Mariners release veteran catcher Buck

By Greg Johns

July 16, 2014

SEATTLE -- Veteran catcher John Buck was released by the Mariners on Tuesday, one week after he was designated for assignment by the club.

Buck, 34, is now a free agent. The 11-year Major League veteran hit .226 with one home run and six RBIs in 84 at-bats while appearing in 27 games for the Mariners this season.

Buck had signed a one-year, $1 million deal in January. He was replaced on the roster last week by Jesus Sucre, a 26-year-old catcher who has appeared in two games, with one start, as the backup for Mike Zunino.

Buck is a career .234 hitter with 134 home runs and 491 RBIs while playing six seasons with the Royals, two with the Marlins and one each with the Mets, Pirates, Blue Jays and Mariners. He was an American League All-Star in 2010 with the Blue Jays when he posted career bests in home runs (20), RBIs (66) and batting average (.281) in 118 games.

Greg Johns is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregJohnsMLB as well as his Mariners Musings blog.