The Seattle Mariners announced Tuesday that they have acquired INF Austin Shenton from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for cash considerations. Shenton had been designated for assignment just ahead of Tuesday’s deadline for adding players to the 40-man roster to protect them from Rule-5 Draft eligibility. In a corresponding (and aptly rhyming) move, the Mariners designated RHP JT Chargois for assignment.
The M’s drafted Shenton in the 5th round of the 2019 draft, a class that wore heavily the weight of expectation as it came within the first year of Seattle’s rebuild. One way or another, things have gone quite well for that collective, as first rounder RHP George Kirby is a co-ace of Seattle’s staff, while 2nd and 3rd rounders LHP Brandon Williamson and RHP Levi Stoudt were parts of packages that significantly improved Seattle’s past and present rosters.