The Seattle Mariners went into Tuesday with their season hanging by a thread, and they responded by shaking up the roster in a big way.
Among the moves was the addition of left-hander Hoby Milner, a 10-year MLB veteran who was waived days ago by the Chicago Cubs. Milner joined Seattle on Tuesday, Sept. 1, and because he signed with the club a day earlier, he is eligible to pitch for the Mariners in October - even if that possibility is looking slimmer by the day for the team’s pitching staff.
Seattle is 64-74, sitting 5.5 games behind the Cleveland Guardians for the third and final American League wild-card spot through Monday, and six games back of the Houston Astros in the AL West.
Milner gives the Mariners another arm as they try to keep their September alive. He was 1-0 with a 3.53 ERA in 38 appearances for the Cubs this season before appendicitis landed him on the injured list in July.
Across his career, Milner is 14-9 with a 3.80 ERA in 405 games. His path has taken him through Chicago, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Los Angeles, Milwaukee and Texas.
The biggest move for Seattle, though, was the promotion of outfielder Lazaro Montes, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday along with Milner. Montes will make his major league debut the first time he gets into a game.
The 21-year-old has put together a strong season in the minors, posting a combined .928 OPS in 123 games between Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma. He also brings the kind of power Seattle badly needs, with 38 home runs and 96 RBI in those 123 games.
At 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, Montes fits the profile of a classic power bat. MLB Pipeline ranked him No. 56 overall in baseball, while Baseball America had him at No.
- Within the Mariners system, he was ranked No. 5 by MLB Pipeline and No. 3 by Baseball America.
To make room, the Mariners designated utilityman Connor Joe and right-handed pitcher Nolan Kingham for assignment.
Joe, 33, played in 21 games for Seattle this season and hit .179. Kingham, 29, was claimed off waivers from the Texas Rangers on Aug. 10 and made three starts for Triple-A Tacoma during his short stay in the organization.
In Other News...
Mariners Have One Obvious Call To Make As Offense Keeps Sliding
The Mariners have reached the point in the season where every stretch of lost ground feels heavier, even with the playoff picture still close enough to keep hope alive. Offense has been the central concern for a club sitting below .500, and the recent slide has only sharpened the pressure on a lineup that has not gotten enough steady production from the middle of the order. Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez have had mixed results, and the pitching staff has started to show some wear as the team leans more on rookies.
Against that backdrop, Randy Arozarena stands out as one of the few hitters giving Seattle a reliable spark. His offense has been strong, and the improved plate discipline is a good sign for a team that needs more traffic on the bases and more consistent at-bats across the board, even if his defense remains a concern. When a club is trying to stay in the race while its run scoring keeps sputtering, the obvious move is often the one that best rewards the player doing the most to keep the lineup afloat. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Finally Turn To One Of Their Most Intriguing Young Bats
The Mariners are giving one of their most closely watched young hitters a shot in the big leagues, with Lazaro Montes set to join the club in Boston and make his Major League debut. The 21-year-old outfielder has built a strong reputation in the minors, and his arrival adds a new layer of intrigue to a roster that has been looking for answers and upside as it moves deeper into the season.
Seattle also added pitcher Hoby Milner after he recently signed a minor league contract following his release by the Chicago Cubs, while Connor Joe and Nolan Kingham were designated for assignment. The moves show the Mariners trying to keep the roster flexible while making room for a prospect who has earned a long look, and now the question shifts to how quickly Montes can translate that promise once he gets on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Bullpen Gamble Comes With October Stakes
The Mariners made a late-season bullpen move by adding left-handed reliever Hoby Milner to their expanded 28-man September roster after signing him to a minor league contract. To clear space, Seattle designated Connor Joe and Nolan Kingham for assignment, a reminder of how quickly roster decisions get sharpened this time of year with October in view.
Milner arrives with a decade of major league experience and a recent history that includes his last big league appearance in June 2024. For a Mariners bullpen that has struggled lately, the move is less about looking backward than trying to steady things before the games matter even more, with Seattle now carrying another experienced arm into the stretch run. [Read more 🡒]