SEATTLE -- Outfielder Denard Span reported to the Mariners on Monday and was in the lineup in left field for the afternoon's series opener against the Rangers, and John Andreoli was optioned back to Triple-A Tacoma to open the 25-man roster spot.
The Mariners also lost utility infielder Taylor Motter on a waiver claim by the Twins. Motter was designated for assignment on Sunday to clear a 40-man roster spot for the addition of catcher Chris Herrmann.
Span was acquired from the Rays on Friday and is expected to play left field for the Mariners on a regular basis, with Ben Gamel shifting to a fourth-outfielder role.
Span just bought a house in his native Tampa, Fla., and he and his wife have a 7-month-old baby, so he took care of getting his family in order before flying to Seattle and joining his new club. He said he's eager to get down to business now with a club that is pushing hard on Houston's heels in the American League West.
"They've already been rolling," Span said. "I just want to come in and add as much as I can, both on the field and with my experience in the clubhouse. It's a young, fun, energetic ballclub that I'm just looking forward to being a part of."
The 34-year-old Span posted a .238/.364/.385 line with four homers, 28 RBIs and six stolen bases in 43 games for the Rays after being traded from the Giants last offseason. In 11 Major League seasons with the Twins, Nationals, Giants and Rays, he's hit .282/.348/.396 while playing primarily center field.
Span has been in the playoffs in four different seasons with the Twins, Nats and Giants, and he would love to help the Mariners get there, as well.
"Most definitely. I've been blessed to be in a few postseasons, but I haven't gotten out of the first round," Span said. "So I'm definitely hungry to get further and win a championship. Just my experience in general, having almost a decade in this game, I've seen a lot. And my presence hopefully will make a difference and help out some of the young guys. But they already have experience on this team."
Gamel has hit .405 (15-for-37) over his last 11 games to hike his average to .263 and will continue to get playing time, manager Scott Servais said. Gamel can play left and allow Span to move to center to give Guillermo Heredia occasional time off, as well as back up in left and right. Servais said he'll also start resuming some pregame work at first base now that he's not starting in the outfield every day to provide another option.
But Span will get the majority of time in left field going forward.
"We'll look at pitching matchups and keep all the guys going," Servais said. "But Denard Span is going to play. That's why we acquired him."
Span was acquired along with right-handed reliever Alex Colome, who will work as Seattle's eighth-inning setup man with Edwin Diaz handling the closing role. But Colome had an MLB-leading 47 saves last year and provides a strong addition to the bullpen, as Span can attest.
"Alex is a quiet assassin," Span said. "He doesn't say a lot, but he goes out and gets the job done. He's a bulldog and has the most saves in the last 2-3 years in all of baseball. He is as advertised."
Worth noting
• The Mariners hoped to get Jean Segura back in the lineup after he sat out Sunday due to a minor concussion, but the shortstop was a late scratch Monday following a meeting with the doctor. Segura was kicked in the helmet while sliding into second on a double play in Saturday's game against the Twins. Servais said after Monday's game he expects Segura to be able to play on Tuesday.
• Dee Gordon did some running in the outfield for a second straight day prior to Monday's game and is on track to come off the 10-day disabled list on Thursday. Gordon has been sidelined with a fractured right big toe since last Monday.
• Andreoli returns to Tacoma after going 1-for-3 with a walk on Wednesday in his Major League debut at Oakland.