The Mariners announced that they have claimed catcher Jacob Nottingham off waivers from the Brewers. To make room for Nottingham, the Mariners designated right-hander Brandon Brennan for assignment.
Nottingham, whom the Brewers designated last week, will now join his fourth major league organization. He entered the pro ranks as a fourth-round pick of the Astros in 2013 and has also spent time with the Athletics. The 26-year-old was a prospect of some note in his younger days, but he hasn’t gotten an extended look in the bigs. Nottingham has so far amassed 85 plate appearances, all from 2018-20, and batted a playable .203/.306/.432 with five home runs. He’s out of minor league options, so he’ll have to stick on a Seattle roster that has received bottom-of-the-barrel production from catchers Luis Torrens and Tom Murphy in 2021.
The soon-to-be 30-year-old Brennan became a Mariner in December 2018 when they took him from the Rockies in the Rule 5 Draft. Brennan appeared with the Mariners from 2019-20, during which he dealt with oblique and shoulder issues and combined for 54 2/3 innings of 4.45 ERA/4.52 SIERA pitching with a 23.6 percent strikeout rate against a 12.7 percent walk rate. He still has three minor league options left.
Who goes to make room for Nottingham: Torrens or Murphy? If Torrens still has a minor league option available, it’s an easy choice. But if either has to be DFA’ed, then Murphy would probably be the one to go as Torrens has a brighter future (though all 3 are placeholders for Cal Raleigh anyway.)
Neither would be DFA’d or they would have chosen them over Brennan. They will likely option someone from the team whether that is Torrens or someone else like Taylor Trammell.
They can’t DFA one of the catchers until Nottingham arrives, since that would leave them a player short on a team than only has 3 bench players to begin with.
Torrens has one option, Murphy none.
If the M’s acquire Ryan Sherriff from the Rays, they can have a Sherriff and Nottingham battery.
Mark my word your going to be happy with him especially if he gets regular at bats . Will become a starter or versatile player at catcher, firstbase, and corner outfielder
The Sheriff of Nottingham has returned
The Murphy experience is over. He’s gotta go. Just need a rental catcher before cal Raleigh comes up next year.