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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JULY 31: Jesus Montero #63 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates a solo home run against the Minnesota Twins during the sixth inning of the game on July 31, 2015 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Mariners defeated the Twins 6-1. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

Report: Mariners place Jesus Montero on waivers

According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the Mariners have placed former Yankee top prospect Jesus Montero on waivers. The team hasn’t confirmed the move yet.


Montero, 26, was competing for the backup first base job this spring. Entering today, he was hitting .237/.256/.289 with four RBI in 38 at-bats. The Mariners now have 48 hours to either trade, release or assign him to the minor leagues.

The Yankees traded Montero along with Hector Noesi to the Pacific Northwest in exchange for Michael Pineda and Jose Campos back in January of 2012. Montero enjoyed a relatively successful first season with the M’s when he hit .260 with 15 homers and 62 RBI in 135 games, but it’s all been downhill since.

Montero was suspended in 2013 for his role in the Biogenesis scandal. He then showed up to Mariners camp in 2014 40 pounds heavier than his target weight. Later that season while rehabbing an injury with the low-A Everett AquaSox, Montero was heckled by a scout who sent an ice cream sandwich to the dugout. Montero then threw the ice cream sandwich back at the scout and had to be restrained from entering the stands.

Montero did have a great season for triple-A Tacoma last year, hitting an eye-popping .355/.398/.569 with 18 homers and 85 RBI in 430 plate appearances, but he just can’t seem to put it together at the big league level. He’s accrued a WAR of -1.4 since 2012, and has appeared in just 73 games while hitting .217.

Could the Yankees take a flier on Montero? Doubtful. While the team is thin at first base after Mark Teixeira, there really wouldn’t be a place to put him on the 25-man roster. Montero doesn’t catch anymore, and the DH spot is expected to be a revolving door when Alex Rodriguez rests.

Regardless, I think we can officially declare the winner of that January 2012 trade.

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