SEATTLE -- Shortstop Zach Vincej, who was claimed off waivers from the Reds last Friday, cleared waivers for the Mariners and was outrighted to Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday.
The move keeps the 26-year-old in Seattle's organization, but he's no longer on the 40-man roster. The Mariners now have 36 players on their 40-man, leaving the opportunity to add free agents or protect players from the Rule 5 Draft next month.
Vincej (which is pronounced VIN-see) made his Major League debut with Cincinnati in 2017, appearing in nine games as a September callup. He went 1-for-9 with two runs scored after posting a .270/.325/.370 line with three home runs and 38 RBIs in 110 games at Triple-A Louisville.
Vincej is one of three players claimed so far this offseason by Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto, who also has picked up utility infielder/outfielder Andrew Romine from the Tigers and catcher David Freitas from the Braves. Both of those players are still on the 40-man roster.
Vincej is regarded as an outstanding defender and earned a Minor League Rawlings Gold Glove Award in 2016 when he led all Minor League shortstops with a .991 fielding percentage at Double-A Pensacola.

The San Diego native was a 37th-round Draft choice in 2012 out of Pepperdine, where he earned the Brooks Wallace Award as the best shortstop in college baseball. He's hit .272 with 270 runs scored and 46 stolen bases over 578 games in six Minor League seasons.
Vincej wasn't on the Reds' 40-man roster until being added in September after impressing the club with his offensive improvement over the past two years.