Reaching back for a player they first acquired in 1998, the Seattle Mariners signed free agent infielder Carlos Guillen to a minor league contract Wednesday and invited him to spring training.
Guillen, 36, is a veteran of 14 big-league seasons, the past eight with Detroit, where he was a three-time All-Star.
Guillen spent six years with Seattle following the midseason Randy Johnson trade with Houston, and his Mariners career was so beset by injuries he was nicknamed “Glass” by teammates.
Twice in his first 15 big-league games, he tore an anterior cruciate ligament – first in one knee and, a season later, in the other. Injuries followed him to Detroit, and he hasn’t played 100 games in a season since 2008.
Still, when healthy, Guillen can hit: a .285 career average that jumped to .297 with the Tigers.
While he will compete for playing time at third base, Guillen’s likely role with Seattle would be off the bench – as a reserve infielder or occasional designated hitter.
In spring training, he’ll be fighting for a utility job, competing with Luis Rodriguez and newly signed Japanese infielder Munenori Kawasaki for a roster spot.
Injuries limited Guillen to 28 games in 2011. He has been on the disabled list for knee, shoulder and hamstring injuries the past three years.
Originally acquired from Houston in the ’98 Johnson trade, Guillen played 10 games with Seattle that year, then tore the ACL in his left knee. A year later, in the Mariners’ fifth game of the season, Guillen tore the ACL in his right knee and missed most of that year.
A free agent, Guillen drew little interest this winter and will be one of 17 nonroster players invited to spring training on a minor-league deal.
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