The Mariners Wednesday claimed INF Andy Wilkins from the Baltimore Orioles and designated LHP Edgar Olmos for assignment in order to make room for Wilkins on the 40-man roster. The Mariners also said C John Hicks, designated for assignment Nov. 23, has been claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins.
Wilkins, 27, split 2015 between AAA Oklahoma City (Los Angeles-NL) and AAA Buffalo (Toronto), combining to hit .251 with 62 runs, 18 home runs and 79 RBIs in 126 games. The left-handed hitting first baseman started the season with Buffalo after being claimed off waivers by Toronto from the White Sox March 29. He was traded to the Dodgers May 3 and claimed off waivers by Baltimore Sept. 6.
Wilkins was selected by the White Sox in the fifth round of the 2010 draft. He made his MLB debut in 2014, batting .140 in 17 games. Over six seasons in the minor leagues with Chicago-AL (2010-14), Toronto (2015) and Los Angeles-NL (2015), he hit .272 with 111 home runs and 441 RBIs in 681 games.
The past season, Olmos, 25, went 1-0, 4.50 in six games, including two starts for the Mariners. He spent the majority of the season with AAA Tacoma, going 1-1, 3.55 ERA in 20 games. The Mariners acquired Olmos from the Marlins via a waiver claim Nov. 20, 2014. The Mariners have 10 days to trade, release or outright Olmos to the minors.
Hicks, 26, appeared in 17 games, 14 at catcher, batting .063. In five minor league seasons with Seattle, he hit .280 with 32 home runs and 216 RBIs in 403 games after being selected in fourth round of the 2011 draft out of the University of Virginia.
In an unrelated move Wednesday, the Mariners said INF Patrick Kivlehan is the player to be identified from the Nov. 16 trade with the Texas Rangers. The Mariners acquired outfielder Leonys Martin and right-handed pitcher Anthony Bass from the Rangers in exchange for right-handed pitcher Tom Wilhelmsen, outfielder James Jones and Kivlehan.
