BRENT STECKER

Mariners DFA José Marmolejos, option Luis Torrens, claim Jacob Nottingham again in flurry of roster moves

May 20, 2021, 4:03 PM

Mariners Luis Torrens...

Luis Torrens has struggled both at the plate and defensively this season with the Mariners. (Getty)

(Getty)

The Mariners are making some changes before they start a series with the red-hot Padres in San Diego on Friday.

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Seattle announced a flurry of roster moves Thursday afternoon, most notably claiming catcher Jacob Nottingham off waivers from Milwaukee, optioning catcher Luis Torrens to Triple-A Tacoma, and designating first baseman/outfielder José Marmolejos for assignment.

Seattle also selected the contract of catcher Jose Godoy from Tacoma and designated pitcher Brady Lail for assignment.

The Mariners’ offense by and large has been mired in a slump as of late, including being the victim of two no-hitters since May 5, and Torrens and Marmolejos have been among the players struggling the most.

Torrens, 25, has a .178/.219/.300 slash line for a .519 OPS this season, with two home runs and five doubles out of his 16 hits. Defense has also been an issue for the backstop, whether it’s been with blocking pitches or mental miscues when the ball is in play and thrown to him at home plate. The M’s acquired Torrens last season near the trade deadline in a big deal with the Padres, and he hit .254 with a homer, four doubles and a .696 OPS in 18 games with Seattle.

Marmolejos, 28, has a .139/.266/.278 slash line (.544 OPS) with three homers and two doubles out of his 11 hits in 2021. He has started at first base in each of Seattle’s last six games following Evan White and Ty France being placed on the injured list, going just 2 for 17 with no extra-base hits over that stretch. He hit .206 with six homers and a .672 OPS in 35 games with the Mariners last season.

If you feel like you’re experiencing déjà vu with the Nottingham addition, there’s a good reason for that. The Mariners actually claimed him from the Brewers on April 28. He didn’t appear in a game for Seattle before being traded back to Milwaukee for cash on May 2 after the Brewers suddenly found themselves running out of healthy catchers.

Nottingham didn’t leave Seattle without making an impression, though. He left one of his bats for J.P. Crawford before heading back to Milwaukee, and the Mariners shortstop quickly picked up a few hits with it, as ROOT Sports’ Jen Mueller reported. It’s been quite the season already for the 26-year-old Nottingham, who hit a grand slam in his first game back with the Brewers. He is 3 for 14 (.214) with two homers and a double in five MLB games this year.

For more on Nottingham, read our story from the first time the Mariners claimed him.

Godoy, 26, will make his MLB debut in his first appearance with Seattle. This is his first season with the Mariners’ organization after eight in the Cardinals’ system. He is slashing .310/.375/.517 (.892 OPS) with two homers in seven games with Tacoma.

With Godoy and Nottingham joining Tom Murphy, the Mariners now have three catches on their active roster.

Lail, 27, has appeared in two games for the Mariners in 2021, allowing four runs in two innings pitched. He pitched in seven games for Seattle in 2020 and previously had short stints with the White Sox and Yankees.

Expect a few more roster moves to come before Friday’s 7:10 p.m. game against San Diego on 710 ESPN Seattle, most likely one that would add a first baseman. The Mariners’ 40-man roster is full after Thursday’s moves, but they are now short one player on the 26-man active roster. Players must be on the 40-man roster to be put on the active roster.

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Mariners DFA José Marmolejos, option Luis Torrens, claim Jacob Nottingham again in flurry of roster moves