Mariners make no trades on deadline day; claim UT Mike Freeman from Arizona
Aug 1, 2016, 11:30 AM | Updated: 2:51 pm
New Mariners acquisition Mike Freeman has played all infield and outfield positions in his pro career. (AP)
(AP)
The Mariners’ only move on the day of the MLB trade deadline wasn’t a trade at all.
Though the M’s were reportedly in talks to acquire Reds shortstop Zack Cozart, a trade never materialized. That left a waiver claim of utility player Mike Freeman from Arizona as their only move of the day.
Triple-A utility man Patrick Kivlehan was designated for assignment to make room for Freeman on the 40-man roster.
Drayer: Mariners move on from Wade Miley, make trade with Orioles
Freeman, 28, has appeared in eight career MLB games, going 0 for 9 with two walks at the plate. He has played every position except catcher and pitcher during his pro career (minors and majors), primarily appearing at second base, shortstop and in the outfield. With Triple-A Reno, he hit .317 with 56 runs, 17 doubles, six triples, one home run, 24 RBIs and 11 stolen bases in 88 games. He also posted a .387 on-base percentage and a .411 slugging percentage.
Freeman was designated for assignment on Saturday by the Diamondbacks.
With the Mariners not bringing in Cozart, Freeman could provide help at shortstop with Ketel Marte on the 15-day disabled list recovering from mononucleosis.
This is actually the second time in the last 10 months the Mariners have moved on from Kivlehan. The 26-year-old former Rutgers star was included in the November 2015 trade to Texas to acquire center fielder Leonys Martin; Seattle brought him back on May 29 in a trade for a player to be named later. He hit .293 with 21 runs, eight doubles, two triples, eight home runs and 25 RBIs in 43 games with the Rainiers.
Despite making no trades Monday, the Mariners were still plenty active in the past few weeks. They sent starting pitcher Wade Miley to Baltimore on Sunday for lefty Ariel Miranda, traded Joaquin Benoit to Toronto for Drew Storen in a swap of struggling relievers on July 26, and got a pair of promising prospects – first baseman Dan Vogelbach and right-hander Paul Blackburn – from the Cubs for southpaw Mike Montgomery and Triple-A pitcher Jordan Pries on July 20.
Both Miranda and Freeman were optioned to Triple-A after their acquisitions, while reliever Donn Roach was recalled Monday afternoon from Tacoma to take the open roster spot created by the Miley trade.
