Mariners quietly close the book on Miles Mastrobuoni

It's not a headline that stops the trade-deadline scroll, but it closes a messy chapter for a guy who once looked like Seattle's Swiss Army knife off the bench. MLB Trade Rumors confirmed Wednesday that the Mariners have outrighted Miles Mastrobuoni, meaning he cleared waivers and is headed back to Triple-A Tacoma instead of sticking on the 40-man.

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Mariners Outright Miles Mastrobuoni t.co/AUt7q1A9iP

Mastrobuoni's year was cursed from the jump. He strained his calf in March while playing for Italy in the World Baseball Classic, which shelved him to start the season and kept him on the IL all the way until June 10. He got all of 8 games back before the numbers were too ugly to ignore, slashing.217/.269/.217 in that stretch.

The roster crunch that actually pushed him out came a couple weeks later. When Julio Rodriguez was activated off the concussion IL after getting drilled by a Nolan Schanuel throw, Seattle needed a 26-man spot and Mastrobuoni was the corresponding move — DFA'd, then non-tendered off the 40-man entirely once nobody claimed him on waivers.

For a guy who was supposed to be organizational depth gold, it's a quiet fall. Tampa Bay took him in the 14th round back in 2016, the Cubs got him in a 2022 trade, and Seattle picked him up from Chicago for cash considerations before the 2025 season. He carved out a real role too —.250/.324/.296 with 6 steals across 76 games last year, playing everywhere but catcher and center.

This doesn't have to be the end. Since Mastrobuoni doesn't have 3 years of service time or a prior career outright, he had no right to reject the assignment for free agency — he's Tacoma property for now, but eligible for minor league free agency if Seattle doesn't add him back before the season ends. With the deadline approaching and infield/bench needs shifting fast around the league, don't be shocked if another club takes a flier on a guy who can play six positions once he's healthy again.