The Mariners Tuesday claimed outfielder Travis Witherspoon off waivers from the Anaheim Angels and made room for him on the 40-man roster by designating catcher Henry Blanco for assignment. Witherspoon, 24, spent the 2013 season at AA Arkansas, where he hit .214 and stole 30 bases in 129 games.
The Angels selected Witherspoon in the 12th round of the 2009 June draft out of Spartanburg Methodist College in South Carolina. He graduated from Sumter High School in Sumter, SC.
Blanco, 42, hit .125 (12×96) with eight runs scored, two doubles, three home runs and 14 RBI in 35 games with the Mariners after signing as a free agent June 14 when the Mariners were desperate for catching help. He also appeared in 15 games with the Blue Jays to begin the season, catching in 13 games, including 11 consecutive starts by knuckleballer R.A. Dickey.
Blanco is a veteran of 16 seasons with Los Angeles (NL, 1997), Colorado (1999), Milwaukee (2000-2001), Atlanta (2002-2003), Minnesota (2004), Chicago (NL, 2005-2008), San Diego (2009), New York (NL, 2010), Arizona (2011-2012), Toronto (2013) and Seattle (2013).
4 Comments
Boy, being a catcher for the Mariners isn’t exactly job security. Might as well bring Valle back.
You can be assured Chuck is directing Jack to do exactly that. And re-sign Griff, too.
Its moves like this one is why this franchise will never ever ever ever in our lifetimes ever succeed. This guy fits the bill perfectly. A fringe player that was scrapped off the bottom of the barrel of another team. He hit .214 NICE he will fit right in with all the rest of the worthless talent these dumb arse clowns have assembled. GREAT JOB MARINERS
I am astounded– astounded– that the M’s would make such a bold move, and before the World Series is played! What a strategy– slipped it right by Billy Beane because Beane is engaged with his playoff team right now. Wheweee –These guys mean business! Hang on to your seats, Ms fans, the wild ride to success has begun!