Mariners claim Wilkins, lose Hicks to Twins
SEATTLE -- The Mariners claimed first baseman Andy Wilkins was off waivers from the Orioles on Wednesday, but also lost catcher John Hicks on a waiver claim to the Twins. Additionally, Seattle designated left-hander Edgar Olmos for assignment and announced that infielder/outfielder Patrick Kivlehan was going to Texas to complete an earlier trade.
Kivlehan was the player to be named in the deal that also sent reliever Tom Wilhelmsen and outfielder James Jones to the Rangers last month in exchange for center fielder Leonys Martin and right-hander Anthony Bass.
Kivlehan hit .256 with 22 home runs and 73 RBIs in 123 games last year for Triple-A Tacoma. The 25-year-old was a fourth-round selection by Seattle in the 2012 Draft after playing football most of his career at Rutgers.
Hicks had been designated for assignment on Nov. 23 and now goes onto the Twins' 40-man roster. He was a fourth-round Draft choice of the Mariners in 2011 and hit .063 in 36 at-bats in a brief stint with Seattle late last season.
Wilkins, 27, had been claimed off waivers by the Orioles in September after splitting last season between the Triple-A clubs for the Dodgers and Blue Jays. He hit a combined .251 with 29 doubles, 18 home runs and 79 RBIs in 126 games in Triple-A.
Wilkins was drafted by the White Sox in the fifth round in 2010 and played 17 games for their Major League club in 2014, hitting .140 (6-for-43) with two double and two RBIs. In six Minor League seasons with three organizations, he's batted .272 with 111 home runs and 441 RBIs in 681 games.
Olmos appeared in six games for the Mariners last year, including two starts, and was 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA. He was 1-1 with a 3.55 ERA in 20 games for Tacoma after being acquired on waivers from the Marlins last offseason.
The Mariners now have 10 days to trade, release or outright Olmos to the Minors.