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The Mariners waited less than 24 hours after the World Series ended to begin their off-season overhaul, claiming INF/OF Andrew Romine Thursday off waivers from the Detroit Tigers while also declining the 2018 option on six-year starter Hisashi Iwakuma, who spent the majority of last season on the disabled list.
Iwakuma was the club’s No. 2 starter behind Felix Hernandez for the majority of his tenure. He went 63-39, 3.42 in 136 starts and produced his career moment Aug. 12, 2015, when he threw a no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles at Safeco Field.
With the end of the Series, the Mariners Thursday reinstated RHP David Phelps and LHP Drew Smyly from the 60-day disabled list, announced that 1B Yonder Alonso, OF Jarrod Dyson, INF Gordon Beckham, C Carlos Ruiz and 1B Danny Valencia had become free agents, and declined the 2018 option on RHP Yovani Gallardo.
The 31-year-old Romine, a 6-foot-1 switch-hitter, saw action at all nine defensive positions last season, including one game at both pitcher and catcher. He also set career highs in games and at-bats, hitting .233 with 45 runs scored, 17 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 25 RBIs, 22 and six stolen bases in 124 games. Romine played the most games at second base, 27.
On Sept. 30, in a 3-2 Tigers win at Minnesota, Romine became the fifth player in MLB history to play in all nine positions in a game. It was the first time in his career Romine appeared as a catcher.
In parts of eight MLB seasons with Los Angeles-AL (2010-13) and Detroit (2014-17), Romine has hit .238 with 134 runs, 36 doubles, four triples, 10 home runs, 79 RBIs, 75 walks and 39 stolen bases in 510 games.
He was selected by the Angels in the fifth round of the 2007 draft out of Arizona State University. Romine’s father, Kevin Romine, was a utility outfielder for the Boston Red Sox (1985–91), and his brother, Austin Romine, is currently a catcher with the New York Yankees.
1 Comment
That should do it. One more .233 hitter should put us over the top. The top of WHAT I’m not sure of.