Mariners designate former All-Star Daniel Vogelbach for assignment
Mariners manager Scott Servais acknowledged during his daily pregame video call how difficult this particular conversation was.
A season after he was named the club’s only All-Star, Seattle designated Daniel Vogelbach for assignment Wednesday afternoon ahead of its upcoming five-game homestand.
“It’s always difficult when you’re talking to a player that you have a tie with, and I’m of the biggest Vogey backers out there,” Servais said. “I love what he brings to a clubhouse and a team, and he truly does care about the team. He’s never been one of those guys that’s been all about him. He is a team guy through and through.
“So, those conversations are really hard. You do get emotionally tied to players. That’s one of the reasons I love the job so much, because you have a chance to impact young guys and help them along the way. But, with all the good conversations you get to have, there’s there’s a few tough ones, and today was a tough one.”
Vogelbach appeared in 18 games this season as Seattle’s designated hitter, batting just 5-for-53 with a double, two home runs and 11 walks to 13 strikeouts. In his final appearance Tuesday against the Dodgers, he was pinch hit for by Tim Lopes in the seventh inning after striking out swinging, flying out and grounding out in his first three at-bats.
This after he slugged a team-leading 30 home runs for the Mariners in 2019. Without any minor league options remaining, the Mariners vowed to get Vogelbach about 500 plate appearances to see how he fit into their future plans.
He slashed at .238/.375/.505 in the first half with 21 of those 30 homers, 11 doubles and 51 RBI on his way to the All-Star nod. But, his production dipped significantly in the second half, and he finished at .208/.341/.439 through 144 games, while also appearing in 57 at first base.
His bat didn’t fully regroup in spring training or summer camp, and it wasn’t until his ninth game this season he hit his first of the two homers.
“Vogey had a tremendous first half of the season last year, and we all got on the Vogey train, so to speak,” Servais said. “We all love Vogey. It’s a great personality, it’s a guy you want to spend time with and be around, he’s a really good teammate, and he was doing some great things for us early in the season last year. In the second half of the season, certainly, it took another turn and he really struggled. At that point we were exposing him to a lot of left-handed pitching, and really giving him an opportunity. ... He earned it.
“As we got going into this season, early on, didn’t see much adjustments, and certainly wasn’t from a lack of work on his end. He’s trying to figure it out mechanically, but it just didn’t come together.”
The Mariners have relied on versatility in this shortened season as they continue to evaluate young players, and having Vogelbach exclusively available as a DH — a combination of some misadventures at first base last season and rookie Evan White taking over at first base on a daily basis this year — locked him into a singular role.
“His strength is in the batter’s box, and hopefully hitting it over the fence, but he doesn’t bring a whole lot other than the bat, and when that’s your big carrying tool, you have to hit,” Servais said. “It’s a do-good league, and where we’re at right now, we’re just going to give you know some of those at-bats and opportunities to some other players.”
Should Vogelbach clear waivers, the Mariners could send him to their alternate training site in Tacoma.
Meanwhile, Servais said the club will rotate players in the designated hitter role moving forward. The opening gives the Mariners opportunities to cycle through players like Kyle Seager and Kyle Lewis on days off from the field, or catcher Austin Nola on days Joe Odom is catching.
With the club expecting to face left-handed starters in four games this homestand, the Mariners also recalled both outfielder Braden Bishop, who bats right, and utility player Sam Haggerty, who is a switch-hitter, from Tacoma.
Bishop will start Wednesday night’s homestand opener in right field, and Haggerty will start in left. Both will be making their season debuts for Seattle.
“I have to give credit to what’s going on at the alternate site,” Servais said. “Those guys are getting after it every day. ... They’re taking it serious, hoping for an opportunity, and we’re going to continue to give players opportunities this year. We talked about it at the beginning of the season. It wasn’t just going to be the team that we started with. As this thing progresses, we need to find out about as many players as we can this year.”
In a corresponding move, the Mariners optioned right-handed reliever Art Warren, who was on the traveling taxi squad during the last road trip before being recalled ahead of Tuesday afternoon’s game in Los Angeles, back to Tacoma. Warren did not appear in a game.
MURPHY MOVED TO 45-DAY IL
The Mariners transferred catcher Tom Murphy to the 45-day injured list Tuesday as he continues to deal with a metatarsal fracture in his left foot. His IL placement is retroactive to July 20.
Should the rehab process, which has been slow, go as planned, the catcher would be eligible to return to the club in early September.
“He’s frustrated,” Servais said. “Anybody that’s been around Tom Murphy (knows) he’s about as intense as they come. He wants to get back. No doubt. I think he’s still in a walking boot. He still feels it once in a while. He’s got some days he feels a little bit better as he goes through the therapy and the treatments.”
Servais said Murphy has tried to reach out to other players who have dealt with this unique injury.
“Basically what he was told is you have to be patient with it,” Servais said. “You can’t rush it back, otherwise it’s going to continue to linger going forward.”
Murphy was initially injured in summer camp, when he took two foul balls off the instep of his foot within days of each other. Servais estimated if Murphy is able to get his foot healthy it would take him somewhere between 10 days to two weeks to get into baseball shape.
“He still would love to get back before the season is over, but right now we just have to wait and see,” Servais said.
SMITH HEADED BACK TO TACOMA
Outfielder Mallex Smith was optioned to the alternate site Tuesday afternoon, though he remained on the road with the Mariners on their traveling taxi squad until they arrived home.
Smith, who agreed to a one-year, $2.35 million deal with Seattle in January, and avoided arbitration, was the club’s everyday center fielder last season, but his usage this year has been more limited.
He cleared COVID-19 intake protocols nearly two weeks after summer camp started, but both he and the club were confident he would be ready for Opening Day. He did start the season opener in Houston, but playing right field, and has been used more sporadically in the weeks since.
Smith has appeared in only 14 of the Mariners’ 24 games primarily in that right field spot with rookie Kyle Lewis taking over the everyday role in center. In the games he has played in, Smith is 6-for-45 (.133) with two doubles, three RBI, two walks, 13 strikeouts and two stolen bases after leading the majors with 46 bags swiped a year ago.
“His game is about getting on base,” Servais said. “You’ve got to get on base to steal bases. I think, talking with Mallex, I know there’s some things that he feels he can iron out offensively by getting some at-bats down there in Tacoma. We’ll have to see.
“I do think Mallex is a more productive player, a better player when he’s up there being aggressive in the batter’s box as far as driving the ball. Don’t try to play the slap game, just tap balls in the left field. I think he’s at his best when he’s pulling the ball or hitting it all over the field. So, hopefully he gets back to doing that, and he gets an opportunity to come back here.”
SHORT HOPS
Servais said starter Yusei Kikuchi will make his next scheduled start Thursday against the Dodgers after missing his last turn with neck spasms. Kikuchi threw a bullpen Tuesday in LA. “He gave me a thumbs up,” Servais said. “No problems. He’s good to go.” ... Mariners starter Justin Dunn is feeling better after taking a line drive to the ribs Monday against the Dodgers. He will play catch Wednesday and remains on track to make his next turn Sunday against the Rangers. ... Veteran reliever Bryan Shaw, who the Mariners designated for assignment last week, has cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Tacoma. He will report Thursday.
This story was originally published August 19, 2020 at 3:16 PM.
