The Mariners made a flurry of roster moves Sunday ahead of their series finale against the New York Mets at Safeco Field, recalling CF Leonys Martin from AAA Tacoma, activating RHP Erasmo Ramirez, placing OF Mitch Haniger on the 10-day DL (facial laceration), optioning RHP Cody Martin to the Rainiers and designating INF D.J. Peterson, a former No. 1 draft pick, for assignment.
Peterson was the 12th overall choice in the 2013 first-year player draft and is the latest in a string of failures for the Mariners in the first round.
Martin will replace Haniger, injured Saturday, in the outfield rotation. Martin 29, hit .312 in 84 games with Tacoma. In his last 40, he hit .343 with 32 runs and 26 RBIs. He joined the Rainiers after being outrighted April 27. He opened the season with Seattle, hitting .111 in 15 games.
In 2016 with Seattle, Martin hit .247 in 143 games and ranked second among American League center fielders with 11 outfield assists. Martin was acquired by the Mariners along with RHP Anthony Bass from Texas in exchange for RHP Tom Wilhelmsen, OF James Jones and INF Patrick Kivlehan Nov. 16, 2015. The native of Cuba, has appeared in parts of seven MLB seasons.
Ramirez, 27, acquired from Tampa Bay earlier this week, is 4-3 with one save. He made eight starts for the Rays before his trade to Seattle for RHP Steve Cishek. He is expected to start Tuesday.
In six MLB seasons with Seattle (2012-14) and Tampa Bay (2015-17), Ramirez is 29-32 with three saves and a 4.23 ERA in 171 games, including 71 starts. The Mariners traded Ramirez to Tampa Bay March 31, 2015, in exchange for LHP Mike Montgomery.
Haniger, 26, left Saturday’s game after being struck in the face by a pitch in the second inning. He was batting .255 with seven home runs and 24 RBIs in 57 games. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound outfielder also spent April 26-June 11 on the DL with a strained right oblique.
Cody Martin, 27, was selected from Tacoma Friday but did not appear in a game. He had nine appearances, including two starts, with the Mariners in 2016.
Peterson, 25, hit .264 with 47 runs, 17 doubles, two triples, 12 home runs and 54 RBIs in 103 games with Tacoma this season. Over his last 19 games, Peterson hit .250.
The Mariners selected the Chandler, AZ, native out of the University of New Mexico. He made 119 appearances between AA Jackson and Tacoma last season, combining to hit .264. The Mariners have seven days to trade, release or outright Peterson’s contract to the minor leagues.
LHP James Paxton (10-3, 2.84) to pitch Sunday opposite RHP Seth Lugo (5-2, 4.10).
