The Mariners Thursday recalled INF Chris Taylor from AAA Tacoma and designated for assignment utility man Willie Bloomquist, who appeared in 622 games covering two stints with Seattle (2002-08, 2014-15). Taylor is available to the Mariners Thursday night when they begin a four-game series against the Athletics in Oakland.
The 24-year-old Taylor has split time between the Rainiers and Mariners this season, appearing in 20 games for the big league club. With Seattle, Taylor hit .159 with no home runs and one RBI while producing a .221 on-base percentage and .427 OPS. He hit .289 with two home runs and 16 RBIs for Tacoma.
Taylor began the season in Tacoma, was recalled by Seattle May 4 and sent down again following a 6-3 loss to Cleveland May 31.
A Port Orchard native and South Kitsap graduate, Bloomquist joined the Mariners as their third pick in the 1999 June draft. At the end of the 2008 season, he departed Seattle as a free agent and signed with Kansas City, appearing in 125 games in 2009.
Bloomquist spent 2010 with Cincinnati and 2011-13 with Arizona before re-signing with the Mariners Dec. 5, 2013, on a two-year, $5.8 million deal.
The 37-year-old Bloomquist, whose career is likely done, appeared in 35 games this season and hit .159 with a .194 OBP and .368 OPS. In hia Seattle career, Bloomquist batted .259 with seven home runs.
Roenis Elias (4-5, 5.25) will throw Thursday night in the series opener opposite LHP Scott Kazmir (4-5, 2.79). First pitch is 7:05 p.m.
The fourth-place Mariners (36-42), coming off consecutive shutouts of San Diego, wbegin the series 9.5 games behind Houston in the AL West race and 1.5 ahead of the fifth-place A’s (36-45).
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="2205550 https://sportspressnw.wpengine.com/?p=2205550">8 Comments
Show case time? Big deal cooking? Youth movement? JZ is working his magic?
I am eager to see JZ pull a second Mike Montgomery out of his hat.
They need bats, not more pitchers. They NEVER get on base or score any runs. That’s why they can’t contend.
Pitcher and one or more position players traded for a major league bat who wouldn’t be a liability in the field. To bad we have so many poor batters on the team however we have pitching.
There is nothing magical about Trader Jack Z. Wish he would magically disappear though.
So what if the Mariners become a contender? Will you at least believe he’s no longer a muggle?
They will NOT become a contender. Have you watched this garbage? This is not a WS contender, these goofs don’t resemble the Cardinals (a REAL franchise) in ANY way. 5th inning tonite….. runner at 2nd. Mark BUMbo is ahead in the count 2-1, he swings at a pitch 8 inches outside & follows that up by flailing away at a pitch TWELVE inches off the plate! This is a joke. It’s about atmosphere, there is no way this guy would be this terrible if he had been dealt to St Louis, but because it’s the sorry sack M’s, he sucks big time! Consistent & predictable ab’s like that are what will keep these guys from ever winning more than 2 in a row. BUMbo I mean Trumbo is the absolute worst. He needs to be DFA’d next along with that clown Trader Jack Z.
I don’t understand the reasoning for this move. Sure, Willie isn’t hitting like the club needs him to but why waste it on calling up Taylor when Kuma will be available soon? Why not wait until then? IMO, Ackley would be better to DFA because at least Willie can play all positions except catcher. Something Ackley can’t do.