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Cubs lose 10-year veteran to Mariners for postseason push
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- Cubs lose 10-year veteran to Mariners for postseason push
The Seattle Mariners are taking a flier on 10-year MLB veteran to boost their pitching staff for their September postseason push.
Hoby Milner , who was waived days ago by the Chicago Cubs , joined the Mariners on Tuesday, Sept. 1. Because he signed with the club a day earlier, the left-hander is eligible to pitch for the Mariners in October — a possibility that looks increasingly unlikely for anyone on the Mariners' pitching staff.
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Seattle (64-74) is six 5.5 games behind the Cleveland Guardians for the third and final American League wild-card berth (through Monday), and six games behind the first-place Houston Astros in the AL West.
The addition of Milner was one of a flurry of roster moves the Mariners made in hopes of saving their season. He was 1-0 with a 3.53 ERA in 38 appearances for the Cubs this season before a bout of appendicitis sent him to the injured list in July.
Milner is 14-9 with a 3.80 ERA in 405 career games with the Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies (2017-18), Tampa Bay Rays (2018-19), Los Angeles Angels (2020), Milwaukee Brewers (2021-24), Texas Rangers (2025).
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Outfielder Lazaro Montes had his contract selected from Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday along with Milner. Two players — utilityman Connor Joe and right-handed pitcher Nolan Kingham — were designated for assignment.
Montes is the headliner. The 21-year-old will make his major league debut when he first appears in a game. He had a cumulative .928 OPS in 123 games between Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma this season. Seattle could especially use his power — 38 home runs and 96 RBI in 123 minor league games — to boost a punchless lineup.
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At 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, the outfielder looks the part of a power hitter. He ranked as the No. 56 overall prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline and the No. 57 prospect by Baseball America . He is ranked as the No. 5 and No. 3 prospect in the Mariners organization by each publication, respectively.
Joe, 33, appeared in 21 games for Seattle this season, batting .179. Kingham, 29, was claimed off waivers from the Texas Rangers on Aug. 10 and made three starts for Triple-A Tacoma during his brief stint in the organization.
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