Mariners Sign Three Players to Minor League Deals
RHP Mark Lowe, RHP Justin Germano, INF Carlos Rivero will participate in Major League Spring Training
SEATTLE, Wash. -- Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik announced today the following players have been signed to minor league contracts for the 2015 season and invited to Major League Spring Training:
- RHP Justin Germano (jer-MAHN-no)
- RHP Mark Lowe
- INF Carlos Rivero
These players are not on the Mariners 40-man roster (currently full at 40 players). They will participate in Major League Spring Training when camp opens in mid-February in Peoria, Ariz. Pitchers and Catchers will report Feb. 20 with the first on-field activity on Feb. 21. Position players report Feb. 24 with the first full-squad workout Feb. 25.
Germano, 32, is a veteran of 9 Major League seasons appearing in 96 games (48 starts) with the Padres (2004, 2007-08), Reds (2006), Indians (2010-11), Red Sox (2012), Cubs (2012), Blue Jays (2013) and Rangers (2014). He split last season in the Texas and Los Angeles Dodgers organizations, pitching primarily at AAA Round Rock where he went 4-13 with a 4.51 ERA (66 ER, 131.2 IP). He led the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League with three complete games and ranked 10th in innings pitched.
Lowe, 31, returns to the Mariners organization after spending last season with the Cleveland Indians. He split the season between AAA Columbus (4-3, 5.62 ERA, 41 G, 17 saves) and Cleveland (0-1, 3.86 ERA, 7 G). Lowe was originally selected by the Mariners in the 5th round of the 2004 June Draft and appeared in 162 games with Seattle from 2006-2010. He was traded to the Texas Rangers as part of the Cliff Lee trade on July 9, 2010. He has also pitched for the Rangers (2010-2012) and Angels (2013) in his Major League career.
Rivero, 26, was claimed off waivers by Seattle from Boston on November 3 and then non-tendered on December 2. He made his Major League debut last season, going 4-for-7 with a run scored, 2 doubles, 1 home run and 3 RBI in four games with Boston after spending nine seasons in the minors with the Indians, Phillies, Nationals and Red Sox organizations. A 6-foot-3, right-handed hitter, he is currently playing with Cardenales de Lara in the Venezuelan Winter League where he is batting .282 (51x181) with 28 runs scored, 9 doubles, 14 home runs and 42 RBI in 48 games playing primarily third base and designated hitter. He currently leads the Venezuelan Winter League in home runs, RBI and extra-base hits (tied), and ranks 3rd in slugging percentage (.564).