Mariners Infielder Becomes A Free Agent

About to turn 32, and coming off a second straight moribund major league season, nine-year veteran infielder/outfield Jake Lamb has elected to become a free agent. 

Mariners roster move: INF/OF Jake Lamb has declined the outright assignment and will become a free agent.

— Mariners PR (@MarinersPR) September 24, 2022

He was DFA'd by the Seattle Mariners earlier this week, and rather than accept an outright assignment, he's decided to choose free agency.

In 16 games with the Mariners, Lamb has hit .167 with one home run and a .565 OPS. He also spent some time with the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier in the year, but didn't fare much better. Last season, split between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Chicago White Sox, he hit .194 with a .674 OPS. 

Lamb has spent nine years in the majors, and had two breakout seasons, in 2016 and 2017 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the latter earning him an All-Star selection. He averaged 29.5 HR and 98 RBIs in those two seasons. But since then, he's never again hit more than 7 home runs in a season, or 31 RBIs. 

While still with the Dodgers organization, he crushed it in Triple-A earlier in the year, with 15 HR, 50 RBIs and a .932 OPS in 61 games. So perhaps there's still something in that bat. Time is short this year, however, to land another opportunity. Even if he lands with a new team at this point, he wouldn't be eligible for the playoff roster. 

Photos: Lindsey Wasson-USA TODAY Sports, Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports