Marmolejos signed a contract Tuesday with the Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
After being outrighted off the Mariners' 40-man roster in September and then electing free agency less than a month later, Marmolejos likely would have had to settle for a minor-league deal if he wanted to continue playing in affiliated ball in 2022. Rather than going that route, the 28-year-old will instead head overseas at what's likely a higher salary than he would have received on any minor-league deal. Though he mustered a lowly .573 OPS over 122 plate appearances with the Mariners in 2021, Marmolejos earned Triple-A West MVP honors after slashing .338/.439/.672 with 26 home runs across 83 games with Tacoma.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Jose Marmolejos: Outrighted to Tacoma
Rotowire
Marmolejos was outrighted to Triple-A Tacoma after clearing waivers Friday.
The outfielder was DFA'd on Tuesday after going 6-for-27 with a homer in his latest stint with the big club. He'll remain in the Seattle organization for the time being but will need to be added back to the 40-man roster in order to return to the majors this season.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Jose Marmolejos: Designated for assignment Tuesday
Rotowire
Marmolejos was designated for assignment by the Mariners on Tuesday, Corey Brock of The Athletic reports.
Marmolejos went 6-for-27 with a homer and three RBI during 10 games after rejoining the big-league roster in late August. With Jake Fraley (shoulder) being activated from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Seattle has opted to remove Marmolejos from the 40-man roster entirely, though he could remain with the organization if he clears waivers.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Jose Marmolejos: On bench against southpaw
Rotowire
Marmolejos isn't starting Monday's game against the Red Sox.
Marmolejos will be on the bench for a second consecutive game with left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez on the mound for Boston. Dylan Moore will start in left field and bat ninth.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Jose Marmolejos: Not starting Sunday
Rotowire
Marmolejos is not in the lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Diamondbacks.
Marmolejos went 1-for-4 on Saturday and is now hitting .194 with three extra-base hits and three RBI in his last 10 games. Dylan Moore starts in left field and bats ninth Sunday.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Jose Marmolejos: Riding pine Friday
Rotowire
Marmolejos isn't starting Friday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Marmolejos went 2-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a run Wednesday, but he'll be excluded from the starting nine for the second time in the last three games. Dylan Moore will start in left field and bat ninth.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Jose Marmolejos: Not in Tuesday's lineup
Rotowire
Marmolejos isn't starting Tuesday's game against the Astros.
Even with right-hander Jake Odorizzi on the mound for the Astros on Tuesday, Marmolejos will retreat to the bench, his third absence in the last five games. Jake Bauers will start in left field and bat ninth.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Jose Marmolejos: Doubles, scores in Saturday's win
Rotowire
Marmolejos went 2-for-4 with a double and a run in a win over the Diamondbacks on Saturday.
Marmolejos commemorated his return to the majors Monday by launching a solo home run against the Astros, but he'd subsequently gone 0-for-7 in the pair of games he'd logged a plate appearance in since that contest. Saturday's multi-hit effort snapped that brief funk and marked Marmolejos' first such tally at the big-league level since April 13.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Jose Marmolejos: Gets breather Friday
Rotowire
Marmolejos isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Marmolejos had started each of the last three games after his contract was selected Monday, but he went just 1-for-9 with a solo home run and three strikeouts. Dylan Moore will take over in left field and bat eighth.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Jose Marmolejos: Homers in return to majors
Rotowire
Marmolejos went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in a 4-3 loss to Houston on Monday.
After being called up earlier on Monday, Marmolejos connected on a second-inning Luis Garcia offering to get Seattle on the board. It was the lefty's first game since May 19 and he'll most likely need to string together some quality performances to earn a relevant role.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Jose Marmolejos: Contract selected by Mariners
Rotowire
Marmolejos' contract was selected from Triple-A Tacoma on Monday.
Marmolejos appeared in 31 major-league games earlier in the year but was outrighted to Triple-A Tacoma in late May. He's been effective with the Triple-A club since then, as he's slashed .360/.452/.700 with 23 home runs, 71 RBI and 58 runs across 72 games. The 28-year-old will serve as outfield depth after Jake Fraley (shoulder) was recently placed on the 10-day IL.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Jose Marmolejos: Tearing it up at Tacoma
Rotowire
Marmolejos owns a .370/.456/.741 slash line with four doubles, two triples, 14 home runs, 35 RBI and 27 runs over the 40 games he's played with Triple-A Tacoma since being outrighted May 23.
