The Mariners went outside their organization Wednesday in selecting a baseball lifer in Rich Donnelly to serve as the new manager for Class AAA Tacoma.
Donnelly, 67, is entering his 43rd season in pro ball and comes to the Rainiers after spending the last three years as the manager at Class A Brooklyn in the New York Mets’ organization.
The Mariners also announced Jaime Navarro and Cory Snyder will serve on Donnelly’s staff as pitching coach and coach. Tom Newberg and BJ Downie will return as the Rainiers’ trainers, and Gabe Bourland was promoted from Rookie Peoria to serve as performance specialist.
Donnelly’s resume includes 27 years as a big-league coach with Texas, Pittsburgh, Florida and Colorado in addition to 10 years as a minor-league manager in the Texas system before joining the Mets.
The Mariners also announced staff appointments for their other full-season affiliates, including James Horner as manager at Class AA Jackson, Eddie Menchaca at Hi-A High Desert, and Chris Prieto at Lo-A Clinton.
Saunders agreement
Michael Saunders will be armed with a new contract sporting a hefty raise when he opens his bid next month in spring training to holding onto a starting job in the outfield.
Saunders, 27, avoided a possible arbitration hearing by reaching agreement on a one-year deal for $2.3 million. He made $512,600 last season when he batted .236 with 12 homers and 46 RBIs in 132 games.
The deal leaves the Mariners with two pending arbitration cases: first baseman/DHs Justin Smoak and Logan Morrison. Like Saunders, both are eligible for arbitration for the first time in their careers. Smoak, 27, made $514,000 last season when he batted .238 with 20 homers and 50 RBI in 131 games. The Mariners acquired Morrison, 26, in a Dec. 11 trade from Miami for reliever Carter Capps. Morrison made $491,500 last year when he batted .242 with six homers and 36 RBI in 85 games for the Marlins.
Still mum on Buck
Veteran catcher John Buck’s new one-year deal for $1 million has yet to be announced by the Mariners, although clubs typically withhold confirmation until the paperwork is filed with Major League Baseball and the union.
Buck, 33, is a 10-year veteran who batted .219 with 15 homers and 62 RBI in 110 games while spending most of last season with the Mets before an Aug. 27 trade sent him to the Pirates.
The Mariners must make a corresponding roster move when the Buck signing becomes official because they have no space on their 40-man roster.
Walker ranked No. 2
Taijuan Walker, generally viewed as the top player in the Mariners’ farm system, is ranked by MLB.com as the No. 2 right-handed pitching prospect in its latest ratings. It ranked Arizona’s Archie Bradley at No. 1.
Walker, 21, was the 43rd overall pick in the 2010 draft. He was a combined 9-10 with a 2.93 ERA in 25 starts last season at Class AA Jackson and Class AAA Tacoma before ending his year with three big-league starts.
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