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. Shenton himself developed into a solid, bat-first prospect whose positional location drifted downwards from third and second to the outfield and ultimately primarily first base.

The local kid was born in Spokane but graduated from Bellingham High School in 2016, and was drafted out of the University of Washington after a route through Bellevue College, which is only some of Shenton’s compelling and circuitous route to the pro level. He was dealt during the 2021 season to the Rays for, wouldn’t you know it, RHP JT Chargois at the deadline, and debuted in 2024 with Tampa Bay. Though the 26 year old’s first 50 plate appearances went well, with a 120 wRC+ and a .

214/. 340/. 405 line, he spent most of the year in Triple-A Durham.

He hit similarly well there, but was a casualty of the depth of Tampa Bay’s system in his particular multi-positional, bat-first milieu. In DFAing Chargois, the M’s head off what would have been a slight uptick in payroll in arbitration. The veteran reliever is nearly 34, yet was still in arbitration by the capricious nature of his up and down role.

Due a projected $1. 7 million by MLB Trade Rumors, Chargois’ role and spot could now go to a pre-arbitration reliever, or a more preferred external acquisition. Seattle’s ownership has shown that they’re not above such minute financial miserliness.

The return of Shenton is a welcome and seemingly match-made minor move, particularly given his familiarity in the system. The M’s are better served with Shenton than spinning the Jason Vosler wheel once more. Shenton could easily crack the roster in 2025 as a bench bat, though as of his time in Tampa Bay this past season, he’d likely be best played as a first baseman primarily.

Both he and Tyler Locklear should give Seattle more compelling high-minors infield bats than they’ve had in some time. This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.