The 28-year-old has put together a prolific minor-league career ever since his 2013 professional debut, but success has largely evaded him at the big-league level in two stints with the Mariners. Although Marmolejos would have to be added back to the 40-man roster in order to return to the major-league squad, the body of work he's putting together with the Rainiers may force the issue in that regard eventually.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Jose Marmolejos: Removed from 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Mariners outrighted Marmolejos to Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday.
The 28-year-old first baseman/outfielder will remain in the Seattle organization after none of MLB's other 29 clubs put in a waiver claim for him. Before being cast off the 40-man roster Thursday, Marmolejos slashed .139/.266/.278 with a 34 percent strikeout rate over 94 plate appearances with the Mariners.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Jose Marmolejos: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Marmolejos was designated for assignment by the Mariners on Thursday.
Marmolejos had started each of the last six games for the Mariners but went just 2-for-17 with a run, an RBI, three walks and seven strikeouts during that time. He'll now be removed from the 40-man roster to make room for Jacob Nottingham and Jose Godoy, who were added to the major-league roster as part of a corresponding move.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Jose Marmolejos: Mired in slump
Rotowire
Marmolejos, who went 0-for-4 in a win over the Astros on Thursday, is hitting .063 (1-for-16) with three walks and two runs over his last seven games.
That stretch includes four starts for the 28-year-old, who has been unable to come anywhere close to replicating the success with the bat he consistently enjoyed during a seven-year minor-league career. Marmolejos' season slash is down to .163/.281/.388 after his latest hitless effort Thursday, although his five extra-base hits (two doubles, three home runs) and eight RBI help prevent his season from being a total fantasy wasteland thus far.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Jose Marmolejos: Hammers two-run homer
Rotowire
Marmolejos went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run during Monday's 4-3 win over the Dodgers.
Marmolejos opened up the scoring for the Mariners when he connected on a low fastball for a line-drive home run to put the Mariners up 2-0 in the first. He was quiet at the plate the rest of the night and is now slashing .212/.316/.545 with three home runs, eight RBI and five runs scored in 33 at-bats. The 28-year-old's corner-outfield playing time is likely to dry up with Kyle Lewis (knee) set to debut Tuesday after missing the first few weeks of the season with a left knee injury, but Marmolejos will still see occasional action at first base or DH.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Jose Marmolejos: Clubs second homer
Rotowire
Marmolejos went 2-for-4 with a double and a three-run home run in a 7-6 loss to the Orioles during the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader.
After striking out as a pinch hitter in the matinee, the 28-year-old got the start at first base in the nightcap and did some damage against young Baltimore righty Dean Kremer. Marmolejos primarily played left field last year, but he's only seen action at first base and DH to begin 2021. However, he could push for more playing time thanks to his positive early returns -- a 1.018 OPS with two homers and six RBI in only 19 at-bats.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Jose Marmolejos: Cedes first base to Evan White
Rotowire
Marmolejos is out of the lineup for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader with the Orioles.
Marmolejos had started each of the Mariners' last three games, but he'll take a seat now that Evan White (quadriceps) has been cleared to return to the starting nine. Before that three-game run, Marmolejos had only been in the lineup once in the Mariners' first six games.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Jose Marmolejos: Contributes again as starter
Rotowire
Marmolejos, who drew his third straight start in Sunday's win over the Twins, went 1-for-3 with a double and a run.
Marmolejos was in the starting nine again Sunday due to Evan White's (quadriceps) ongoing absence, and he laced an extra-base hit for the second game during that span. Marmolejos is hitting just .214 (3-for-16) over his first six games, but his ability to fill multiple positions and extensive track record of success at the plate in the minors should play a part in him continuing to see semi-regular playing time as the season unfolds.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Jose Marmolejos: Launches first homer
Rotowire
Marmolejos went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during Thursday's loss to the Twins.
Marmolejos' first long ball of the year was a shot to right center field against Jose Berrios in the sixth inning. The 28-year-old earned a spot on Seattle's roster after a strong spring during which he slashed .300/.391/.400 across 46 plate appearances, though this was his first starting opportunity.
