Justin Smoak, part of a six-player trade with Texas Rangers in July, 2010 that sent pitcher Cliff Lee to the Rangers, has been claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays. Smoak, who appeared in 496 games for Seattle, never developed into the power hitter that the Mariners envisioned when they acquired him.
The Mariners’ 40-man roster is now at 39 players.
Smoak, who turns 28 Dec. 5, hit .226 (390×1725) with 74 doubles, 66 home runs and 200 RBIs with Seattle, posting miserable .308 on-base percentage and .384 slugging marks.
In 2014, Smoak appeared in 80 games, making 66 starts, hitting .202 (50×248) with 13 doubles, seven home runs and 30 RBIs. In 56 games at AAA Tacoma, Smoak hit .337 (69×205) with 13 doubles and seven homers.
He essentially lost his job on the major league roster with the acquisition of Logan Morrison.
Smoak had his best year with the Mariners in 2013 when he hit 20 home runs. He never drove in more than 55 runs in any season.
6 Comments
The proverbial “addition by subtraction”.
Hope he can find his way in Toronto. Just didn’t work out in Seattle. He should have been packaged with Franklin to TB.
‘just didn’t work out in Seattle.’ THAT is the understatement of the year. He was so far from working out that he might as well have been on the moon. Still, the M’s gave him 1,943 plate appearances, so he had every opportunity (and then some) to prove himself. I can’t imagine the Blue Jays will be that patient.
Justin, see you in the World Series, that’s how it works for former Mariners.
Just ask Mike Morse. Or, you know…Randy Johnson, Luis Sojo, Tino Martinez, Rick Honeycutt…
this move paves the way for the triumphant return of jesus (montero) in 2015. btw, did the mariners fire the asshole scout who sent jesus the ice cream sandwich?