David Aardsma has known since July 22 – the day he had major elbow surgery – that the Seattle Mariners were not in position to go to salary arbitration with him before the 2012 season.
On Monday, the team activated the right-handed reliever from the disabled list, outrighted his contract to the minor leagues and Aardsma elected to become a free agent.
“I knew it was coming. It was pretty obvious the financial commitment was too much for my situation,” Aardsma said. “I can still negotiate with Seattle. I’d love to come back. It just opened 29 other doors.”
Aardsma, 29, didn’t pitch in the majors last season, stopped early by hip surgery and then – after a rehab assignment with the Tacoma Rainiers – by an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery to rebuild his elbow.
Seattle’s closer for the previous two seasons, Aardsma is not expected to pitch again before the All-Star break in 2012.
The Mariners also lost reliever Jeff Gray to Minnesota on a waiver claim while activating outfielder Franklin Gutierrez and catcher Adam Moore from the 60-day disabled list.
Along with Aardsma, four Mariners – catcher Josh Bard, infielder Adam Kennedy, first baseman Wily Mo Peña and pitcher Jamey Wright – became free agents.
The flurry left 37 players on Seattle’s 40-man roster.
“I knew from the day I had surgery that this day was coming,” Aardsma said. “Where do I go from here? I’ll find what comes next, professionally. I’ll talk to my agent, we’ll see what’s on the market.
“As far as Seattle, it’s in their hands. I’m open. I’d definitely interested in coming back.”
Other teams can begin negotiating with free agents other than their own Thursday.
NO GOLD GLOVES
Ichiro Suzuki’s streak of 10 consecutive Gold Glove Awards – one for every year of his major league career – has apparently come to an end.
The awards will be announced today by Rawlings on ESPN, and Ichiro isn’t even among the three American League finalists in right field. No Mariners player was among the three finalists at any position.
larry.larue@thenewstribune.com
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