Pineda give away, this one will in time prove to solidify the M’s standing as a MLB “farm club”. Montero with his aditude issues will be unlikley to improve.
The M’s got Montero for Pineda, who’s done more for the M’s than what Pineda has done for the Yankees.
Pineda was devistated by the trade and was out of shape last year. The Yanks expect him back by June. Montero is not the long term solution at catcher and hitting below 150 is doing nothing for the team except “fitting in”.
The Jays claimed Wells, expect to see him as an All Star this year!