BREAKING: Justin Smoak Claimed Off Waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays

According to Greg Johns at MLB.com and an official Seattle Mariners press release, first baseman Justin Smoak has been cleared off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays:

The waivers were non-revocable, and therefore the Mariners are getting nothing in return for Justin Smoak. Though the Blue Jays may be looking to trade Adam Lind this offseason.

In 496 games as a Seattle Mariner, Justin Smoak batted .226 with a .308 OBP. His OPS was .692. He manged 66 home runs to go with 200 RBI.

It is no real surprise that the Mariners let Smoak go, considering his continued struggles and the late-season emergence of Logan Morrison as a productive offensive and defensive first baseman.

Have Smoak off the 40-man roster sets the Mariners at 39 for now. His departure leaves room for a new signing of a DH or first baseman or corner outfielder.

Though he really failed in Seattle, Smoak will have a new chance to produce north of the border. But fortunately the Justin Smoak experiment is over, and we don’t have to keep thinking about his being one of the pieces in a trade that sent Cliff Lee to the Rangers five seasons ago.

No more Smoak-bombs in Seattle. Or, at the very least, no Smoak-bombs in a Mariners uniform.

Smoak played 496 games in Seattle. OPS of .692. 66 HR’s, 200 RBI. BA .226, OBP .308