Mariners open one September call-up present early, promote 1B/OF José Marmolejos, DFA RHP Jimmy Yacabonis

While rosters expand from 26 to 28 this Wednesday, September 1st, the Seattle Mariners made an anticipated move a couple days early, promoting red hot 1B/OF José Marmolejos from Triple-A Tacoma and designating depth RHP Jimmy Yacabonis for assignment. The 40-man roster remains full after this move.

Marmolejos has been utterly obliterating Triple-A West for much of the year, battling all year for the highest OPS in all of qualified minor league baseball. Still, as a longtime minor league masher playing in one of the most hitter-friendly leagues in affiliated ball, it’s been hard for the 28 year old to convincingly display that he’s learned a new trick instead of simply dominating as a AAAA-type. If you subscribe to staff writer Connor Donovan’s Marmo-Notes Hotline (a bargain at just $3.99 a minute), you’ll know there have been tweaks in approach by the big lefty, but it’s tough to give an unproven journeyman significant reps when more heralded prospects are healthy and waiting.

Jake Fraley hitting the injured list yet again, however, has created an opportunity in the outfield for him, as well as the upcoming spate of righty pitching from opponents as noted by Ryan Divish. While it could have easily been the more defensively versatile Taylor Trammell, it’s hard to say Marmolejos hasn’t earned the nod at least through his work at the dish. Additionally, Trammell is in line for continued everyday play in Tacoma, which Seattle no doubt hopes pays dividends long term.

Yacabonis has been here before as well, having passed through waivers earlier this season. The Rainiers would be well served to have him do so once more, as even now the pitching staffs throughout the system are spread thin due to injuries and caution while working players back from the 2020 layoff.