The Mariners have sent Miles Mastrobuoni outright to Triple-A Tacoma after he cleared waivers, and the infielder/outfielder will stay in the organization rather than test free agency.
Mastrobuoni has the option to elect free agency after the move, but MLBTR has learned he will accept the assignment. Because this is his second outright, he had the chance to hit the open market.
For Seattle, the move keeps a familiar depth piece in the system. Mastrobuoni has spent years in a utility role, and across 208 big league games with the Rays, Cubs and Mariners, he has hit .228/.293/.271. He has also chipped in 22 stolen bases and has seen defensive action everywhere except catcher and center field.
His path this season has been a stop-and-start one. Mastrobuoni used up his final option year in 2025, which left him out of options entering the year.
A calf strain suffered while playing for Italy in the World Baseball Classic sent him to the injured list to begin the season. He was activated in June, then designated for assignment a little more than a week later.
After clearing waivers, he remained with Seattle at Triple-A Tacoma, which allowed the Mariners to bring him back to the major league roster in early July when Julio Rodríguez landed on the injured list. A few days ago, when Rodríguez returned, Mastrobuoni was pushed back into DFA limbo.
Now he’s headed back to Tacoma, where he should get regular playing time while waiting for another shot in the majors.
In Other News...
Mariners May Have Finally Found A Deadline Answer To Their Lefty Problem
Seattles search for a left-handed pitching fix has become one of the more practical questions facing the front office, especially with the lineup still looking for a right-handed bat that can hold up when southpaws are on the mound. The market has been thin enough that even a player who was not the loudest name on the board has started to look like a real fit, particularly given the way he has hit over the past several weeks and the fact that his contract would not force the club into a major financial stretch.
Rob Refsnyders uncertain return only adds to the urgency, because the Mariners cannot keep waiting for a clean internal answer to appear. Another option has been discussed as well, but the broader point is the same: Seattle needs someone who can step in, survive left-on-left matchups and give the roster a little more balance before the deadline passes. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners May Already Be Running Out Of Time With Cole Young
Cole Young has become one of the quiet constants in Seattles season, showing up in all 101 games and giving the Mariners production that has steadily pushed his profile upward. The young middle infielder leads the team in bWAR, has been especially effective with runners in scoring position, and even delivered a key three-run homer in a comeback win, the kind of moment that only adds to the sense that his value is climbing fast.
That is where the bigger question starts to hover over the Mariners. Young is no longer just a promising piece to dream on, he is already performing like someone the organization may need to think seriously about keeping around for the long haul, especially with the market for middle infielders getting more expensive by the year. Seattle has already shown a willingness to make major commitments to core players, and the longer Young keeps stacking up games like this, the harder it gets to imagine the price staying manageable. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Fans Finally Got Their First Look At A Huge Future Piece
Ace Reese finally gave Mariners fans a first real look at the next wave, signing with the club and taking part in pregame workouts at T-Mobile Park. The third baseman from Mississippi State arrived with the kind of attention that comes with being the top pick, and the organization wasted little time rolling him into the setting where so many future big leaguers first start to feel real.
Reese is now headed to the Mariners spring training facility in Peoria, Arizona, to begin preparing for his first professional season in 2027, and the early introduction only adds to the anticipation around how he fits into the clubs long-term plan. Dan Wilson also pointed to the teams mentoring tradition during Reeses introduction, a reminder that the Mariners are already thinking beyond the signing ceremony and into the handoff from one generation to the next. [Read more 🡒]