Mariners claim catcher Jacob Nottingham off waivers from Brewers
Apr 28, 2021, 1:32 PM
New Mariners catcher Jacob Nottingham hit four homers in 20 games last season. (Getty)
(Getty)
The Mariners are adding a hitter at a time when their offense could use a boost.
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Seattle has claimed catcher Jacob Nottingham off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers, the team announced Wednesday afternoon.
The Mariners are coming off a 2-0 loss to Houston on Tuesday when they managed just two hits, and they are on their first three-game losing streak of the season. Seattle has a combined five runs scored on 15 hits over their last three games.
In order to add Nottingham to the roster, right-handed pitcher Brandon Brennan was designated for assignment by Seattle.
Nottingham, 26, has 85 games of MLB experience since debuting with Milwaukee in 2018, though he has not played in a game this season. In 2020, he hit .188 with a .736 OPS in 20 games and 54 plate appearances. He hit four home runs and a double, driving in 13 runs.
A 2013 sixth-round MLB Draft pick of the Houston Astros, Nottingham was traded to Oakland in 2015 and then to the Brewers in February 2016.
Nottingham began this season on the 10-day injured list as he recovered from December surgery to repair the radial collateral ligament in his left thumb. He was activated and designated for assignment last week by Milwaukee.
The catcher position has had a role in Seattle’s offensive woes in 2021. Tom Murphy, who missed all of the 2020 season with a broken bone in his foot, is hitting .119 with one home run, one double and a .373 OPS in 14 games. Luis Torrens has played 19 games and is hitting .167 with two doubles and a .428 OPS.
Brennan, 29, has been at the Mariners’ alternate site this season. A Rule 5 Draft selection by Seattle from Colorado ahead of the 2019 season, he pitched 7 1/3 innings in 2020, allowing three earned runs and striking out seven. In 2019, Brennan had a 4.76 ERA in 47 1/3 innings with a 1.225 WHIP and 47 strikeouts.
The addition of Nottingham is the Mariners’ second in as many days. They claimed infielder Jack Mayfield off waivers Tuesday from the Los Angeles Angels and moved second baseman Shed Long Jr. to the 60-day injured list. Mayfield was assigned to Seattle’s alternate site.
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