With MLB clubs permitted to expand their active rosters Friday, the Mariners (68-65, 3rd, AL West) added OF Ben Gamel and recalled C Jesus Sucre from AAA Tacoma. Both will be available Friday at 7:10 p.m when Seattle begins a three-game set with the Los Angeles Angels at Safeco Field.
The Mariners acquired Gamel, 24, from the New York Yankees Wednesday in exchange for minor league RHPs Jio Orozco and Juan De Paula. Gamel, a left-handed hitter, batted .308 with six home runs and 51 RBIs in 116 games with AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season.
He was named International League Most Valuable Player Tuesday. The 5-foot-11, 187-pounder made his MLB debut May 6 with the Yankees. In six games, he went 1-for-8. In 2015, Gamel was named International League Rookie of the Year after batting .300 with 10 home runs and 64 RBIs.
Sucre, 28, hit .273 in 29 games with Tacoma this season. He went on the 60-day disabled list from March 1-July 6 after having surgery to repair damage in his right ankle. He sustained a fractured right fibula during winter ball in Venezuela Jan. 17.
After being activated from the disabled list, Sucre hit .125 in three games with Seattle before being optioned to Tacoma July 20.
The Mariners can add additional players to their active roster once their minor league affiliates, particularly the Rainiers, finish their seasons.
LHP Ariel Miranda (1-1, 5.70) will throw for Seattle in the series opener. He will oppose LHP Brett Oberholtzer (3-2, 5.16).
The Mariners enter play 11.5 games behind the Texas Rangers in the AL West and four back of Baltimore for the second wild card spot.
