The Mariners made five moves Tuesday in order to reach the 40-man roster limit and also announced that Dan Wilson, the club’s minor league catching coordinator, will join the team for the remainder of the 10-game home stand, which continues Tuesday night with the second of four games against the Texas Rangers.
From AAA Tacoma, the Mariners recalled OF James Jones, 1B/DH Jesus Montero, C Steven Baron and RHP JC Ramirez. The club also transferred LHP Charlie Furbush to the 60-day disabled list with left biceps tendinitis. The four recalled players will be available for Tuesday night’s game at Safeco Field (first pitch 7:10 p.m., PT).
Jones will join Seattle for his third stint this season. In eight previous games, he went 0-for-12 with six strikeouts and one stolen base. Jones hit .286 with 51 runs, 13 doubles, eight triples, two home runs, 33 RBIs and 27 steals in 75 games with the Rainiers. In his 116-game MLB career, Jones is 28-for-29 in stole base attempts.
Montero’s stint with the Mariners will be his third. In 25 games, he hit .200 with five runs, five doubles, two home runs and nine RBIs. In 98 games with AAA Tacoma, he hit .355 with 70 runs, 18 doubles, six triples, 18 home runs and 85 RBIs with a .966 OPS.
Ramirez will be making his Mariners debut in his first appearance. He was acquired by Seattle from the Arizona organization July 27. In 14 relief appearances with Tacoma, he went 1-1, 2.50 and struck out 18. He appeared in 23 games with AAA Reno (0-1, 2.88) and made 12 appearances with the Diamondbacks and was 1-1, 4.11.
He has also appeared in the majors with Philadelphia, pitching in 18 games in 2013. Ramirez was originally signed by Seattle July 2, 2005 as a non-drafted free agent. He was traded to Philadelphia as part of the three-team, eight player Cliff Lee deal Dec. 16, 2009.
Baron will be making his MLB debut when he appears in a game with the Mariners. In 88 combined contests with AA Jackson (April 9-June 2) and AAA Tacoma (June 3-Sept. 7), Baron hit .265 with 44 runs scored, 17 doubles, one triple, three home runs and 33 RBIs.
The Mariners selected the Miami native in the supplemental round (33rd overall) in the 2009 June Draft out of John A. Ferguson High School. In seven minor leagues seasons in the Mariners organization he has combined to throw out 42.8% of attempted base stealers.
Furbush, 29, was placed on the 15-day disabled list July 9 (retro to July 8). An MRI exam Aug. 20 revealed a small tear in his left rotator cuff. He is on a rehabilitation program is not scheduled for any surgery.
Wilson, a member of the Mariners Hall of Fame, will serve as an extra coach during the home stand.
Taijuan Walker (10-7, 4.51) will work for the Mariners Tuesday night opposite LHP Cole Hamels (2-1, 3.89). Although 0-1 in the series, the Mariners (66-72) have won five of their past six and are seven games back for the second wild card spot.