PEORIA, Ariz. — Scratch another name off the list of right-handed relievers vying for a spot in the Mariners’ reworked bullpen.
The Mariners on Wednesday placed right-handed reliever Justin De Fratus on waivers for the purpose of his outright release.
The move was somewhat surprising because De Fratus seemed penciled into one of the middle-relief spots since being signed in the offseason to a one-year, $750,000 contract. General manager Jerry Dipoto hoped De Fratus would return to his 2014 form (3-1, 2.39 ERA in 54 appearances) after a less-than-stellar 2015 (0-2, 5.51 ERA in 61 appearances).
Mariners 9, Giants 6
• After looking sharp in his first two starts of the spring, Hisashi Iwakuma’s command wasn’t quite as crisp Wednesday.