Seattle Mariners activate Corey Hart
By Hayden Kane
The Seattle Mariners have charged to the top of the playoff picture in the American League. They tout one of the top run differentials in all of baseball and have the pitching staff to stick at the top of the standings. To put themselves over the top, they would love to add another bat to their lineup.
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Before they hit the trade market in search of said bat, they will take a look at one of their big free agent signings one more time. Corey Hart, signed this past off-season, is returning to the team from a strained hamstring that has kept him out of the lineup for almost two months.
According to Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune:
"The Mariners activated Hart prior to Friday’s game against the Chicago White Sox after clearing roster space by designating outfielder Cole Gillespie for assignment.Hart, 32, tested his recovery by playing 10 games in a rehab assignment at Triple-A Tacoma, where he batted .297 (11-for-37) with five extra-base hits and four RBIs.The final test came Wednesday when Hart showed no limitations while playing in the outfield for the first time since his injury."
Hart struggled in the early parts of the season before his injury, batting just .209/.295/.353 with five home runs in 37 games. That said, right-handed power can be one of the hardest things to find and it is the biggest need for the Mariners. If they can add that kind of bat simply by having Hart get healthy, that will be a huge boost for the Mariners’ lineup and it will save them some assets in the trade market.