The Mariners announced that infielder/outfielder Jake Lamb, designated for assignment earlier this week, has cleared waivers and rejected an outright assignment in favor of electing free agency. As a player with more than five years of MLB service time, Lamb has the right to reject an outright assignment without forfeiting any salary.
It’s been a mercurial season for Lamb, who turns 32 years old in a couple weeks. He began the year with the Dodgers on a minor league deal that would pay him $1.5MM in the majors, but he didn’t crack the Opening Day roster. He went down to Oklahoma City and crushed baseballs for a couple of months, socking 15 home runs in 61 games and slashing .290/.395/.537, wRC+ of 131.
The Dodgers selected his contract at the end of June and he continued hitting after his promotion, producing a line of .239/.338/.433 in 25 games with the Dodgers, good enough for a wRC+ of 120, or 20% above league average. Despite that solid showing, he was flipped to Seattle on deadline day for cash considerations.
Once he moved up the coast to Seattle, things look a turn for the worse. He struggled with his new team and saw his playing time dry up, only getting into five games in the month of September. Since the trade, he hit just .167/.265/.300 and lost his roster spot.
With just over a week remaining in the regular season, Lamb is now free to sign with any team, though he wouldn’t be eligible for the postseason. Teams can only include someone on their playoff roster if the player was in the organization prior to September 1. He can now be signed for the prorated league minimum with the Mariners on the hook for the remainder of his salary. Despite his recent downturn, Lamb should finish the season with an above-average batting line, barring an extended look elsewhere down the stretch. Between Los Angeles and Seattle, he hit .216/.315/.392 for a 105 wRC+ in 41 games. The veteran corner infielder has expanded his defensive repertoire in recent seasons to include corner outfield work.
We need Jake to come to Atlanta, that way we can have the Lamb chop…
Curly, he’d have to get a lot better before anyone would bother.
Same old Curly. Failed clown.
Lamb has only 6 RBI’s in 41 games in 2022 he should check Japan or maybe the Nats or the Cubs will care enough to pick him up.
So I guess you’re saying the “Silence of the Lamb” has done him in?”
In the past three seasons Lamb has played for The Diamondbacks/Athletics/White Sox/Blue Jays/Dodgers/Mariners. Given that rate of changing teams he should make it to the Nats and Cubs in no time
I think the Tigers could take a chance on him should be interesting on his future.
The Tigers would be a good landing spot for him. The Tigers are in dire need of some semblance of power on their squad.
Yeah, considering they are actually keeping Schoop, Barnhart, and Candelario on the roster just shows Lamb could replace Schoop on the utility spot.
The Edwin Jackson of Lambs
He’ll be the Pirates starting 1B in 2023.
His free agency will be greeted with silence.
A silence of the Lamb ?
You win the cookie.
I hope that Lamb goes to the KBO and rakes. Spending the next one and a half seasons as a fringe platoon journeyman before washing out just does not sound like a fun way to continue your career
He could stay in KBO make a couple bucks and call it quits.
Jake’s season cam in like a Lion, but out like a Lamb.
Jake is a real POS that deserves jail time
32…..? Wow he’s been around forever it seems?
Oof and service time only @7…
I think he should go back to Arizona and rejoin Merrill Kelly. I hear those two were inseparable as teammates. Everywhere that Merrill went, Jake Lamb was sure to go.
Too bad about Mariners. Their season started in March with such promise. Went in like a Lion. Now out with Jake Lamb.
Sorry it didn’t work out with his hometown team.
Sorry it didn’t workout with his hometown team