Mariners lose yet another bat to rival Rangers in worrying trend

The Texas Rangers have done the thing again, and we're unfortunately not just talking about how they got another win on Tuesday to make it 13 out of their last 17 games.

They've also signed yet another former Seattle Mariner, this time inking Donovan Solano to a minor league contract. This comes a little more than a week after the Mariners released the veteran right-handed hitter, a move that corresponded with the expansion of rosters on September 1.

If anything, Solano's ouster was overdue. He was a curious signing to begin with, and all the Mariners got out of him was an 85 OPS+ OPS in 69 games. After they solidified first base with Josh Naylor ahead of the trade deadline, Solano took just 11 more at-bats for the Mariners in August.

The Rangers are trying their luck yet again with a former Mariner

So why the ominous feeling right now? Let's just say it has to do with the good fortune the Rangers have had with the other former Mariners they have picked up.

Take Same Haggerty. He spent the majority of his Mariners career as a bench jockey and Quad-A guy, so it barely registered when the Rangers signed him in February. Yet he posted a 104 OPS+ in 64 games with them before he was shut down in August with an ankle injury. At one point, he was the only functional piece in Texas' lineup.

The Rangers then tried their luck with Rowdy Tellez after the Mariners designated him for assignment in June. He's been solid as a platoon first baseman and pinch-hitter for them since mid-July, with a 109 OPS+ as a Ranger compared to a measly 92 OPS+ as a Mariner.

Most recently, Dylan Moore caught the caravan from Seattle to Arlington after he was also DFA'd in August. He already has more hits as a Ranger (four) than he did in his last three months as a Mariner (three).

Now here comes Solano, who picked a good spot to make an impact during the final days of the regular season. The Rangers have been an injury magnet all year, yet they're still in the race — 1.5 games behind the Mariners for the third AL wild card and 2.5 games behind the Houston Astros in the AL West — precisely because they've nailed the whole "next man up thing."

It's fair to be skeptical if they have anything to gain from Solano. He's 37 years old, and he was never anything even resembling hot as a Mariner. But they call him "Donnie Barrels" for a reason, and he ought to have a chip on his shoulder after being cast aside by the Mariners.

One thing the Mariners can take comfort in is knowing that any damage Solano does for the Rangers won't be made to last. As he was added to Texas' roster after roster expansion, he will be ineligible for the playoffs if the Rangers make it that far.

Yet given their track record with discarded Mariners, the fear of Solano doing something to propel the Rangers into the postseason is a real fear indeed.