Former Lake Stevens star Canham to manage Mariners’ Clinton affiliate

Published 7:09 pm Friday, December 4, 2015

SEATTLE — Former Lake Stevens High School and Oregon State standout Mitch Canham was hired by the Mariners as the manager of their Lo-A affiliate in Clinton, Iowa, the team announced Friday.

It is his first minor-league managing job.

Canham was the starting catcher on the Beavers’ back-to-back College World Series-winning teams in 2006 and 2007.

The Everett AquaSox formally announced that Rob Mummau is back for a second season with the Short-A club and will signal his 16th season with the organization.

Moises Hernandez — Felix’s brother — will be the AquaSox’s pitching coach.

In other minor league staffing news, Pat Listach will return for a second season as the manager at Triple-A Tacoma after leading the Rainiers to a 68-76 record.

The Mariners confirmed plans to retain Listach while announcing their minor-league staffs for the 2016 season. The Rainiers will have a new hitting coach in Scott Brosius and a new pitching coach in Lance Painter.

Brosius’ hiring was previously reported. He spent the last 14 years at Linfield College, including the last eight as manager, after completing an 11-year career in the big leagues.

Painter shifts to Tacoma after spending the last two years as the pitching coach at Double-A Jackson. He is entering his 11th season in the organization.

Long-time Tacoma manager Daren Brown, who spent part of the 2010 season as the Mariners’ interim manager, returns to the bench as the manager at Jackson. He spent the last two years as the minor-league bunting and base-running coordinator.

Eddie Menchaca returns to Bakersfield as the manager of the organization’s Hi-A affiliate for a third straight year. Zac Livingston, a catcher in the Angels’ system for the last four seasons, begins his minor-league coaching career as the manager of the organization’s affiliate in the Arizona Rookie League.

More moves

With the Mariners, the personnel moves keep coming.

The latest occurred Friday morning when they created an opening on their 40-man roster by trading right-handed reliever Jose Ramirez to Atlanta for a player to be named later and cash considerations.

Ramirez, 25, struggled at Triple-A Tacoma and with the Mariners after arriving with outfielder Ramon Flores in a July 31 trade that sent outfielder Dustin Ackley to the New York Yankees.

The Mariners also lost left-hander Edgar Olmos to the Chicago Cubs in a waiver claim after designating him for assignment on Wednesday to clear roster space after signing free-agent reliever Justin De Fratus.

Olmos, 25, split time last season between the Mariners and Tacoma after recovering from a shoulder injury. He gave up seven earned runs in 14 innings over six big-league outings, including two starts.

Ramirez allowed 13 earned runs in 13 innings in nine outings at Tacoma prior to a Sept. 1 recall to the big leagues, where he gave up six earned runs over 4 2/3 innings in five appearances.

The Mariners have made six trades since the end of the season, including a Nov. 20 deal that sent Flores to Milwaukee for infielder Luis Sardinas.

By trading Ramirez to the Braves, the Mariners have one spot available on their 40-man roster, which they could use to select a player next week in the Rule 5 Draft at the Winter Meetings.