The Mariners have yet to make it official, but according to a report in the News Tribune that was also published by mlb.com, the club will option struggling catcher Jesus Montero to the AAA Tacoma Rainiers Thursday and call up Jesus Sucre to take his place. The Mariners will have to clear a 40-man roster spot for Sucre.
The 23-year-old Montero, obtained last year in a trade with the New York Yankees for pitcher Michael Pineda, is hitting .208 with three home runs and nine RBIs in 101 at-bats. He has also struggled defensively.
In 2012, Montero batted .260 with 15 homers and 62 RBIs while splitting time between catcher and designated hitter. Although given the starting job in spring training, he has mainly split time with new backup Kelly Shoppach.
Montero has not played since the third game of the Cleveland series (May 20), is hitting .211 with one homer and two RBIs in 12 games this month. He hasn’t homered since May 8 and has just two extra-base hits.
Through Wednesday, the 25-year-old Sucre, a native of Venezuela, was hitting .302. He had been splitting time with top prospect Mike Zunino. Sucre was in his first year at the AAA level after playing for AA Jackson last season.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="2151993 https://sportspressnw.wpengine.com/?p=2151993">5 Comments
Montero goes down and Sucre comes up so why the need to clear a spot on the 40 man roster?
Because Montero remains on the 40 man roster when he’s sent to Tacoma and Sucre isn’t on it currently. That’s why for him to join they have to clear a spot.
Why not get rid of the shoulder licker too?
Took some guts to do that move. But right now he’s playing like an AAA player in the majors.
Likely that Sucre won’t be much better than Montero, but he couldn’t be any worse.
The M’s main problem is pitching. Other than Felix and Iwakuma, they have nothing, unless “Safeco Joe” Saunders can keep pitching lights out at home, in which case they have 2 1/2 starting pitchers.
Also, the M’s may have helped the Angels get untracked. If Pujols and Hamilton start hitting, and they get Jered Weaver back, the Angels are going to be a lot better from here on out than they have been up to this point.
But the M’s have Safeco Joe, Felix and Iwakuma starting against Texas this weekend, so they have a shot at winning all three of those games. Then 4 against their “natural rival” Padres, who the M’s usually beat like a drum, followed by 3 against the dreadful Twins. So, ten days from now, M’s fans will probably start feeling optimistic again.