Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto announced today that the club has claimed catcher Tuffy Gosewisch (pronounced "GOHS-uh-wish") off waivers from Atlanta. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Jonathan Aro has been designated for assignment. The Mariners now have 7 days to trade, release or outright the contract of Aro to the minors.
 
Gosewisch, 33, was claimed off waivers by Atlanta on Nov. 18. He appeared in 33 games with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2016 after being recalled from AAA Reno on July 1. The right-handed hitting catcher hit .156 (15x90) with 8 runs scored, 1 double, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 7 RBI and 7 walks in 33 games with the Diamondbacks. Gosewisch began the season with Reno, batting .342 (68x199) with 33 runs scored, 13 doubles, 1 triple, 9 home runs, 26 RBI and 15 walks in 58 games. He was named to the Pacific Coast League All-Star Team, but didn't play after being recalled to Arizona. Gosewisch threw out 41.5 percent of attempted baserunners (17 CS, 24 SB) and despite appearing in only 57 games behind the plate ranked T10th in the PCL in catcher caught stealing.
 
The Freeport, IL, native has spent parts of the last 4 seasons with Arizona after making his Major League debut with the Diamondbacks in 2013, batting .199 (78x392) with 24 runs scored, 17 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs, 30 RBI and 18 walks in 126 games. He was limited to only 38 games with Arizona in 2015, after being placed on the disabled list with a torn right ACL on May 28. Gosewisch was originally selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 11th round over the 2005 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Arizona State University. In 10 minor league seasons with Philadelphia (2005-2012), Toronto (2012) and Arizona (2013-2016), he hit .246 (664x2697) with 327 runs scored, 173 doubles, 7 triples, 61 home runs and 329 RBI in 800 career games. He was named a mid-season all-star three times in his career, including 2016 (PCL), 2013 (PCL) and 2007 (South Atlantic League).
 
Aro, 26, appeared in 1 game with the Mariners last season, June 20 at Detroit, allowing 1 hit and 1 walk in 0.2 innings. The 6-foot, 235-pound right-hander went 3-2 with 1 save and a 2.48 ERA (10 ER, 36.1 IP) with 25 strikeouts in 24 games including 1 start with AAA Tacoma last season. The native of La Vega, Dominican Republic, was acquired by Seattle from Boston along with left-handed pitcher Wade Miley in exchange for right-handed pitcher Carson Smith and left-handed pitcher Roenis Elias on Dec. 7, 2015. He was originally signed by the Red Sox as a non-drafted free agent on June 6, 2011.