M’s moves: Heredia optioned, Grube promoted, Sardinas DFA’ed
Published 6:00 pm Wednesday, August 10, 2016
By Bob Dutton
The News Tribune
SEATTLE — Even before Tuesday’s 15-inning marathon, manager Scott Servais acknowledged it was a matter of time before the Seattle Mariners returned to a seven-man bullpen.
Servais also strongly hinted the odd-man out was likely to be outfielder Guillermo Heredia — despite Heredia’s plus skills in several areas.
“I love what Heredia has brought to our team,” Servais said. “The flexibility to play defense late and to start against left-handed pitching. I don’t know how long we’ll be able to carry that. It’s a luxury item.
“Eventually, you do need to have the depth on your bullpen. As long as our starters keep going deep, we’re OK. But, eventually, we probably will need to go back to 12 pitchers.”
Eventually arrived Wednesday, one day after the Mariners burned through their entire bullpen before pulling out a 6-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
The Mariners optioned Heredia to Triple-A Tacoma in order to select the contract of right-hander Jarrett Grube from the Rainiers. Grube was scratched earlier Wednesday from a scheduled start against Sacramento (Giants) at Cheney Stadium.
To clear space for Grube, 34, on the 40-man roster, the Mariners designated utility infielder Luis Sardinas for assignment.
Heredia, 25, was 7-for-25 (.280 with a .379 on-base percentage) in 12 games following his July 29 recall from Tacoma. He batted a combined .309 with a .399 OBP in 84 games at Tacoma and Double-A Jackson prior to his recall.
“I think he’s a major-league player now,” Servais said. “He plays into our future, and he’ll be back here at some point.”
The Mariners signed Heredia, a Cuban defector, on March 1.
Grube was 1-2 with a 3.97 ERA in 10 games, including eight starts, at Tacoma. He signed a minor-league deal June 9 with the Mariners, one day after being released by Cleveland after going 0-3 with a 4.43 ERA at Triple-A Columbus.
“He was the guy who was available,” Servais said. “It was his day to start in Tacoma today. He’s the freshest arm, and we certainly need some help tonight if this game gets crazy at all.”
That suggests Grube’s time with the Mariners might be limited. He is not viewed as a rotation candidate, and the Mariners are likely to make another move prior to Friday to add a starting pitcher.
Grube realizes this, too. His only previous big-league experience occurred in a similar situation: in 2014 for the Los Angeles Angels, when he gave up one run in two-thirds of an inning at Oakland.
“It’s a great feeling (to be back in the big leagues),” he said, “but it’s not really about me today. It’s more (a matter) of coming up here and trying to help the team by providing some coverage.”
Grube is 71-58 in 13 minor-league seasons with a 4.36 ERA in 371 games, including 156 starts.
Sardinas, 23, became expendable after the Mariners acquired utilityman Mike Freeman in an Aug. 1 waiver claim from Arizona. Sardinas batted .181 in 32 big-league games and .252 in 43 games at Tacoma.
“With what Freeman brings and, really, the emergence of Shawn O’Malley,” Servais said, “it created a different scenario. Shawn handled shortstop pretty well.”
The Mariners have 10 days to trade, release or (if he clears waivers) send Sardinas to the minors on an outright assignment. The Mariners acquired him from Milwaukee in an Nov. 20, 2015 trade for outfielder Ramon Flores.
