The Seattle Mariners announced on Saturday morning that Rickie Weeks has been designated for assignment. Danny Farquhar has been recalled from Tacoma in a corresponding move. Mariners’ fans have been begging for Seattle to give up on Weeks for quite some time, so today’s move should appease the disgruntled fan base.
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The Rickie Weeks experiment has failed in every possible way this season. After spending the first 11 seasons of his career as the starting second baseman in Milwaukee, the Mariners signed Weeks this offseason to platoon with Dustin Ackley in left field. The 32-year-old sports a career slash line of .247/.345/.421, but he has posted a .167/.263/.250 slash line in his debut season in the Emerald City. He has clubbed 2 home runs and driven in 9 runs across 84 at bats in 2015.
Defense has never been Rickie Weeks’ strong suit, but he hit a new low this season in left field. He never looked comfortable in the Mariners’ outfield, registering a mediocre .923 fielding percentage across 89 innings. Weeks made just 1 error, but his lone miscue ended up costing the M’s a game against the Boston Red Sox last month. His 1.21 range factor per 9 innings is nowhere close to the 1.99 league average.
Apr 20, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Danny Farquhar (40) stands on the mound after surrendering a solo home run to Houston Astros third baseman Luis Valbuena (18) during the eighth inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Danny Farquhar will get another chance to impress working out the Mariners’ bullpen. Farquhar has been a crucial member of the ‘pen since his call-up in 2013, but he was sent down to Tacoma in May after struggling mightily for the M’s in 2015. Lord Farquhar carries an 0-3 record and a 6.46 ERA into today’s game. He is averaging just 7.6 strikeouts per 9 innings, and his 2.50 strikeout to walk ratio is a career low for the 28-year-old right-hander.
Unfortunately, his performance with the Tacoma Rainiers has been equally as troubling. Farquhar is 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA across 9.1 innings in the Pacific Coast League. The M’s tried to convert their former set-up man into a starter in AAA, but he will return to Seattle as a reliever. After last night’s debacle, it is likely Danny Farquhar will be asked to work multiple innings this afternoon in Houston.
It is encouraging to see the Mariners finally throw in the towel on Rickie Weeks. I always liked Weeks when he was a Brewer, but he has looked washed up this season with Seattle. I do not anticipate Danny Farquhar staying with the team long term, as he is essentially an emergency call-up after we were forced to watch Jesus Sucre pitch a night ago. Look for Franklin Gutierrez or Jesus Montero to be recalled in the coming days.
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