Rowdy Tellez back in big leagues a month after last game for Mariners

Rowdy Tellez could soon be back at T-Mobile Park wearing the uniform of a Seattle Mariners division rival.

The Texas Rangers are selecting the contract of the veteran first baseman from Triple-A Round Rock, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Thursday morning.

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Tellez, 30, appeared in 62 games for the Mariners earlier this season after making the team out of spring training. He initially signed with Seattle on a minor league contract in February. The lefty-swinging slugger hit .208 with 11 home runs, a .249 on-base percentage and .683 OPS for the Mariners, but was designated for assignment on June 20 when first baseman/outfielder Luke Raley returned from the injured list.

The Mariners mainly used Tellez in a platoon at first base with Donovan Solano in the first three months of this season. He provided a memorable series against one of his former teams, the Toronto Blue Jays, homering in all three games at Rogers Centre from April 18-20 and driving in a combined seven runs, including a grand slam to help Seattle win the middle game.

Seattle officially released Tellez on June 26, and he signed a minor league deal with the Rangers on July 5. He has played just four games in Triple-A since joining Texas’ affiliate, the Round Rock Express, going 5 for 15 (.333) with two homers and a double.

Former Mariners 2B traded back to another of his old teams

Tellez is joining the Rangers at the same time first baseman Jake Burger, one of Texas’ key offseason signings, goes to the IL with a strained quadriceps. Burger has hit .228 with 11 home runs, a .259 on-base percentage and .659 OPS in 75 games for the Rangers this season after coming over in a December trade from the Miami Marlins.

The Mariners could face off against their old teammate in just a few weeks. The Rangers are set to begin a four-game series at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park starting on Thursday, July 31.

In the standings, the Mariners (51-45) are 3 1/2 games ahead of Texas (48-49) for the third and final wild card spot in the American League. Seattle and Texas are second and third in the AL West, respectively, behind the division-leading Houston Astros (56-40), who are five games ahead of the M’s.

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