Mariners option outfielder Mallex Smith to Tacoma, recall reliever Art Warren
The Mariners added some bullpen depth Tuesday afternoon as their relievers continue to regroup from heavy usage the past week, recalling Art Warren from their alternate site in Tacoma.
But, bringing Warren, who debuted last September with the team after a dominant season as Double-A Arkansas’ closer, back into the fold also meant losing an outfielder.
Given his struggles at the plate the first three weeks of the season, the Mariners optioned Mallex Smith to Tacoma to sort things out, much like they did a season ago when he was enduring a similarly slow start.
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 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.
For him, the early games of this season have looked a lot like they did last year, when he was hampered in spring training by an elbow injury. He spent a month with Seattle after returning from that before he was sent to Triple-A, where he tried to retool his swing and worked with former Mariners All-Star center fielder Mike Cameron defensively.
Smith was hitting just .165 when he was sent down, but returned from the Rainiers less than three weeks later, and improved his average to .242 in 107 games before the end of the summer.
With Smith headed back to Tacoma when the Mariners arrive home Wednesday, Lewis is now the only true outfielder remaining on Seattle’s active roster. The gaps in the outfield have been filled early on by utility players in Dylan Moore, Tim Lopes and Dee Gordon, but the Mariners could make another move when they’re back in town, and call up one of the young outfielders playing at their alternate site, such as Jake Fraley or Braden Bishop, who both have big league experience.
Fraley was initially expected to make the Opening Day roster, but a slow start at the plate in summer camp wiped out that plan. He has been training with Seattle’s other reserves at Cheney Stadium since, and his bat appears to be coming around. He’s hit three home runs in intrasquad games open to media members in the past week.
Bishop has also performed consistently in the ballpark in Tacoma he spent much of last spring in.
Warren, who appeared in six games for the Mariners late last season and did not allow a run, gives the club a fresh bullpen option. Seattle has used three or four relievers on most nights during this nine-day, eight-game road trip, which wraps up Tuesday night in Los Angeles. The club currently has seven pitchers, including six relievers, on the injured list.
Warren has been pitching at the alternate site since summer camp ended. He had a 1.71 ERA in 29 games last season for Double-A Arkansas and tallied 15 saves, striking out 41 and walking 13.
This story was originally published August 18, 2020 at 2:44 PM.
